Exploring the role of user empowerment in shaping behavioral intention and actual use of mHealth: An empirical study of an extended Technology Acceptance Model

Abstract

Many studies have highlighted mobile health (mHealth)’s positive impact on health promotion and disease management. However, technological features in mHealth alone to address challenges in retention may not ensure sustained utilization of mHealth if users lack interest or motivation for their own health management. Therefore, we aimed to explore the role of user empowerment, users' active involvement and ability to regulate health behaviors as influencing factors in mHealth adoption and usage. We extended the technology acceptance model (TAM) by incorporating the concept of user empowerment and tested the model by leveraging structural equation modeling with survey data collected from 612 respondents. Our findings revealed that positive and negative perceived health status (β = 0.24, t = 4.28, p < 0.001; β = 0.12, t = 2.50, p < 0.05) and health literacy (β = 0.64, t = 9.03, p < 0.001) resulted in a significant positive association with user empowerment in addition to users’ perception on ease of use of mHealth apps except for self-efficacy. User empowerment showed significant positive associations with all constructs related to TAM: perceived ease of use (β = 0.27, t = 7.11, p < 0.001), perceived usefulness (β = 0.15, t = 4.03, p < 0.001), behavioral intention (β = 0.48, t = 4.78, p < 0.001), and actual use (β = 0.31, t = 5.28, p < 0.001). Our findings shed light on the dynamic relationship among user empowerment, mHealth adoption, and usage by offering insights into enhancing user engagement and fostering healthier lifestyles through technology-driven interventions.