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ABSTRACT
In recent years, mobile healthcare applications (MHAs) have boomed, providing several new kinds of health services and methods of information transmission. However, MHA vendors face a significant challenge in attracting users to adopt software continuously. Some recent studies recognized users’ perceived e-health literacy (PEHL) as a critical factor in continuance intention, but its influence was still unclear. In this paper, based on the elaboration likelihood model (ELM), we investigated how the users’ PEHL affects their continuance intention when adopting MHAs. We distributed convenience sample questionnaires by Wechat (similar to WhatsApp) in China, where hundreds of MHAs can be downloaded, and 273 valid samples were collected. The result shows that ELM works well in this model, with six of the eight hypotheses supported. The moderating effect of PEHL is largely significant for the peripheral route but not significant for the central route. The most interesting finding is that, with regard to continuance adoption, PEHL has a positive relationship with users’ satisfaction. Possible reasons are discussed, such as there could be a moderator on this relationship. Limitations, future studies and implications for theory, practice and policy are also given.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes on contributors
Xi Zhang is a professor of Tianjin University, Tianjin, China. His research interests include e-commerce, knowledge management, virtual reality and e-health. His work appeared in several international journals including Journal of Management Information Systems, Computers in Human Behavior, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, The Information Society, Internet Research and others.
Xiangda Yan works for his master degree in Tianjin University, China. He focuses his interests in e-health and adoption of information technologies. His works have been published in Computers in Human Behavior (CHB), Journal of Science & Technology Policy Management (JSTPM), International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) and Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems (PACIS).
Xiongfei Cao is an Associate Professor of Management Science and Engineering at the University of Science and Technology of China. He received his Ph.D. in Information Systems at the City University of Hong Kong and Ph.D. in Management Science at the University of Science and Technology of China. His current research focuses on knowledge management, IT-enabled innovation and social computing. His work has been published in referred journals and conference proceedings including IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, Internet Research and the International Conference on Information Systems.
Yongqiang Sun is an associate professor of School of Information Management, Wuhan University. His research interests include e-commerce, knowledge management, virtual community and human–computer interactions. His work has appeared in several international journals including Information Systems Research, Journal of AIS, Decision Support Systems, Information & Management, among others.
Hui Chen works for her master degree in Tianjin University, China. Her research interests focus on team coordination and IT innovation. Her work has appeared in Behaviour & Information Technology, The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning and Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems (PACIS).
Jinghuai She is an associate professor of College of Business Administration, Capital University of Economics and Business. His research interests include IT management, corporation finance and management. His works have been published in Journal of Universal Computer Science.