A Study on Factors Affecting the Use Intention of Personal Health Record Systems
Date Issued
2009
Date
2009
Author(s)
Hou, Ying-Hui
Abstract
Background: Personal Health Record System (PHR system) is a person-centered tool through which individuals can access, manage and share their health information with whom they are authorized. It is designed to manage one’s health information and support health decisions, and is a tool that can be helpful in managing health and wellness as well as illness. Many governments including U.S., European Union and our country have paid much attention on the concept of PHR and PHR systems. But the efficacy of the system depends on individuals’ acceptance and usage. bjectives: The objectives of the study are two folds: 1) to understand individuals’ opinions on contents and functions of PHR systems as well as preferred mediums of PHR systems, and 2) applying revised technology acceptance model (TAM) to examine the determinants of individuals’ perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, confidence in security of PHR systems, data security concerns, and use intention toward PHR systems. ethods: Subjects for the study were the customers aged 18 and more in the bazaar of a medical center in Taipei, and data was collected by interviews with a structured questionnaire. The structure equation modeling technique was used to evaluate the effects of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, confidence in system security, and data security concerns on use intention of PHR systems, and the effects of demographics, health condition, computer self-efficacy, and subjective norms on the perceptions and use intention of PHR systems.esults: There were 607 valid samples returned. The results indicate that most people want to reserve their health care information, and love to share with their doctors. The preferred medium of PHR system is portable flash memory devices, followed by personal computers with a copy in portable electronic devices, internet, and internet with a copy in portable electronic devices. Compared with their counterparts, individuals with college or higher education levels are more willing to store and access their health information through internet and computer-related devices than through paper tracking. While individuals age 45 and older prefer to store and access their health information through paper tracking or not to keep it, those age 44 and younger prefer internet more.articipants perceived PHR systems are useful, and individuals’ perceived usefulness of PHR systems is affected by confidence in system security, data security concerns, computer self-efficacy, perceived ease of use, and subjective norms. The perceived ease of use of PHR systems is positively affected by computer self-efficacy and confidence in system security, and negatively affected by age. Nevertheless, participants do not have full confidence in the security of PHR systems. The confidence in system security of PHR systems is positively affected by subjective norms and computer self-efficacy, and negatively affected by education. Furthermore, participants worry about the data security of PHR systems to a considerable extent, and younger persons concerns their data security more. The model as a whole explains 50% of the variances in PHR system use intention. The perceived usefulness, subjective norms, perceived ease of use and confidence in system security significantly and directly affect use intention of PHR systems, and computer self-efficacy indirectly affect use intention of PHR systems through perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and confidence in system security. onclusions: The use intention of PHR systems is affected by perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, subjective norms, confidence in system security, and computer self-efficacy. Hence, when designing PHR systems, it should be assured that the interface is simple and easy to use. When promoting PHR systems, the contents and functions of PHR systems and its benefits to one’s health and healthcare should be addressed. Moreover, the use of PHR systems should be demonstrated in simple and understandable ways to increase individuals’ ability and confidence in using PHR systems, especially for those with lower computer self-efficacy. Besides, government should eliminate individuals’ security concerns about PHR systems by means of enhancing relevant regulations to protect the consumer’s right of consents to information use and to pronounce the accountability of PHR system vendors with respect to privacy and data security. Consequently, individuals’ use intention of PHR systems will be accelerated.
Subjects
Personal Health Records
Personal Health Record Systems
Use Intention
Confidence in System Security
Data Security Concerns
Type
thesis
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Loading...
Name
ntu-98-D89843001-1.pdf
Size
23.32 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum
(MD5):1fdb48a01f4270120b04fc90a0d23afe