Factors influencing the adoption of mobile health apps in the UAE

Abstract

Increasing technology use has led to an increase in mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps). Users are adopting these applications for many reasons related to acceptance and gamification; however, there still needs to be a consensus on which factors most affect user adoption. Based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, this study examines the factors influencing the acceptance of mHealth technology. We collected data from 198 United Arab Emirate users who had previously used mHealth apps to improve their self-healthcare. The findings suggested that the intention of using this technology is positively influenced by: (1) the levels of performance expectancy and facilitating conditions concerning the use, (2) the level of gamification impact, and (3) the degree of personal innovativeness in the simple design of mHealth apps. These findings extend the theoretical concept of the UTAUT model in mobile healthcare technology. The value of the study lies in constructing an integrated digital transformation model that will assist healthcare companies in comprehending the influence of available resources and lead them to invest significantly in the incumbent digital infrastructure. The findings shall help healthcare practitioners identify critical drivers and key challenges faced by stakeholders concerning mobile health app use in an emerging Arab country that has the vision to improve its healthcare through digital transformation.

Keywords: mobile health (mHealth), Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), Applications.