mHealth Apps on the Rise: Exploring the Influence of App and Individual Characteristics on Adoption

Abstract

The usage of mobile health (mHealth) applications is rising steadily in India in recent years. Examining factors that influence users’ intention to continue using mHealth apps is vital for increasing the adoption rate. This research adopts the basic TAM model and extends it by incorporating user characteristics and app characteristics to predict continuance intention toward mHealth apps. A questionnaire was administered with a sample of 537 respondents. The proposed model was tested with structural equation modeling (SEM). The empirical evidence confirms the influence of mHealth app characteristics (data access, data storage, interactivity, integration of artificial intelligence, and playfulness), individual characteristics of mHealth app users (self-efficacy, technological anxiety, health consciousness, perceived vulnerability, and personal innovativeness), as well as perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness on users’ intention to continue with mHealth apps. The study offers insights for mHealth app developers, policymakers, and healthcare providers seeking to optimize mHealth interventions and ensure their effectiveness in addressing the healthcare needs of developing nations.