Timsina Sujal Mani, Bhattarai Ujjwal
Ace Institute of Management Pokhara University Kathmandu Nepal.
School of Management Kathmandu University Kathmandu Nepal.
Healthc Technol Lett. 2025 Feb 7;12(1):e70005. doi: 10.1049/htl2.70005. eCollection 2025 Jan-Dec.
The digitalization of healthcare has gained global importance, especially post-COVID-19, yet remains a challenge in developing countries due to the slow adoption of digital health tools. This study aims to identify major predictors impacting the behavioural intention of Nepalese youths to adopt digital health tools by utilizing the framework based on the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT-2). The cross-sectional data from 280 respondents was collected from youths (i.e., aged 16-40) in the Kathmandu Valley and were analyzed through PLS-SEM. Most of the respondents were using smartwatches followed by blood pressure monitors and pulse oximeters. The findings revealed hedonic motivation as the strongest predictor of behavioural intention to use digital health tools followed by facilitating conditions, social influence, habit, and performance expectancy. The behavioural intention significantly influenced actual usage behaviour. Additionally, behavioural intention mediated the relationship between the above-mentioned five constructs and usage behaviour, except for effort expectancy and price value. The study emphasizes the role of major predictors such as facilitating conditions in shaping the intention of youths to adopt digital health tools providing insights for government, hospitals, and developers to understand consumer perceptions and motivations.
医疗保健数字化已在全球范围内变得至关重要，尤其是在新冠疫情之后，但由于数字健康工具采用缓慢，在发展中国家仍是一项挑战。本研究旨在利用基于扩展的技术接受与使用统一理论（UTAUT-2）的框架，确定影响尼泊尔年轻人采用数字健康工具行为意向的主要预测因素。从加德满都谷地的年轻人（即16至40岁）中收集了280名受访者的横截面数据，并通过PLS-SEM进行分析。大多数受访者使用智能手表，其次是血压监测仪和脉搏血氧仪。研究结果显示，享乐动机是使用数字健康工具行为意向的最强预测因素，其次是便利条件、社会影响、习惯和绩效期望。行为意向显著影响实际使用行为。此外，行为意向介导了上述五个构念与使用行为之间的关系，但努力期望和价格价值除外。该研究强调了便利条件等主要预测因素在塑造年轻人采用数字健康工具意向方面的作用，为政府、医院和开发者了解消费者认知和动机提供了见解。
