Factors influencing the adoption of telemedicine services among middle-aged and older patients with chronic conditions in rural China: a multicentre cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, telemedicine services have significantly improved healthcare quality and access for residents. However, challenges remain, including limited awareness and reluctance to adopt such services, especially among middle-aged and older patients with chronic conditions in remote areas.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the key factors influencing the adoption of telemedicine services among middle-aged and older patients with chronic conditions in rural China.

METHODS

A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2023 and February 2024 at five hospitals in western China, targeting middle-aged and older patients (aged ≥ 45 years) with chronic conditions in rural areas. Participants completed the survey in person via QuestionnaireStar, with assistance provided as needed. The questionnaire was structured based on the Health Information Technology Adoption Model (HITAM) and included constructs such as Social Influence (SI), Perceived Usefulness (PU), Perceived Ease of Use (PEU), Perceived Reliability (PR), Perceived Health Threat (PHT), Self-efficacy (SE), Attitude Toward Using (ATU), Adoption Intention (AI) and Usage Behavior (UB). Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the relationships between these variables and to assess their impact on patients' intention to adopt telemedicine services. Additionally, to further explore the factors influencing telemedicine services adoption, a generalized linear model (GLM) analysis was performed, incorporating variables such as age, gender, education level, monthly income, and health status.

RESULTS

A total of 880 middle-aged and older patients with chronic conditions in rural areas were included in this study, with an average adoption intention score for telemedicine services of 3.94 (standard deviation 1.02). SEM analysis revealed that SI, SE, PR, and PHT were peripheral variables, while PEU, PU and ATU acted as core mediating variables that positively influenced patients' intention to adopt telemedicine services, which in turn impacted their subsequent usage behavior. SI (z = 4.767, P<0.001), PU (z = 2.894, P = 0.004), and ATU (z = 4.545, P<0.001) showed significant direct positive effects on patients' intention to adopt telemedicine services. GLM analysis revealed that education level (β = 0.032, P < 0.001), monthly income (β = 0.009, P = 0.049), required care (β = 0.034, P = 0.007), and cancer diagnosis (β = - 0.147, P < 0.001) were significant predictors of telemedicine adoption intention.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified key determinants influencing telemedicine services adoption among rural middle-aged and older patients with chronic conditions. The findings offer valuable insights for telemedicine services providers to enhance service design and implementation strategies, thereby promoting greater adoption and sustained use among this target population.