User acceptance of blockchain video direct observation therapy mhealth app for tuberculosis patient monitoring: a pre-implementation phase empirical study.

Abstract

Blockchain-based healthcare applications seem promising in remote patient monitoring. However, factors influencing users' acceptance of blackchin-enabled mHealth apps are poorly understood. This study aimed to develop and empirically test a theoretical model by extending the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Usage of Technology (UTAUT) with perceived benefit and perceived trust from Initial Trust Model (ITM) in understanding the potential users' readiness to adopt blockchain video direct observation therapy (blockchain VDOT) app. This cross-sectional study yielded data from users familiar with tuberculosis and its treatment procedure from Selangor and the federal territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A self- administered online questionnaire was designed based on validated measurement scales from past studies. Data from 160 valid samples were analysed using SPSS 27. The results indicated that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, perceived benefit, and perceived trust influence behavioural intention with p<0.05. Facilitating condition does not affect behavioural intention (p>0.05). Besides, p values of moderator age and gender are above 0.05, thus showing no moderation. The key findings showed that users' acceptance of blockchain-based VTOD apps was influenced by the perception of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, perceived benefit, and initial trust. The social influence's direct relationship with behavioural intention remains unestablished. Additionally, age and gender did not moderate any direct associations of the framework. The contribution to knowledge and practice, along with study limitations and future research direction, has been included in this study.