Metaverse for digital health solutions

Abstract

The intersection of the Metaverse and digital health represents a growing frontier in healthcare technology, promising innovative approaches to enhance health and well-being through immersive virtual environments. However, there is limited knowledge on how this technology can be used not only to enhance user engagement but also support the sustainable use of Metaverse for health and well-being platforms in Metaverse. This study investigates the transformative potential of the Metaverse in digital health for sustainable use, focusing on its capacity to revolutionise healthcare delivery and improve health and well-being outcomes. The research examines the impact of motivation to use Metaverse, Metaverse user experience and trust in the platforms on user engagement which further translates to the sustainable use of Metaverse. The study also investigates the mediation of self-concept between user engagement and the sustainable use of Metaverse. Moreover, immersion level is also tested for moderation and mediation in this study between motivation to use Metaverse, Metaverse user experience, trust in the platforms and user engagement. The study adopted a mixed methods approach including 15 interviews and 152 online surveys. The findings of the study reveal that the motivation to use the Metaverse and Metaverse user experience do not impact user engagement, however, trust in the platforms in Metaverse significantly impacts the user engagement. Furthermore, our analysis also shows that user engagement leads to the sustainable use of Metaverse for health and well-being platforms. Additionally, self-concept mediates the relationship between user engagement and the sustainable use of Metaverse, however, immersion level acts as a mediator and not a moderator between motivation to use Metaverse, Metaverse user experience, trust in the platforms and user engagement. The findings contribute valuable insights into the development of innovative health solutions within the Metaverse, aiming to advance digital health practices and improve health and well-being outcomes. Moreover, the study underscores the critical role of user trust and engagement in the success of digital health platforms, guiding future research and development efforts in this rapidly evolving field. Limitations of the study are acknowledged, and recommendations for future research directions are proposed to further enrich our understanding of sustainable healthcare use in the Metaverse.