Influence of personality on wearable activity trackers use among Chinese patients over 50 with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A technology acceptance model perspective

Abstract

Objective

This study uses the technology acceptance model (TAM) as the theoretical framework to explore the predicting factors of intention to adopt wearable activity trackers and the actual wearing behavior among Chinese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients over 50 with different personality traits.

Methods

The wearable activity tracker (WAT) was freely distributed to T2DM patients recruited from 22 community health service stations affiliating to four community health service centers in Beijing. A questionnaire survey was conducted to examine predicting factors of adoption intention after a week's try-on. Actual wearing behavior for 30-day was obtained from the exclusive cloud. Latent profile analysis was used to explore personality portraits. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the data.

Results

A total of 668 patients (age over 50) with T2DM were included in the analysis. According to the latent profile analysis, the T2DM patients in this study could be classified into four personality profiles: Negative, Anxious, Introverted-Stable (IS), and Active-Responsible (AR). The results of SEM indicated that perceived ease of use (PEOU, β = 0.37, P < 0.01), perceived usefulness (PU, β = 0.31, P < 0.01), social image (SI,β = 0.11, P < 0.01), and privacy concerns (PC, β = −0.50, P < 0.01) directly influenced behavioral intention. Neuroticism positively influenced SI (β = 0.18, P < 0.01). Conscientiousness and openness positively impacted PEOU (β = 0.20, P < 0.01; β = 0.09, P < 0.05). Agreeableness negatively influenced PC (β = −0.17, P < 0.01). Openness and extraversion positively impacted individual innovation(β = 0.15, P < 0.01; β = 0.17, P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Adoption intentions of WAT was the main factor influencing the actual wearing behavior of older patients with T2DM. PEOU, PU, and SI were the main facilitators of adoption intention, while PC was the main barrier. Different personality traits have their particular path of influence on WAT adoption intentions. It is recommended that future interventions with new devices or technologies for older patients with T2DM be carried out according to the preferences and needs of patients with different personality traits, such as product ease of use, innovativeness, and aesthetics, to promote patients' intention and actual use behaviors.