Intention to Use a Mobile-Based Information Technology Solution for Tuberculosis Treatment Monitoring – Applying a UTAUT Model

Abstract

There are 2.2 million cases of tuberculosis (TB) in India, with an economic burden of $3 billion per year. Efficient monitoring of TB treatment is critical and the Indian Government’s current reliance on a pen and paper system for monitoring patients’ adherence to treatment is neither effective nor scalable. Employing the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model (UTAUT) as its theoretical foundation, this study investigates the factors influencing the acceptance and use of a mobile-based IT solution for TB treatment monitoring. Data was collected from a survey of healthcare professionals working in TB treatment clinics and analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. Four constructs in the UTAUT model, effort expectancy (EE), facilitating conditions (FC), performance expectancy (PE) and social influence (SI) – were found to significantly and positively influence healthcare professionals’ behavioral intention to use the proposed mobile-based IT solution, and explained 56% of the variance. Importantly, our study validates the predictive capabilities of the UTAUT model in public health service delivery context in a developing country.