Abstract

The purpose of the study is to integrate technology acceptance model (TAM) and social cognitive theory (SCT) to explore the usage intention model of telehealth systems. A survey of valid 480 users of telehealth was conducted to validate the proposed model. The findings show that computer anxiety has negatively significant effects on computer self-efficacy. Computer self-efficacy has positively significant effects on perceived ease of use. Both computer self-efficacy and perceived ease of use have jointly significant effects on perceived usefulness. In addition, both perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness have positively significant effects on usage intention. This study also confirms that both perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness are important mediators between computer self-efficacy and usage intention. According to the statistical results, the proposed model fits very well for the samples. The integrative viewpoint of this research can provide telehealth designers and managers of the hospital with the implication that hospitals should promote both technological aspect (perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness), and psychosocial aspect (self- efficacy and computer anxiety) simultaneously to increase rural residents’ intention of using telehealth.

Key words: Technology acceptance model, social cognitive theory, telehealth system.