Structural Equation Model Approach to Understand Intentions to use Online Hospital Services (OHS) in Context of Rural China

This study aims to explore the factors influencing the adoption of Online Hospital Services (OHS) among rural residents in China, utilizing the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) framework. A Structural Equation Model (SEM) was employed to analyze data collected from 422 participants with Internet hospital experience, selected through random sampling. Data collection involved online questionnaires distributed over 45 days, resulting in effective samples. The survey was divided into six sections, focusing on various aspects of user perceptions and intentions regarding OHS. The results indicate that perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEOU) positively affect attitudes towards OHS, with trust acting as a crucial mediator between these variables and usage intentions. The studys theoretical contributions include extending TAM by highlighting the central role of trust in digital health adoption, particularly in rural contexts. Practically, the findings suggest that policymakers and technology developers should focus on enhancing trust and user-friendliness to promote OHS adoption, thereby bridging the urban-rural healthcare divide and improving healthcare accessibility.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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The datasets used in this study are openly available at [repository link] and the source code is available on GitHub at [GitHub link].

This work did not receive any external funding.