Understanding patients' compliance behavior in a mobile healthcare system: The role of trust and planned behavior

Abstract

The ultimate goal of any prescribed medical therapy is to achieve desired outcomes for patients. However, patient non-compliance has long been a major problem detrimental to patients' health and thus is a concern of all healthcare providers. Patient trust in doctors and patient-doctor communication have been identified as critical factors influencing patient compliance. Nevertheless, little is known about the role of mobile technologies in patient compliance. The purpose of this paper is to predict and empirically demonstrate how mobile healthcare applications juxtaposed to patient trust can increase patients' compliance. We conducted a field survey with 125 patients in the United States. PLS techniques were employed to analyze our dataset. The results reveal that patient-doctor communication and the use of mobile system significantly impact patients' trust, which has a prominent effect on patient compliance attitude. We also find that behavioral intention, response efficacy, and self-efficacy positively influence patients' actual compliance behavior.