Journal of Peking University (Health Sciences) ›› 2025, Vol. 57 ›› Issue (3): 522-528. doi: 10.19723/j.issn.1671-167X.2025.03.016

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Type 2 diabetes patients use E-health to manage disease willingness and influence mechanisms

Ziyan CHEN, Xiaoyue ZHANG, Yiwu GU, Chun CHANG*()   

  1. Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, Peking University School of Public Health, Beijing 100191, China
  • Received:2025-02-07 Online:2025-06-18 Published:2025-06-13
  • Contact: Chun CHANG
  • Supported by:
    the International Institute of Population Health, Peking University Health Science Center(48014Y1021)

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Abstract:

Objective: To comprehensively investigate how the willingness of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus to use E-health technologies, such as the application (APP) or Wechat mini-programs and the underlying influencing factors works for its mechanisms. Methods: Based on the extended technology acceptance model, a cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 559 patients with type 2 diabetes from six provinces or municipalities in the eastern, central, and western regions of China from November to December 2024. The survey aimed to investigate the patients' willingness to use APP or Wechat mini-programs and the influencing factors. Correlation analysis and structural equation modeling methods were used to analyze the influencing factors of patients ' willingness to use and to explore the mechanisms. Results: A total of 559 patients were surveyed, with an average willingness score of 10.68 (out of a total score of 15). Age and education level were found to be influencing factors of willingness to use, younger age and higher education (high school/college) were significantly associated with stronger willingness to use (P < 0.05). Spearman correlation analysis revealed that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, disease perception, social support, self-efficacy, and external cues were positively correlated with willingness to use, while perceived barriers were negatively correlated (all P < 0.05). Structural equation modeling demonstrated direct effects of perceived usefulness (β=0.375, P < 0.001), disease perception (β=-0.240, P < 0.001), self-efficacy (β=0.313, P=0.019), social support (β=-0.336, P=0.042), and external cues (β=0.609, P < 0.001) on willingness to use. Perceived ease of use indirectly influenced willingness through perceived usefulness (total effect=0.374). Self-efficacy affected usage intention partially mediated by disease perception, external cues influenced intention through perceived usefulness, and perceived barriers impacted intention via perceived usefulness, with external cues exhibiting the strongest total effect (β=0.672). All these effects were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have a high willingness to use E-health technologies like APP or Wechat mini-programs, particularly younger individuals and those with high school/college education. Increasing perceived usefulness, self-efficacy, and external promotion can enhance willingness to use. However, higher disease perception and higher social support are associated with decreased willingness to use. Perceived ease of use and self-efficacy can also affect willingness to use through multiple mechanisms.

Key words: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, E-health, Willingness to use, Structural equation model, Technology acceptance model

CLC Number: 

  • R193.3

Table 1

Socio-demographic characteristics and willingness to use APP or Wechat mini programs of respondents (n = 559)"

Variables Patients, n (%) Score, ${\bar x}$±s F/t P
Gender 1.775 0.077
  Male 244 (43.65) 10.87±2.23
  Female 315 (56.35) 10.53±2.30
Age/years 5.283 < 0.001***
  18- 60 (10.73) 11.53±2.09
  40- 81 (14.49) 11.11±2.07
  50- 132 (23.61) 10.42±2.13
  60- 173 (30.95) 10.75±2.39
  70- 113 (20.21) 10.11±2.31
Domicile -1.730 0.084
  Urban 311 (55.64) 10.53±2.23
  Rural 248 (44.36) 10.86±2.32
Area 1.154 0.283
  East 177 (31.66) 10.64±2.50
  Midland 217 (38.82) 10.53±2.35
  West 165 (29.52) 10.91±1.87
Education 4.843 0.028*
  Primary school and below 107 (19.14) 10.09±2.13
  Junior high school 187 (33.45) 10.67±2.28
  High school or technical school 130 (23.26) 11.00±2.36
  Junior college 54 (9.66) 10.94±2.41
  University and higher 81 (14.49) 10.75±2.11
Marital status 0.407 0.685
  Married 495 (88.55) 10.66±2.23
  Single/separated or divorced/widow 64 (11.45) 10.80±2.56
Income per month/yuan 0.180 0.671
  ≤1 499 146 (26.12) 10.75±2.45
  1 500-2 999 160 (28.62) 10.59±2.27
  3 000-5 999 160 (28.62) 10.49±2.15
  ≥6 000 93 (16.64) 10.82±2.20
Course of disease/years 3.627 < 0.001***
  ≤5 328 (58.68) 10.97±2.23
  >5 231 (41.32) 10.26±2.27
Complication 1.429 0.158
  Yes 50 (8.94) 10.26±2.15
  No 509 (91.06) 10.72±2.28
Diabetes comorbidities
  Yes 242 (43.29) 10.60±2.42 0.652 0.515
  No 317 (56.71) 10.73±2.15
Family history of diabetes
  Yes 210 (37.57) 10.83±2.38 -1.245 0.214
  No 349 (62.43) 10.58±2.20
Total 559 (100.00) 10.68±2.27

Table 2

Items and scores of willingness to use APP or Wechat mini programs and influencing factors"

Variables Items, n Score, ${\bar x}$±s
Perceived usefulness 7 28.23±5.91
Perceived ease of use 3 11.62±2.67
Disease perception 4 15.14±3.15
Perceived barrier 4 12.60±4.10
External clues 4 15.69±3.55
Social support 4 15.48±3.53
Self efficacy 3 11.59±2.67
Willingness to use 3 10.68±2.27

Table 3

Spearman correlation analysis of willingness to use APP or Wechat mini programs and influencing factors"

Variables Perceived usefulness Perceived ease of use Disease perception Perceived barrier External clues Social support Self efficacy Willingness to use
Perceived usefulness 1.000
Perceived ease of use 0.837*** 1.000
Disease perception 0.615*** 0.637*** 1.000
Perceived barrier 0.121** 0.091* 0.335*** 1.000
External clues 0.737*** 0.704*** 0.571*** 0.104* 1.000
Social support 0.701*** 0.648*** 0.549*** 0.142*** 0.868*** 1.000
Self efficacy 0.738*** 0.814*** 0.635*** 0.094* 0.772*** 0.726*** 1.000
Willingness to use 0.605*** 0.605*** 0.285*** -0.224*** 0.593*** 0.531*** 0.594*** 1.000

Table 4

Standardized parameter estimates of structural equation model"

Path Estimator 95%CI of estimator Z P
Perceived usefulness Willingness to use 0.375 0.250,0.500 5.865 < 0.001***
Perceived ease of use Willingness to use 0.108 -0.088,0.304 1.078 0.281
Disease perception Willingness to use -0.240 -0.364,-0.116 -3.792 < 0.001***
Self efficacy Willingness to use 0.313 0.051,0.575 2.338 0.019*
Perceived barrier Willingness to use -0.055 -0.114,0.004 -1.837 0.066
Social support Willingness to use -0.336 -0.661,-0.012 -2.032 0.042*
External clues Willingness to use 0.609 0.221,0.997 3.075 0.002**
Disease perception Perceived usefulness 0.057 -0.014,0.128 1.566 0.117
Perceived ease of use Perceived usefulness 0.708 0.632,0.784 18.245 < 0.001***
External clues Perceived usefulness 0.169 0.096,0.243 4.517 < 0.001***
Perceived barrier Perceived usefulness 0.044 0.001,0.088 2.004 0.045*
Self efficacy Perceived ease of use 0.910 0.885,0.935 71.419 < 0.001***
Perceived barrier Perceived ease of use -0.054 -0.105,-0.003 -2.081 0.037*
Self efficacy Disease perception 0.794 0.729,0.858 24.111 < 0.001***

Table 5

Effects of structural equation model"

Path Direct effect Total indirect effect Total effect
Perceived usefulness Willingness to use 0.375 0.375
Perceived ease of use Willingness to use 0.108 0.266 0.374
Disease perception Willingness to use -0.240 0.021 -0.219
Self efficacy Willingness to use 0.313 0.166 0.479
Perceived barrier Willingness to use -0.055 -0.004 -0.059
Social support Willingness to use -0.336 -0.336
External clues Willingness to use 0.609 0.063 0.672
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