User’s Perceived Attitudes and Acceptance Towards Wearable Devices in Healthcare

With the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic uncovering several structural problems within the German healthcare system, especially within the inpatient sector, rapid improvements were needed to strengthen the preventive industry of the healthcare system. To adequately cover prevention as well as aftercare needs, some telemedical solutions, such as wearables can strongly contribute to the preventive sector. Therefore, this research aims to understand users’ perceived attitudes and acceptance towards wearable devices in healthcare. Following the Technology Acceptance Model, the essential factors that influence user acceptance were assessed using an online survey involving 154 participants, students of the Deggendorf Institute of Technology. The results of this survey indicate that among the students’ technology acceptance is generally high, participants had a favourable attitude towards digital health technologies, a high perception of usefulness, and a heightened perception of ease of use. Only a minor of the participants have stated that they have certain concerns, mainly regarding data protection. This study however gives very little insight into what elderly people, people in the active workforce, or those suffering from chronic illness think of wearables and digital health as a whole. So further research including this demographic of people is suggested.