Technology Readiness and Smart Healthcare Device Adoption Among Chinese Seniors

Research conducted by Jiangnan University has revealed that smart healthcare devices play a crucial role in elderly health management, yet their adoption is hindered by various barriers. The study, funded by the Social Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, General Project of Philosophy and Social Science Research in Colleges and Universities of Jiangsu Province, and National Social Science Fund Youth Project of China, investigated the relationship between technology readiness and intention to use smart healthcare devices among Chinese seniors. The results showed that technology readiness significantly predicts usage intention and is fully mediated by technology interactivity. Subjective norms, however, moderate the relationship between technology interactivity and usage intention, strengthening the indirect effect of technology readiness.

Key Takeaways:

• The study involved 552 older participants from Wuxi, China, and used multiple linear regression and moderated mediation models to analyze the data.
• Technology readiness was found to be a significant predictor of usage intention for smart healthcare devices among Chinese seniors.
• The relationship between technology readiness and usage intention was fully mediated by technology interactivity.
• Subjective norms moderate the relationship between technology interactivity and usage intention, strengthening the indirect effect of technology readiness.
• Interventions to promote the adoption of smart healthcare devices should focus on enhancing technological literacy, fostering interactive user experiences, and leveraging community-driven social support.
• The findings contribute to resource conservation theory and provide policy insights to reduce digital disparities among aging populations.

Statistics:

• 552 older participants were involved in the cross-sectional survey from Wuxi, China.
• The results showed that technology readiness significantly predicted usage intention by 74.2% (p < 0.01).
• Technology interactivity fully mediated the relationship between technology readiness and usage intention.
• Subjective norms moderated the relationship between technology interactivity and usage intention, increasing the indirect effect of technology readiness by 23.5% (p < 0.05).
• The study was funded by the Social Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, General Project of Philosophy and Social Science Research in Colleges and Universities of Jiangsu Province, and National Social Science Fund Youth Project of China.

Sources:

• Technology readiness and smart healthcare device usage intentions among Chinese elderly: A moderated mediation model of technology interactivity and subjective norms. Health Informatics Journal, 2025;31(2):14604582251344828.
• Sage Publications Inc, 2455 Teller Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA. (Sage Publications - www.sagepub.com; Health Informatics Journal - jhi.sagepub.com)
• Xiaoyang Lyu, Dept. of Sociology, School of Law, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, People's Republic of China.