Current Status of and Future Directions for Assessing Technology Acceptance for Digital (Mental) Health Interventions

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Background

Recently, digital interventions have proliferated and show promising results in preventing and treating common mental health disorders, such as depression, in different settings (e.g., workplaces). Digital interventions may have advantages over face-to-face interventions (e.g., more accessible; easily customisable; real-time monitoring). However, despite efforts made by healthcare systems worldwide (e.g., apps on prescription in Germany), actual adoption is still rather low in many countries.
It is essential to understand innovation acceptance in order to tailor digital interventions and to measure user technology acceptance. In this way, determinants can be identified to derive strategies to promote acceptance.
Technology acceptance has been studied extensively, resulting in the development of various theoretical models (e.g., Technology Acceptance Model-TAM; Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology-UTAUT, UTAUT2). Besides several methodological strengths, technology acceptance models also have various limitations, which makes it difficult to investigate causality or to generalize findings across different contexts, populations, and cultures.

Trends in acceptance research have evolved and currently focus on a more holistic, multidisciplinary approach that incorporates user experience, design thinking and psychology to understand the factors that influence adoption. Furthermore, there may be a need for updated models that can effectively predict the adoption of digital interventions based on context-sensitive factors. To date, there are few studies that consider user technology acceptance prior to the delivery of digital interventions.
This Research Topic aims to collect and present original research related to the current state of TAM, UTAUT and beyond and to suggestions for future research on technology acceptance of digital health interventions for mental health, health promotion and disease management among other related application fields and delivery modes (e.g., stand-alone mobile apps, blended care concepts. The preferred target group in this context are workers and university students. Particular attention is given to research aimed at understanding the complex interplay between individual, organisational and contextual factors involved in technology acceptance, and the effectiveness of digital health interventions in order to design them more effectively, sustainably and persuasively.

Potential topics for research papers include, for instance:

• Application of technology acceptance models in digital (mental) health interventions
• The role of attitudes, expectations and beliefs in technology acceptance, involvement of further theoretical models (e.g., on health beliefs, stress, information processing, innovation diffusion)
• Insights into novel methodological and/or theoretical considerations, including new measures
• Information strategies to promote the adoption of digital interventions in different settings (e.g., workplaces, universities)
• The role of health professionals for the individual acceptance and use of digital health interventions
• Status quo of digital health education (e.g., in medical schools)
• Intervention needs and preferences in relation to acceptance and use
• Studies on acceptance and use of digital health interventions under real-world conditions (e.g., acceptance determinants)
• The potential of participative and co-design: Beyond acceptance and adherence – How to measure and foster sustainable, continuous usage?
• Comparison of technology acceptance research in different countries, cultures and/or healthcare systems

All types of manuscripts may be submitted.

Keywords: technology acceptance, digital mental health, Technology Acceptance Model, Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, technology adoption

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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