Factors Associated with the Intention to Adopt Digital Health Technologies for Physical Activity Among People with Disabilities: An Integrated Technology Acceptance Model-Theory of Planned Behavior Framework.

BACKGROUND/

OBJECTIVES

Digital health technologies may support physical activity participation among people with disabilities, yet their adoption remains limited because of accessibility, usability, and implementation barriers. This study examined factors associated with the intention to adopt digital health technologies for physical activity among people with disabilities using an integrated Technology Acceptance Model-Theory of Planned Behavior framework.

METHODS

Data were collected from 362 individuals with physical, visual, or hearing impairments who participated in community-based sports programs in South Korea. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the integrated model, and indirect effects were examined using bias-corrected bootstrapping.

RESULTS

The final model showed acceptable fit. Perceived ease of use was positively associated with perceived usefulness, and both perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness were positively associated with attitude and perceived behavioral control. Attitude and subjective norm were positively associated with intention to adopt digital health technologies, whereas perceived behavioral control showed a significant inverse association. Perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use were indirectly associated with intention primarily through attitude.

CONCLUSIONS

The integrated framework provided a useful, although incomplete, explanation of digital health technology adoption intention among people with disabilities and suggests that perceived control may operate differently in disability-related digital health contexts. Adoption strategies should emphasize perceived benefits, positive user evaluations, accessible design, social support, and implementation conditions that reduce structural barriers to physical activity and health management.