The role of trust in intention to use the IoT in eHealth: Application of the modified UTAUT in a consumer context

The Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged over the last few decades in many fields, and healthcare can significantly benefit from the IoT. This study aims to examine factors influencing patients’ adoption of the IoT for eHealth. To reach this objective, a research framework was developed that applies the United Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model and includes the risk−trust relationship to predicting intention to use IoT in the medical context. Partial Least Approach - Structural Equation Modeling was conducted with a sample of 267 French users. The findings highlight the key role of the risk−trust relationship for IoT adoption. An unexpected result indicates that performance expectancy has no impact on intention to use the IoT for eHealth. The contributions of this study can enable developers, medical professionals, and marketers to improve the design of connected devices, optimize patient communication, and target potential users more accurately, respectively.