Factors that influence an individual's intention to adopt a wearable healthcare device: The case of a wearable fitness tracker

Despite the importance of wearable healthcare devices, little has been known about what influences individual adoption of a wearable healthcare device. The purpose of this study was to examine factors that influence an individual's intention to adopt a wearable fitness tracker, which is a type of wearable healthcare devices. Factors examined in this study included interpersonal influence, personal innovativeness, self-efficacy, attitudes toward a wearable fitness tracker, health interests, and perceived expensiveness of the device. Adoption intentions of two groups of individuals were compared. One group included individuals who already knew about fitness trackers; the other included those who were unaware of such devices. Analyzing data collected from 616 respondents, we found that the intention to adopt was stronger among respondents who were aware of wearable fitness trackers than it was among those who were not aware. Results of ordered logistic regressions indicate that in both groups of respondents, consumer attitudes, personal innovativeness, and health interests had statistically significant and positive associations with the intention to adopt a wearable fitness tracker.