Perceived Credibility and Technology Anxiety in the Adoption of Radar Sensors for Health Monitoring: Insights from Binh Duong Smart City (Preprint)
Authors: Kim Hak-Seon 
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND

Non-invasive health monitoring technologies have revolutionized healthcare by enabling real-time data collection and improving patient comfort. Radar sensors enable remote monitoring of health indicators like heart rate and respiration, enhancing patient comfort. The Non-Invasive Monitoring Device Market is projected to grow from USD 21.5 billion in 2024 to USD 36.39 billion by 2031, driven by demand for remote monitoring and rising chronic diseases [1,2]. In smart city environments like Binh Duong Smart City, Vietnam, radar sensors are used to remotely track health indicators such as heart rate and respiration through contactless methods.

OBJECTIVE

This study applies the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to explore how Perceived Credibility (PC) influences Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) of radar sensors for health monitoring. Additionally, Technology Anxiety (TA) is considered as a moderating factor in these relationships. The aim is to provide insights into the factors affecting the integration of radar sensors in healthcare settings within smart cities [3,4,5].

METHODS

A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 222 participants in Binh Duong Smart City. The survey measured PC, PEOU, PU, ATU, ITU, and TA, which moderated several relationships in the model, which proposed in Figure 1. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was conducted to explore the relationships between these variables [6].

RESULTS

The analysis confirmed significant relationships (showed in Table 1) within the TAM framework. PC had a strong positive effect on both PU (β=4.937, P<0.001) and PEOU (β=10.995, P<0.001). Similarly, PEOU positively influenced PU (β=5.233, P<0.001) and ATU (β=2.934, P=0.003). Furthermore, PU had a significant impact on ATU (β=4.712, P<0.001), and ATU strongly predicted ITU (β=24.262, P<0.001).
The moderating role of TA revealed several notable effects. TA had a marginal effect on the relationship between PC and PU (β=0.020, P=0.082), while significantly moderating the relationship between PC and PEOU (β=0.030, P<0.001). TA also positively moderated the relationship between PEOU and ATU (β=0.101, P=0.017) and PU and ATU (β=0.110, P=0.002). However, TA did not significantly moderate the relationship between ATU and ITU (β=0.023, P=0.284).

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the importance of PC in user perceptions of radar sensors for health monitoring in smart city contexts. Credibility plays a key role in boosting both PU and PEOU, making it an essential factor for the adoption of non-invasive healthcare technologies. When users trust the accuracy and security of health data provided by radar sensors, they are more likely to find the technology useful and easy to incorporate into their healthcare practices. Credibility also builds confidence in sharing sensitive health information, which is crucial in promoting the adoption of these technologies in smart city environments [9].
Technology Anxiety complicates the adoption process. While anxiety reduces the impact of credibility on key factors like usefulness, it can also enhance the perception of ease of use when systems are designed with user-friendly interfaces. Efforts to mitigate anxiety through proper system design, training, and support are essential for increasing the adoption of radar sensors and similar devices in smart healthcare systems [10].

To facilitate the successful adoption of radar sensors in smart cities, developers and city planners must focus on enhancing the credibility of the technology and addressing user concerns related to technology anxiety. Providing user-friendly interfaces and transparent data security measures can further increase acceptance and improve health outcomes in urban settings.