TY - JOUR
T1 - Would people pay for text messaging health reminders?
AU - Cocosila, Mihail
AU - Archer, Norm
AU - Yuan, Yufei
PY - 2008/12/1
Y1 - 2008/12/1
N2 - The aim of this study is to determine the time and financial limitations that people would accept for using a telehealth service consisting of wireless text messaging reminders to improve adherence to a recommended healthy regimen. An empirical study based on a 1-month trial of a prototype system that studied adherence to a specified healthy behaviour was conducted. Fifty-one participants received daily cell phone text messaging reminders on taking one vitamin C pill daily for preventive reasons. At the end of the trial they answered a survey regarding their willingness to pay for and to stay with such a service, if offered. If usage were free, only 45% of the participants would continue to use it for a long indefinite period of time. If the usage were for a fee, 29% of the participants would use the service just a few weeks; 28% would use it an indefinite period of time if they could see its usefulness and if the cost were reasonable. The median amount indicated by the participants as a reasonable monthly fee for such a service was $5. Although the study did not evaluate perceived usefulness to use the telehealth service explicitly, a benefit perception proved to condition participant willingness to use the service and to pay for it, if necessary. If people perceive usefulness, they want to use the service, even for a fee. A free service would not be used if it is not perceived as beneficial.
AB - The aim of this study is to determine the time and financial limitations that people would accept for using a telehealth service consisting of wireless text messaging reminders to improve adherence to a recommended healthy regimen. An empirical study based on a 1-month trial of a prototype system that studied adherence to a specified healthy behaviour was conducted. Fifty-one participants received daily cell phone text messaging reminders on taking one vitamin C pill daily for preventive reasons. At the end of the trial they answered a survey regarding their willingness to pay for and to stay with such a service, if offered. If usage were free, only 45% of the participants would continue to use it for a long indefinite period of time. If the usage were for a fee, 29% of the participants would use the service just a few weeks; 28% would use it an indefinite period of time if they could see its usefulness and if the cost were reasonable. The median amount indicated by the participants as a reasonable monthly fee for such a service was $5. Although the study did not evaluate perceived usefulness to use the telehealth service explicitly, a benefit perception proved to condition participant willingness to use the service and to pay for it, if necessary. If people perceive usefulness, they want to use the service, even for a fee. A free service would not be used if it is not perceived as beneficial.
KW - Adherence
KW - Business
KW - Cost
KW - Mobile health
KW - SMS
KW - Telehealth
KW - Text messaging
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=58149218428&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1089/tmj.2008.0047
DO - 10.1089/tmj.2008.0047
M3 - Journal Article
C2 - 19119832
AN - SCOPUS:58149218428
SN - 1530-5627
VL - 14
SP - 1091
EP - 1095
JO - Telemedicine and e-Health
JF - Telemedicine and e-Health
IS - 10
ER -