title: Quantifying beliefs regarding telehealth: Development of the Whole Systems Demonstrator Service User Technology Acceptability Questionnaire.
abstract: Introduction Telehealth (TH) is a potential solution to the increased incidence of chronic illness in an ageing population. The extent to which older people and users with chronic conditions accept and adhere to using assistive technologies is a potential barrier to mainstreaming the service. This study reports the development and validation of the Whole Systems Demonstrator (WSD) Service User Technology Acceptability Questionnaire (SUTAQ). Methods Questionnaires measuring the acceptability of TH, quality of life, well-being and psychological processes were completed by 478 users of TH. The 22 acceptability items were subject to principal components analysis (PCA) to determine sub-scales. Scale scores, relationships between scales and other patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and group differences on scales were utilised to check the reliability and validity of the measure. Results PCAs of SUTAQ items produced six TH acceptability scales: enhanced care, increased accessibility, privacy and discomfort, care personnel concerns, kit as substitution and satisfaction. Significant correlations within these beliefs and between these scales and additional PROMs were coherent, and the SUTAQ sub-scales were able to predict those more likely to refuse TH. Discussion The SUTAQ is an instrument that can be used to measure user beliefs about the acceptability of TH, and has the ability to discriminate between groups and predict individual differences in beliefs and behaviour. Measuring acceptability beliefs of TH users can provide valuable information to direct and target provision of services to increase uptake and maintain use of TH.
authors.affiliation: 1 Centre for Health Services Research, City University London, UK.
authors.forename: Shashivadan P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hirani
authors.affiliation: 1 Centre for Health Services Research, City University London, UK.
authors.forename: Lorna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rixon
authors.affiliation: 1 Centre for Health Services Research, City University London, UK.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beynon
authors.affiliation: 1 Centre for Health Services Research, City University London, UK.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cartwright
authors.affiliation: 1 Centre for Health Services Research, City University London, UK.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cleanthous
authors.affiliation: 1 Centre for Health Services Research, City University London, UK.
authors.forename: Abi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Selva
authors.affiliation: 2 Institute of Population Health, University of Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.affiliation: 1 Centre for Health Services Research, City University London, UK.
authors.forename: Stanton P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Newman
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D036301:Qualitative Research; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012656:Self-Help Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Acceptability; Adherence to telehealth; Beliefs about Telehealth; Self care; Telehealth