Intention to continue using corporate wellness mHealth apps in Thailand: A health belief model approach

The rising prevalence of chronic diseases and the widespread use of smartphones have led to a surge in preventive health mobile applications (mHealth apps) for corporate wellness. However, user retention and the intention to continue using these apps remain suboptimal. This study examines factors influencing corporate employees' intention to continue using a preventive health mHealth app in Thailand, using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as the guiding framework.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a sample of corporate employees in Thailand. The survey questionnaire measured constructs from the HBM, including perceived severity of disease, perceived benefits of using mHealth apps, cues to action, and self-efficacy in using mHealth apps. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the relationships between these constructs and the intention to continue using preventive health mHealth apps.

Perceived benefits were the strongest predictor of intention to continue using the app. Cues to action and self-efficacy were also significant predictors, whereas perceived severity was not a significant factor.

The findings underscore the importance of highlighting the benefits of mHealth apps and leveraging cues to action and user confidence in the intention to continue using. Strategies in corporate wellness should focus on these factors to enhance engagement. However, because this study evaluated a single wellness app among pre-selected users already engaged with the app, the results should be interpreted with caution and may not be generalizable to other settings or populations.