The influence of personal characteristics, perceived innovation characteristics, attitude, and subjective norm upon intent to adopt Internet pharmacy service: An adoption of innovations study

The purpose of this dissertation was to use a theoretical model to examine the intent to adopt Internet pharmacy service. Using a theory of reasoned action model adapted from two models in the fields of innovation-characteristics research and technology acceptance, this study analyzed the relationships between intent to adopt Internet pharmacy service and attitude toward Internet pharmacy use, subjective norm toward Internet pharmacy use, selected user perceptions (perceived relative advantage, perceived simplicity, perceived compatibility, and perceived risk) and selected user characteristics (total family income and formal education level).;A web-enabled self reported survey data collection instrument was used to collect data from faculty and staff members of The University of Texas at Austin. A structural equation modeling program was used to analyze the relationships between model variables. Of the 15 original model hypotheses, 10 were confirmed. Attitude towards Internet pharmacy service use and subjective norm towards Internet pharmacy use were found to exert a direct positive influence upon intent to use Internet pharmacy. Perceived relative advantage, perceived simplicity and perceived compatibility were found to exert a direct positive influence while perceived risk and formal education were found to exert a direct negative influence upon attitude towards Internet pharmacy use. Perceived simplicity, and perceived compatibility were found to exert a direct negative effect upon perceived risk of Internet pharmacy use, and perceived compatibility was found to exert a direct positive effect upon perceived relative advantage.;In general, the intent to adopt Internet pharmacy service is driven primarily by attitude toward Internet pharmacy service (total effect = 0.566), and perceived compatibility of Internet pharmacy service (total effect = 0.312). The practical and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed. In summary, this study helps to identify perceptions and factors that explain the intent to adopt Internet pharmacy service. These factors may be important to health systems and policy makers that wish to encourage widespread adoption of web-enabled health technologies.