Note: *p < 0.1; **p < 0.05; ***p < 0.01
The model clearly shows that avoiding a coronavirus infection is a
strong motivator to increase the willingness to try. In this context,
age also became an important factor: although one might expect the older
generation to be more wary of modern technology, the coronavirus has
left a deep impression on the older generation. As COVID-19 could be
with us for a long time, it is understandable that older people would be
more inclined to try telediagnostics. This is probably the reason why
technological readiness does not play a significant role in the
willingness to try. Experience to date suggests that in the long term
the use of telediagnostics will not be primarily a matter of
technological readiness, but will probably be the only option available.
For example, during the pandemic it was very rare to see a doctor in
person, results of antigen and antibody and PCR tests could only be
accessed through the EESZT, just as vaccination/immunity cards and
digital EU Green Passes could only be downloaded through the EESZT.
The situation is similar for positive attitudes and individual benefits:
a unit increase in both variables increases the willingness to try,
ceteris paribus. The fear variable for technophobia also gave the
expected result, i.e. a strong negative effect on the willingness to
try, which is understandable: if someone is afraid of data theft, for
example, they are less likely to try telediagnostics. Overall, then, we
can say that those who are open to the service and expect significant
personal benefits (and who tend to belong to the older generation) are
more likely to try telediagnostics, and that the more sceptical and
distrustful they are of e-health, the less likely they are to try it.
We found very similar results for the other model we used to test
intention to use: those who are open to e-health and expect significant
personal benefits are more likely to make the full switch. However, for
continuous use, technophobia was removed from the equation, while gender
(men are more open to switching) was included with a positive effect and
technological proficiency with a negative effect. The latter is probably
due to social reasons, which will be discussed in the discussion
section.