Investigating the Acceptance of Telemedicine Services Through the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in Rural Areas

Telemedicine is a new term used to describe the use of electronic information and communication information technology to provide services and support consumers when there is a gap between the client and the service provider. Many potential benefits of telemedicine can be envisaged, including: improved access to information; provision of care not previously deliverable; improved access to services and increasing care delivery; improved professional education; quality control of screening programmes; and reduced health-care costs. The statistical population of the study is rural patients of Mazandaran province who used telemedicine services in some way. From this number according to the sampling method of Cochran technique, considering that our statistical population is one of the unlimited communities, ۳۸۴ samples were selected. In this study, we examined the acceptance of telemedicine services through the technology acceptance model (TAM) in rural areas of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. The sample size in this study was randomly selected using Cochran's formula with ۹۵% confidence and an acceptable error of ۵%. After selecting the research sample, the questionnaires were first given to individuals. The results showed that patients 'trust, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, social factors, easing, technology anxiety to patients, their resistance, risk of disease, and privacy with patients' attitudes toward use Telemedicine services have a direct and meaningful relationship. Examining the relationship between patients' privacy and attitudes toward using telemedicine services, shows that this path coefficient is estimated to be ۰.۰۷. According to the value of the partial index (t-value) which is equal to ۳.۶۲ and also the significant number is equal to ۰.۰۱۲. The study of the correlation coefficient of resistance by patients with the attitude of using telemedicine services shows that this path coefficient is estimated to be ۰.۰۹. According to the t-value which is equal to ۳.۹۲ and also the significant number which is equal to ۰.۰۰۰.