Date Approved

2017

Degree Type

Open Access Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department or School

College of Technology

Committee Member

John C. Dugger III, PhD, Co-Chair

Committee Member

Dorothy K. McAllen, PhD, Co-Chair

Committee Member

Bilquis J. Ferdousi, PhD

Committee Member

Stephanie E. Newell, PhD

Committee Member

Jeanette P. Brown, MD, PhD

Abstract

The Michigan Medicine adult Assisted Ventilation Clinic (AVC) supports patients with neuromuscular disorders and spinal cord injuries and their caregivers at home, helping them avoid expensive emergency department visits, hospitalization, and unnecessary or excessive treatments. Mobile device videoconferencing provides an effective capability for remote mechanically-ventilated patient management but must rely upon an unknown infrastructure comprising patient and caregiver mobile device ownership, connectivity, and experience—and intent to use the service if provided. The purpose of this study was to measure the extent of this infrastructure and the perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and intent to use this mobile device capability using a questionnaire based on the technology acceptance model (TAM).

Of 188 patients and caregivers asked, 153 (n = 153) respondents completed a questionnaire comprised of 14 demographic and 24 Likert-type questions. Inferential results indicated a significant correlation between perceived ease of use (PEU) and perceived usefulness (PU) of mobile devices in remote care and their intent to use them (sig. < .001). Also, mobile device own/access significantly correlated with PEU and PU (p = .003 & .004, respectively), but not intent to use. No single demographic variable (age, distance to AVC, diagnoses, mobile device experience, tracheostomy, etc.) significantly correlated with intent to use. Descriptive results indicated a significant patient/caregiver provided infrastructure: 96% have cellular/WiFi/Internet access, 91% own or have access to mobile devices, 77% have downloaded apps, 68% have used videoconferencing, and 80% own between two and five ICT devices.

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