AUTHOR=Xu Xueru , Wang Tao , Liu Chuang , Luo Li , Liu Xiaofei 

TITLE=Exploring the determinants of online health service usage intentions under the threat of air pollution

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1447733

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2024.1447733

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=The rapid evolution of online health services (OHS) has significantly improved healthcare accessibility. Nonetheless, the influence of air pollution on individuals' willingness to engage with OHS remains underexplored in existing literature. This study investigates the impact of air pollution threats on OHS usage intentions, based on the frameworks of Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and Rational Choice Theory (RCT). Utilizing cross-sectional survey data, our theoretical model was rigorously tested. Findings indicate that threat appraisal, coping appraisal, and perceived benefits positively affect the intention to use OHS, whereas perceived costs have a negative impact. Moreover, age moderates the relationship between coping appraisal and OHS usage intention. Our study extends the application of PMT and RCT within the context of OHS research, offering valuable insights into users' intentions to utilize OHS.