Title: The influence of user interface usability on rural consumers' trust of e-health services

Authors: Ann L. Fruhling, Sang M. Lee

Addresses: Department of Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis, University of Nebraska at Omaha, PKI 174G, 1110 S. 67th Street, Omaha, NE 68182, USA. ' Department of Management, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, 209 CBA, 1240 'R' Street, Lincoln, NE 68588–0491, USA

Abstract: A critical challenge facing e-health care providers today is developing a web presence that not only compels the consumer, but also inspires trust. This research is the first empirical study that systematically investigates the influence User Interface (UI) usability factors have on establishing trust between e-health consumers and e-health service providers in the context of exchanging personal relationship-based information. The findings of this research suggest that UI usability factors are essential elements in conveying the trustworthiness of a web-based system and do affect consumers| perception of trust in personal relationship-based information exchanges.

Keywords: e-health; usability; trust; user interfaces; rural healthcare; information exchanges; personal information; healthcare websites.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEH.2006.010424

International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, 2006 Vol.2 No.4, pp.305 - 321

Published online: 21 Jul 2006 *

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