Consumer Acceptance of a Mobile-Based Civic Engagement-Centric System for Dengue Prevention: Results from a Pilot Test in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Dengue affects scores of people in Sri Lanka and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region. This paper reports preliminary findings from the pilot test of a novel Android-based dengue prevention system called Mo-Buzz. Developed in collaboration with Sri Lanka’s largest telecom company and the city municipal council, this system integrates three components: civic engagement, predictive surveillance and health education. The study was conducted among a sample of 80 potential consumers in Colombo, Sri Lanka. We evaluated potential user acceptance and obtained general feedback on the system adapting the Technology Acceptance Model and Expectation Confirmation Theory. While predictive surveillance and civic engagement modules were high on likability, perceived utility and future use, the construct scores for the health education module were low. Differences in perceived ease-of-use, usefulness and intention-to-use were observed by gender, age and income. Implications of consumer feedback on further design of the dengue prevention system are discussed.