Attitudes of family doctors toward internet diagnosis and treatment in mainland China: An exploratory study from the perspective of innovation resistance theory

Internet diagnosis and treatment play increasingly important roles in providing health services for the public in mainland China. Comparatively, less attention has been given to the barriers that influence family doctors' attitudes toward internet diagnosis and treatment than they deserve. Therefore, the aim of this research is to explore the barriers that influence family doctors' attitudes toward internet diagnosis and treatment. Based on the innovation resistance theory, we developed our research hypothesis model. A cross-sectional survey of family doctors was conducted in mainland China for this study. In total, 396 family doctors from 13 provincial administrative regions across the country participated in an electronic questionnaire survey, and 259 usable responses were used in the present study. Structural equation modeling was employed to identify the significant barriers to internet use attitudes. As shown in the results, both usage barriers and value barriers have a negative influence on use attitudes toward internet diagnosis and treatment. According to our findings, tradition barriers positively influence value barriers as well as risk barriers. In addition, image barriers positively influence usage barriers and value barriers. These findings provide guidelines for policy makers regarding the development of policies that encourage family doctors to use internet-based diagnosis and treatment. For the internet medical industry, the findings of this study are conducive to revising current rules to meet family doctors' needs. • The barriers influencing family doctors’ attitudes toward the use of internet diagnosis and treatment are examined. • Innovation resistance theory is employed. • Usage barriers and value barriers negatively influence use attitudes. • Tradition barriers are positively associated with value barriers and risk barriers. • Image barriers positively influence usage barriers as well as value barriers.