Clinical Scorecard: Emotional Factors and Disease-Specific Influences on Digital Health Adoption in Multiple Sclerosis: Expanding the Technology Acceptance Framework

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• MS patients show lower regular wearable use despite similar perceived usefulness and ease of use compared to other chronic conditions.
• Trust in Technology positively predicts behavioral intention, while Technological Anxiety negatively predicts it, outweighing traditional TAM constructs.
• Symptom severity moderates acceptance pathways by weakening ease of use effects and amplifying anxiety effects, revealing an intention–behavior gap.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

• Consider cognitive and physical symptom fluctuations when assessing digital health readiness in MS patients.

Management

• Prioritize trust-building and anxiety-reducing design features in digital health tools for MS.
• Incorporate disease-specific factors such as symptom burden into technology acceptance models.

Monitoring & Follow-up

• Monitor symptom severity as it moderates technology acceptance and usage patterns.
• Assess emotional factors like trust and anxiety regularly to support sustained digital health engagement.

Risks

• Be aware of the intention–behavior gap due to cognitive impairments and emotional barriers in MS patients.
• Address privacy concerns that may undermine trust in digital health technologies.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Individuals diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis

Emotional and capability-related factors are stronger determinants of digital health adoption than perceived usefulness or ease of use; interventions should focus on reducing technological anxiety and enhancing trust.

Clinical Best Practices

• Use clear, jargon-free communication and minimize cognitive load when introducing digital health tools to MS patients.
• Engage patient advocacy groups to facilitate recruitment and support for digital health adoption.
• Design digital health interventions that adapt to fluctuating MS symptoms and cognitive capacities.
• Incorporate emotional support elements to reduce technological anxiety and build trust.

References

• Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)
• Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT)
• German MS Society (Deutsche Multiple Sklerose Gesellschaft—DMSG)