Informatics in Medicine Unlocked (Jan 2023)
Behavioral intention to use e-learning and its associated factors among health science students in Mettu university, southwest Ethiopia: Using modified UTAUT model
Abstract
Background: The use of information and communication technologies has changed how teachers and students receive and process information. There are numerous ways that these technologies have been used to support learning. Electronic learning, or e-learning, is the process of teaching and learning remotely using electronic media. University students are avid information seekers who are eager to acquire new concepts, ideas, technologies, and methods of gathering knowledge. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the behavioral intention of students to use an e-learning system and its associated factors at Mettu University, southwest Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October to November 2022 at Mettu University, southwest Ethiopia. A total of 637 health science students participated in the study. The study participants were selected using a stratified sampling technique. The data were gathered using a self-administered questionnaire. Using the AMOS version 26 software, measurement and structural equation modeling analyses were used to evaluate reliability, the validity of model fit, and test the hypothesis, respectively. Results: The behavioral intention of students to use e-learning was significantly influenced by effort expectancy (β = 0.420; P 0.05). The facilitating condition had a direct significant effect on health science students' use of e-learning (β = 0.634; P < 0.01), and perceived enjoyment of the e-learning system had a direct significant effect on students' behavioral intention (β = 0.564; P < 0.01). Whereas, the relationship between performance expectancy (β = −0.034; P = 0.418), and social influence (β = −0.005; P = 0.879) had no significant effect on students’ intentions to use e-learning. Conclusions: Effort expectancy, perceived enjoyment, and facilitating conditions were significant factors that determined students’ behavioral intention to use e-learning. As a result, it is important to promote the use of information and communication technology in the teaching and learning process by providing materials and implementing easy-to-use and interactive systems.
