A STUDY TO UNDERSTAND THE FACTORS INFLUENCING THE ADOPTION OF WEARABLE HEALTHCARE DEVICES IN HYDERABAD

Management

This study aims to comprehensively examine the key factors influencing the adoption of wearable healthcare devices among individuals in Hyderabad, with a particular focus on understanding whether social, behavioral, economic, or technological elements play a dominant role in shaping user decisions. A quantitative research approach was employed, utilizing primary data collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 254 respondents. The collected data were systematically analyzed using IBM SPSS to ensure statistical rigor and reliability. The study tested four primary hypotheses related to gender differences, the impact of financial subsidies, prior experience with wearable devices, and perceived ease of use. To evaluate these hypotheses, multiple statistical techniques were applied, including Chi-Square tests to assess associations between categorical variables, One-Way ANOVA to examine mean differences across groups, Pearson correlation analysis to identify relationships between continuous variables, and a CHAID decision tree analysis to uncover the most influential predictors of adoption behavior. The findings reveal that gender and prior exposure to wearable healthcare technology significantly influence adoption decisions. Individuals who had previously used or interacted with wearable devices demonstrated a higher likelihood of continued or future usage, highlighting the importance of familiarity and experiential learning in technology adoption. In contrast, factors such as financial subsidies and perceived ease of use were found to be statistically insignificant, suggesting that economic incentives and usability alone are insufficient motivators in this context. One of the most notable insights emerged from the CHAID analysis, which identified the willingness to recommend wearable devices to others as the strongest predictor of adoption. This finding underscores the critical role of social influence, peer recommendations, and word-of-mouth communication in shaping consumer behavior. It suggests that users who perceive value in the technology become advocates, thereby driving adoption within their social networks. Overall, the study concludes that social and behavioral factors outweigh purely technological or economic considerations in influencing wearable healthcare device adoption in Hyderabad. These insights offer valuable implications for marketers, healthcare providers, and policymakers, emphasizing the need for strategies that leverage peer influence, user advocacy, and community engagement to enhance adoption and long-term usage of wearable health technologies.

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