Factors associated with user experience of speech rehabilitation applications with hearing impairment in Shanghai: Implications for future continuance research

Vollständiger Abstract

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Background Speech rehabilitation applications can support communication and rehabilitation activities outside clinical settings. However, providing advanced functions alone may not ensure a positive user experience. Users may also consider the effort required to operate an application, its usefulness and value, whether it offers an improved approach to rehabilitation, and how reliably it performs. Objective This study examined factors associated with the user experience of speech rehabilitation applications among adults with hearing impairment in Shanghai, China. It also assessed the indirect associations through perceived innovation and the moderating role of perceived technological performance. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted using purposive sampling. Participants were adults with hearing impairment who had used a qualifying speech rehabilitation application within the previous 6 months. A total of 384 valid responses were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The research model drew primarily on the Technology Acceptance Model and Means–end Theory. User experience research defined the main outcome, while Social Learning Theory provided a supporting perspective. Results Perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and perceived value were positively associated with both perceived innovation and user experience. Perceived innovation was also positively associated with user experience. It statistically mediated part of the associations between the three initial evaluations and user experience. Perceived technological performance positively moderated the association between perceived innovation and user experience. Conclusions Users reported more positive experiences when they perceived speech rehabilitation applications as easy to use, useful, valuable, innovative, and technically reliable. These findings may help developers design applications that better support the rehabilitation needs of people with hearing impairment.