It is an important issue to manage the mental health of military personnel. Given the increasing demand for mental health services and space and time constraints, telemental health services are being considered as a potential alternative.
This stud...
It is an important issue to manage the mental health of military personnel. Given the increasing demand for mental health services and space and time constraints, telemental health services are being considered as a potential alternative.
This study was conducted as a cross-sectional descriptive survey to analyze the intention to use military telemental health services and its influencing factors, based on an integrated theoretical framework combining the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology and the Health Belief Model. The study included 164 psychiatric outpatients at military hospitals in Guri and Seongnam, and data were collected through an online survey conducted over a four-week period from July 9 to August 8, 2025. The collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 29.
The mean intention-to-use score, measured on a 7-point Likert scale, was 4.57 (±1.24), indicating a relatively positive level. Correlation analysis indicated that intention to use was significantly positive association with performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and perceived severity. In the Multiple regression analysis, social influence and number of visits were identified as statistically significant factors associated with intention to use. These findings suggest that external factors, such as social influence and prior medical experience, were more strongly associated with intention to use than with individual perceptions of service utilization.
Before establishing telemental health services in military settings, it is essential to address potential barriers, such as limited resources, insufficient information, and security issues. In addition, organizational-level efforts to foster positive perception of military telemental health services and strategic approaches that account for patients’ needs and prior medical experience are necessary. This study is expected to serve as foundational evidence for system development and future research.