Hsieh-Hua Yang

Intention to Adopt the E-Health Services System in a Bureau of Health

The objectives of this study are exploring the determinants of acceptance to use the e-health service system, and identifying the relative importance of the determinants. The participants are employees of the Health Bureaus and Health Stations located in the north of Taiwan. A total of 105 effective responses were received, a 95.4% response rate. The results showed that the original theory of reasoned action is robust enough in explaining behavioral intention. However, the importance of attitude is decreased when jointly perceived with behavioral control as predictors. It is concluded that behavioral intention is influenced by multiple factors; the relative importance of these factors is determined by volitional control. The implication for strategic planning is discussed.

Structural Hole and Personal Innovativeness in a Bureau of Health

The objective of this study is to explore the relationship of structural hole and personal innovativeness in a bureau of health. The subjects were the employees in the bureau of health and three health stations. They were asked about the personal innovativeness and the relations with their colleagues including the director, and vice director. The questions to uncover important network relationship included knowledge awareness, access, and problem solving. UCINET6 was applied to analyze the social network data and constraint and efficiency were used as the indicators of structural hole. Of the 118 questionnaires distributed, a total of 81 effective responses were received, showing a 68.6% response rate. The result showed that the higher efficiency the more innovativeness. It is concluded that social network with rich structural holes provides opportunities for having time and energy to be innovative. Managerial implication and future research were discussed.

E-Health Service in Taiwan–The Role of Organizational Innovativeness

In Taiwan, the electronic information and online services provided by the health bureaus and the district health centers are still in their infancy. We argue that the inclusion of personal innovativeness and organizational innovativeness with respect to information technology would help us to further understand how perceptions are formed and the subsequent role they play in the formation of usage attitude. In this study, two comparable research models are tested. Findings reveal that compatibility has an effect on both perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use; and that personal innovativeness has a direct effect on perceived ease of use, but not on perceived usefulness; while organizational innovativeness has a direct effect on attitude. Some theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Evolution of Social Networks and Body Mass Index for Adolescence

We hypothesized that social norm for BMI has effect on the evolution of social networks. The goal of the present study is to analyze the evolution of friendship network and body mass index (BMI) for adolescent in 3 different classes—boys’ and girls’ class, boys’ class, and girls’ class. A network survey was carried out in classrooms of high schools. The participants came from 3 classes. Sociometric data were collected by having each student nominate up to 16 intimate classmates. Panel data was collected 7 times across 2 semesters from Sep. 2008 to Jun. 2009. The program SIENA was applied to estimate the models for the evolution of social networks and BMI. The result showed that BMI has effect on girls’ class, but not boys’. In conclusion, the different composition of gender in a class will construct social norm about BMI and exerts different effect on network evolution. It is helpful for intervention plan focused on norms.

Evolution of Social Networks and Depression for Adolescence

The goal of the present study is to analyze the evolution of adolescent friendship network and depression. A network survey was carried out in classrooms of high schools. The participants are 93 boys and 82 girls. Sociometric data were collected by having each student nominate up to 16 intimate classmates. Mandarin Chinese version of the center for epidemiological studies-depression scale (MC-CES-D) was adopted as the measurement of depression. Panel data was collected across 3 semesters from Sep. 2008 to Jan. 2010. The program SIENA was applied to estimate the models for the evolution of social networks and depression. The result showed that gender had effect in the beginning, and depression had effect during the 2nd semester. The results and implication are discussed.

Knowledge-reuse Networks of an On-line PBL Framework

Knowledge workers reuse knowledge to identify problem, to recognize problem, and to resolve the problem. Knowledge steams within group provide professional connections among team-members. Problem-based learning is the bridge to connected learner with real world and is the trigger setting for high level thinking skill. On-line technology is supporting our learning in many ways. There is a need to understand not only what a framework could help conducting on-line problem-based learning but also learner’s professional networks. The purpose of this study was to explore both feasibility and knowledge-reuse networking of on-line problem-based learning. Based on literature review, a theory framework was identified. An implementation of this framework was conducted to verify the feasibility. Knowledge-reuse network was constructed according to on-line activity log. For the framework of on-line PBL, the results of the evaluation conducted in this study imply that the feasibility exists. For the knowledge-reuse network, the higher group density tends to acts with higher reuse frequency. It was conclude that both in-degree and out-degree of knowledge-reuse networks index are significant predictor of PBL learning achievement of out learners.