Acceptability of and willingness to pay for using a smartphone-based vaccination application in a Vietnamese cohort

Background: The increasing accessibility of smartphone in Vietnam shows potential in using smartphone applications for vaccination management to improve compliance. However, the acceptability and financial feasibility of using this application in Vietnam have not yet been understood. This study measured the general perception of and willingness to pay (WTP) for using smartphone-based vaccination management applications and their associated factors in Vietnam. Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between March and April 2016 in an urban vaccination clinic at the Hanoi Medical University in Vietnam. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 429 adult participants who had received vaccinations or whose children were vaccinated. Sociodemographic characteristics and the acceptability of and WTP for using smartphone-based vaccination management applications were evaluated. Results: Among participants who used smartphone applications, 5% were aware of existing vaccination management applications, of whom 57.9% had previously used the applications. About 69.6% of participants believed that the applications were necessary, 93.7% of them were also willing to use the applications, and 79.1% were willing to pay 92.7 thousand Vietnamese dong (VND) for the applications on average. Participants who were older, unemployed, earned more household income, and having knowledge about functions and benefits of vaccination were less likely to use the vaccination applications. Participants who brought their children to get vaccinated at younger age and with higher level of education were willing to pay more for vaccination applications. Conclusion: High levels of acceptability of, willingness to use, and WTP for smartphone-based vaccination management applications among Vietnamese participants are reported. Increased education and awareness about the benefits of vaccination and vaccination management applications through community health workers might increase the feasibility of implementing such applications and perception toward their usage among young adult smartphone users. In addition, building a stronger relationship with health care providers at hospitals might improve the application's visibility and adoption.