Abstract
Numerous types of self-service technologies have prevailed due to innovations in network and information technology. To hospitals, patient intentions to continue to use the e-appointment system are crucial. Previous investigations discussed only the relationships between the technology readiness of users and their continuance intentions, and ignored the most important mediator, relationship quality. This study explored the relationships among technology readiness, relationship quality, and continuance intention. The research results demonstrated that both optimism and innovativeness significantly and positively influenced continuance intention through the mediating effect of relationship quality. However, discomfort and insecurity hid not significantly influence relationship quality or continuance intention. Finally, theoretical contributions, managerial implications and future research directions were discussed.

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Acknowledgements
The authors thank Chien-Yi Li for his contribution to the assistance of data collection. This research is partially supported by Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (103-2410-H-218 -007).
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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Systems-Level Quality Improvement
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Chen, SC., Jong, D. & Lai, MT. Assessing the Relationship between Technology Readiness and Continuance Intention in an E-Appointment System: Relationship Quality as a Mediator. J Med Syst 38, 76 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-014-0076-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-014-0076-3