Internet use and need for digital health technology among the elderly: a cross-sectional survey in China

Abstract

Background China is becoming an aging society at the fastest pace in history, and there are a large number of empty nesters in the country. With economic and social development, internal support systems among families are gradually weakening. Supporting the elderly is thus emerging as a significant issue, and promoting digital health technologies is an effective way to help address it. Encouraging the application of Internet to elderly care and Internet use among the elderly are important means of promoting digital health technologies. This paper examines the current state of the use of the Internet by the elderly and factors influencing it (including physical, psychological, and social) as well as demand among the elderly for smart services. Methods A total of 669 subjects over the age of 60 years were randomly selected from 13 cities in Heilongjiang province and surveyed using questionnaires from May 1 to July 31, 2018. The questionnaires were collected for descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, and the analysis of influential factors. Results Of the people surveyed, 38.6% used the Internet. Their favorite online activity was online dating (74.2%), and the health information they obtained through the Internet was mainly related to diet (63.1%) and exercise (47.1%). The subjects demanded smart bracelets (MD = 2.80) and emergency callers (MD = 2.77). Gender, age, education, monthly income, quality of life, number of friends, and social participation were found to have an impact on Internet use. Conclusions More measures are needed to reduce barriers to the use of the Internet and promote digital health technologies. The society, equipment manufacturers, and family members of the elderly should work together to enable them to reap the benefits of online technologies.

Examining Public Concerns and Attitudes toward Unfair Events Involving Elderly Travelers during the COVID-19 Pandemic Using Weibo Data

“…Health codes require smartphones and Internet connections. However, the most recent report shows that getting around in China without a smartphone or being off-line is still a difficult task in 2020 [ 38 , 39 ], and this has been a particular problem for the country’s elderly population [ 40 ], especially when they travel by public transportation without health codes during the pandemic. Consequently, the general public has tried to speak on behalf of elderly travelers on social media.…”

“…Elderly people were more likely to learn and use smartphones and the Internet with support from others. Therefore, society, governments, and transportation service providers should work together to help elderly people reap the benefits of the Internet in future situations and eventually improve the equity and fairness of public policies [ 38 ].…”

Internet-Based Medical Service Use and Eudaimonic Well-Being of Urban Older Adults: A Peer Support and Technology Acceptance Model

“…Compared with other forms of internet-based services, IBMS are relatively new, with technological content for the elderly. On the one hand, when older adults access these applications, internet medical services can: (i) solve practical problems related to health management and reduce the burden on caregivers; (ii) enhance their learning ability and confidence [8,31]; (iii) alleviate their social alienation and anxiety, while improving their self-efficacy, sense of control, and life satisfaction. On the other hand, as with other internet-based services, older people often lack confidence in their learning ability and even refuse to accept new knowledge, and the main reasons for this include a lack of technical support and poor understanding about the parameters, functions, and payment.…”

“…Notably, the popularity of internet technology and convenient network tools has increased over the last 20 years. During this process, the "new generation" of older people have preliminarily mastered some basic network skills through various auxiliary supports such as connecting to the Internet, searching for information, and downloading and installing mobile phone applications [8,9]. Especially with the growing popularity of smart phones, receiving information, entertainment, and other internet-based services have gradually become a part of the lives of the elderly.…”

Demands for Telenursing-Based Long-Term Care Among Disabled Older Adults in Qingdao, China: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Many studies have found that personal status, including gender, age, education and physical health, is associated with the need for digital health technology among disabled older adults. [19][20][21] Disabled older adults who are female, [22][23][24] have greater education [23][24][25] and physical conditions [26][27][28] are more likely to use the internet. It is more difficult to use the internet for disabled older adults who are suffering from physical and functional disabilities.…”