Older Adult Internet Use and eHealth Literacy

Abstract

We examine Internet use and eHealth literacy among older adults (aged 55+ years) who were patients at clinics serving low-income populations. Participants included 200 minority and White adults who completed interviews based on a technology acceptance conceptual model. A total of 106 participants (53.0%) used the Internet; utilization was associated with personal characteristics (age, ethnicity, education, poverty), computer characteristics (number of e-devices, computer stress), social support (marital status), and health knowledge and attitudes (health literacy, medical decision making, health information sources), but not health status. Of the 106 participants who used the Internet, 52 (49.1%) had high eHealth literacy; eHealth literacy was associated with computer characteristics (number of e-devices, computer stress), and health knowledge and attitudes (medical decision making, health information sources). In multivariate analysis, computer stress maintained a significant inverse association with eHealth literacy. Educational interventions to help older adults successfully use technology and improve eHealth literacy must be identified.

The implementation of EHealth in dementia care

“…The necessity of long-term business modelling to ensure sustainable implementation of eHealth interventions is in line with previous research, both for dementia47 and other populations 48 . In this regard, mapping the surrounding health care context and other financial stakeholders in relation to the intervention characteristics is essential, for instance by applying the Business Model Canvas 49 .…”

“…The BMC maps a product or service's value proposition, key activities, key resources, key partners, cost structure, customers relationships, distribution channels, and revenue. The BMC has previously been used to map business models for eHealth [45][46][47][48] . Applying the BMC to eHealth interventions for caregivers of people with dementia that are already being used in practice, enables the investigation of factors relating to the sustainable success of these interventions and their potential market.…”

“…This is in line with previous research, that also advocated the application of business models to evidence-based interventions to facilitate long-term implementation 32,47 . Thus, this study contributes to the literature on the implementation context by providing insight into this important implementation barrier, namely the lack of reliable pricing information for implementing evidence-based eHealth interventions to support dementia caregivers 48 .…”

“…In general, studies regarding older adults' attitudes towards eHealth interventions have produced mixed results [46][47][48] . Additionally, many municipalities included in this study could be considered rural, and evidence has suggested that older adults in rural areas are less inclined to adopt eHealth interventions 49 .…”

Designing and developing a co-produced theoretical and evidence-based online support for family caregivers of people with dementia at the end of life

“…However, the sample was diverse in age and included a broad range of educational levels which can reflect internet usage and access. In addition to age being a factor in internet usage, previous research in older adults has shown that those with higher educational levels are more likely to use the internet [48,49]. Therefore, it is possible that as 'internet savvy' generations age, age will become less of a factor influencing internet usage and education and language will remain a major factor influencing internet usage compared with age.…”