Older adults’ experiences with mHealth for fall prevention exercise: usability and promotion of behavior change strategies

Abstract

Background: With the rapidly growing aging population, older adults need to stay healthy and active for a longer time. Mobile health (mHealth) solutions could help support, prevent, or delay functional decline and falls in old age. Purpose: The aim was to explore older persons' experiences of a mobile application for fall prevention exercise, and to identify what possible behavior change techniques to include in the further development of the application. Methods: Two focus groups were conducted with 12 older adults (seven women and five men) 70 to 83 years of age. A qualitative content analysis was performed. Results: Two main results emerged: 1) external facilitators for using the application; and 2) internal facilitators for using the application and perceived gains, in addition 10 behavior change techniques were identified. Conclusion: With support, an application could be adapted for older adults to manage, motivate, and adhere to fall prevention exercise. To achieve long-term adherence to health behavior changes, behavior change strategies and techniques are recommended to be included in further development of the fallprevention application.

Falls – the socio-economic and medical aspects important for developing prevention and treatment strategies

“…(2020) [60] explored the experiences of older adults by using a mobile application for fall prevention exercises. The participants stated that they liked being responsible for their own exercises and the application gave them a sense of awareness for managing their daily lives The application additionally motivated the participant to set goals and to adhere to them, and allowed the monitoring of exercises and evaluation of individual progress [60]. The useof technological devices for a home-based programme is suggested to be sustainable, effective, and cost-effective [61].…”

App-based strength and balance self-test in older adults: an exploratory study from a user perspective

“…In this study, three women and one man, aged 68–83 years, participated. These four older adults were recruited from an ongoing project evaluating the usability of an exercise application based on OEP [ 13 ]. They were all recruited by contact with an organization for retired persons in middle Sweden.…”

“…In 2017, a research project started in Sweden aiming to develop a fall prevention exercise application for smartphones [ 13 ]. The application included exercises from one of the most commonly used fall prevention programs, the Otago Exercise Programme (OEP) [ 14 ].…”

Keep on and keep up the fall prevention work: older adults need evidence-based fall prevention actions now more than ever!

“…During the current coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic physical activity and exercise have become a central topic, especially amongst the older adults. It is important to support the care of older adults, since they are one of the main risk groups for the virus (SARS-CoV-2) [1]. Recently, new guidelines from World Health Organization (WHO) regarding physical activity and sedentary behaviour was released [2].…”