The association between Internet use and health-related outcomes in older adults and the elderly: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Older adults and elderly persons can experience a significant digital divide. However, there are many studies reporting that the use of the Internet has benefits related to a person’s health status and social inclusion. It is not fully clear if Internet use and health-related outcomes share common antecedents or if using the Internet may have a favourable effect on the determinants responsible for good health. The main aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the use of the Internet and health-related outcomes in older adults and elderly people in Poland. Methods The effect of the use of the Internet was analysed with regression models after adjusting for sociodemographic factors. The data used for the analysis were obtained through a telephone-based survey on a representative sample of Polish adults at least 50 years of age. Results By categorising the frequency of Internet use by the respondents, it was found that some categories were significantly related to less favourable health behaviours. Rare Internet users were less likely to undertake physical activity than nonusers (odds ratio, OR, 95% confidence interval, 95%CI 0.48, 0.28–0.83). Those using the Internet every day less frequently consumed fruit and vegetables (OR, 95%CI 0.64, 0.42–0.99). Internet use was also associated with more frequent consumption of alcohol (OR, 95%CI 1.65, 1.09–2.50 comparing nonusers with those accessing the Internet several times a week). Persons rarely using the Internet, but not those who accessed it at least a few times a week, possessed a lower health literacy than nonusers (OR, 95%CI 0.71, 0.52–0.97). Internet users were also more likely to assess their health status as unsatisfactory (OR, 95%CI 0.59, 0.42–0.82 comparing nonusers with those using the Internet daily). Finally, the use of the Internet was consistently associated with a lower prevalence of chronic conditions and disability, as well as less frequent visits to health care facilities. Conclusions In conclusion, in contrast to earlier findings, Internet use is not associated with favourable patterns of lifestyle or higher self-rated health in older Polish adults. However, persons with chronic conditions or disabilities less frequently declare the use of the Internet. It was also revealed that older adults and the elderly who make use of the Internet are less likely to utilise health services.

Telemedicine and eHealth Literacy in the Era of COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Peripheral Clinic in Israel

“…Indeed, they are at a higher risk of negative health results compared with patients with a higher degree of eHealth literacy [14]. Low eHealth literacy is related to a lifestyle that is not conducive to improving health, difficulty in navigating the maze of the health system, and under-use of healthcare services [15,16], as well as a low response to treatment using medication, hospitalization, and a greater risk of mortality [17,18]. Studies have shown that people with a high degree of eHealth literacy who suffer from chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, tend to monitor and manage their diseases more competently, are more satisfied with the telemedicine services, and respond faster to changes that might adversely affect their situation, thereby improving their health [19][20][21].…”

Impact of Internet Use on Mental Health among Elderly Individuals: A Difference-in-Differences Study Based on 2016–2018 CFPS Data

“…Furthermore, elderly individuals can also benefit from the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of diseases through telemedicine [ 4 ]. However, elderly individuals may also encounter numerous embarrassing and difficult situations because of the digital divide [ 5 ]. They develop negative emotions such as feeling disconnected from society and feeling useless as they grow older [ 6 ].…”

“…Additionally, the more educated the elderly are, the more increasingly likely they are to use the Internet [ 11 ]. Seniors who have no physical pain prefer using the Internet than those with chronic illnesses or disabilities [ 5 ]. The second important factor is income level: higher-income older individuals are freer to use the Internet [ 12 ].…”

Validation and usability of AIDMED - telemedical system for cardiological and pulmonary diseases

“…One barrier in countries such as Poland was low e-health literacy among both patients and medical personnel. Both groups are usually elderly and were not convinced to apply ICT solutions in medical practice (Duplaga, 2021). Thus, using novel technologies with smartphones was not a trivial case for at-risk elderly patients.…”

“…Although there were many skeptics and fears, at the end of the day, they found that technology can really improve healthcare (Beier, Kocher, Roy, 2020). The growing role of the Internet in providing access to health services (in most common sense as teleconsultations as well as dedicated e-health solutions) during the COVID-19 pandemic has been recognised as one of the key determinants of wellbeing (Duplaga, 2021). Availability of the Inter-net and popularisation of IT skills (especially during COVID-19 pandemic) has accelerated expansion of the scope of telemedicine for the average patient (even older people).…”