Using a Mobile Application for Health Communication to Facilitate a Sense of Coherence: Experiences of Older Persons with Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

The increasing use of technology by older persons and their preferences for living at home and being independent have created an avenue for self-care and care delivery using mobile technologies and health communication. This study aimed to explain how older persons with cognitive impairment experienced technology-based health communication through the use of a mobile application to facilitate a sense of coherence. Individual, semi-structured interviews with 16 participants in the SMART4MD project were conducted. The interviews were transcribed then coded deductively and thematically, creating themes that corresponded to the central components of the sense of coherence model: comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness. The findings produced an overall theme: a challenging technology that can provide support, based on the three identified themes: making sense of mobile technologies, mastering mobile technologies, and the potential added value to use mobile technologies. The participants’ experiences were influenced by their previous use and expectations for the application. Personal support, cognitive and physical ability, and different sources for information impacted use. The participants experienced that using the application created an ambiguity to be challenging and have possible benefits. The study suggests that the sense of coherence model may be used as a method to understand the use of technology by older populations.

A Semantic-Based Cognitive Training Programme on Everyday Activities: A Feasibility and Acceptability Study among Cognitively Healthy Older Adults

“…Furthermore, participants in this study indicated that the therapist-led sessions allowed for easy clarification and the ability to ask questions about the programme when required. This is again consistent with the findings from Piculell et al [ 75 ] where participants found it easier and quicker to ask for help rather than decipher the programme themselves.…”

“…Difficulties with using the mobile application may explain why all participants completed more sessions than scheduled. This finding is consistent with a study examining the experiences of older adults with MCI using mobile applications for health [ 75 ] which found that participants had difficulties accessing app-based content and using the different functionalities available. However, several studies have highlighted the effectiveness of computer-based interventions for improving cognition among older adults, including those with cognitive impairments [ 77 , 78 ].…”

“…Although the programme was designed to be two-thirds self-administered, findings reveal that the therapist continued to play a valued role in the therapy process. This finding is similar to that from Piculell et al [ 75 ] who found older adults required and preferred to have support when using mobile applications for health. Furthermore, participants in this study indicated that the therapist-led sessions allowed for easy clarification and the ability to ask questions about the programme when required.…”

Cognitive functions and sense of coherence in patients with carotid artery stenosis—Preliminary report

“…Data analysis was conducted based on the theoretical assumptions of the SOC model for all three of its components. Although the results of the study were identified as ambiguous, SOC proved to be useful in gaining a deeper understanding of the motives for engaging in specific activities related to the use of new technologies ( 42 ).…”

A Technology-Based Intervention to Support Older Adults in Living Independently: Protocol for a Cross-National Feasibility Pilot

“…To address these challenges, several projects have been developed. For example, after a 12-week Smart Home personalized technology program, participants’ quality of life increased significantly [ 21 ], the Fik@ room web platform allowed social connection among older adults in a secure digital environment [ 22 ], and the SMART4MD mobile application [ 23 ] facilitated a sense of coherence for older persons with cognitive impairment.…”