Possibilities, Patience, and Perseverance: A Preliminary Analysis of the Needs and Experiences of Ten Older Adults Regarding Their Use of Digital Health Technology
The COVID-19 pandemic created the need to use digital health resources (DR), as they sometimes were the only option to receive healthcare or social interaction. The aim of this research is to provide insight into the experiences during the lockdown of older people using DR for health in general and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/11/1612 |
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| author | Janienke Sturm Angelique Dierick Marilène Christianen Marjolijn van Gelder Eveline Wouters |
| author_facet | Janienke Sturm Angelique Dierick Marilène Christianen Marjolijn van Gelder Eveline Wouters |
| author_sort | Janienke Sturm |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The COVID-19 pandemic created the need to use digital health resources (DR), as they sometimes were the only option to receive healthcare or social interaction. The aim of this research is to provide insight into the experiences during the lockdown of older people using DR for health in general and the points of improvement they see. A qualitative study was carried out using semi-structured interviews with older persons by telephone. A total of 10 older adults participated, with a median age of 78 years, the majority having a chronic disease. The most important themes for motivation to use health-related DR were ‘urgency’ and ‘usefulness’. Experiences with DR were related to the themes ‘human contact’ and ‘communication’, which were experienced by respondents as facilitated by DR, and ‘time and energy’, which was two-sided. Additionally, most older persons worried about accessibility of DR by all older persons and the support needed. In conclusion, older persons are convinced of the urgency and the usefulness of digital technology for health and healthcare. Time and energy constraints can be alleviated by using DR on the one hand, but this can also be challenging if older persons are less digitally skilled or lack digital literacy. Good and sustained human support is therefore mandatory. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:06:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1f5ba90a591e4dcca6bfb444ab06a080 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:06:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-1f5ba90a591e4dcca6bfb444ab06a0802023-11-18T07:53:52ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322023-05-011111161210.3390/healthcare11111612Possibilities, Patience, and Perseverance: A Preliminary Analysis of the Needs and Experiences of Ten Older Adults Regarding Their Use of Digital Health TechnologyJanienke Sturm0Angelique Dierick1Marilène Christianen2Marjolijn van Gelder3Eveline Wouters4School of HRM and Applied Psychology, Fontys University of Applied Science, P.O. Box 347, 5600 AH Eindhoven, The NetherlandsDepartment of People and Health Sciences, Fontys University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 347, 5600 AH Eindhoven, The NetherlandsSchool of Allied Health Professions, Fontys University of Applied Science, P.O. Box 347, 5600 AH Eindhoven, The NetherlandsSchool of Allied Health Professions, Fontys University of Applied Science, P.O. Box 347, 5600 AH Eindhoven, The NetherlandsSchool of Allied Health Professions, Fontys University of Applied Science, P.O. Box 347, 5600 AH Eindhoven, The NetherlandsThe COVID-19 pandemic created the need to use digital health resources (DR), as they sometimes were the only option to receive healthcare or social interaction. The aim of this research is to provide insight into the experiences during the lockdown of older people using DR for health in general and the points of improvement they see. A qualitative study was carried out using semi-structured interviews with older persons by telephone. A total of 10 older adults participated, with a median age of 78 years, the majority having a chronic disease. The most important themes for motivation to use health-related DR were ‘urgency’ and ‘usefulness’. Experiences with DR were related to the themes ‘human contact’ and ‘communication’, which were experienced by respondents as facilitated by DR, and ‘time and energy’, which was two-sided. Additionally, most older persons worried about accessibility of DR by all older persons and the support needed. In conclusion, older persons are convinced of the urgency and the usefulness of digital technology for health and healthcare. Time and energy constraints can be alleviated by using DR on the one hand, but this can also be challenging if older persons are less digitally skilled or lack digital literacy. Good and sustained human support is therefore mandatory.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/11/1612digital technologyhealthhealthcareolder personsqualitative research |
| spellingShingle | Janienke Sturm Angelique Dierick Marilène Christianen Marjolijn van Gelder Eveline Wouters Possibilities, Patience, and Perseverance: A Preliminary Analysis of the Needs and Experiences of Ten Older Adults Regarding Their Use of Digital Health Technology Healthcare digital technology health healthcare older persons qualitative research |
| title | Possibilities, Patience, and Perseverance: A Preliminary Analysis of the Needs and Experiences of Ten Older Adults Regarding Their Use of Digital Health Technology |
| title_full | Possibilities, Patience, and Perseverance: A Preliminary Analysis of the Needs and Experiences of Ten Older Adults Regarding Their Use of Digital Health Technology |
| title_fullStr | Possibilities, Patience, and Perseverance: A Preliminary Analysis of the Needs and Experiences of Ten Older Adults Regarding Their Use of Digital Health Technology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Possibilities, Patience, and Perseverance: A Preliminary Analysis of the Needs and Experiences of Ten Older Adults Regarding Their Use of Digital Health Technology |
| title_short | Possibilities, Patience, and Perseverance: A Preliminary Analysis of the Needs and Experiences of Ten Older Adults Regarding Their Use of Digital Health Technology |
| title_sort | possibilities patience and perseverance a preliminary analysis of the needs and experiences of ten older adults regarding their use of digital health technology |
| topic | digital technology health healthcare older persons qualitative research |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/11/1612 |
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