scholarly journals Social participation and attitude towards gerontechnology: The moderating role of frailty status

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 662-662
Author(s):  
Ka Yeon Lee ◽  
Sun Ah Lee ◽  
Susanna Joo ◽  
YoonMyung Kim ◽  
Yun Mook Lim ◽  
...  

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine whether frailty status moderates the association between social participation and attitude towards using gerontechnology. The sample was Korean older adults without cognitive impairment (N = 310, aged 66-90, 51% women) who completed an online survey. The attitude towards using gerontechnology was measured with two questions from the Senior Technology Acceptance Model (Chen & Chan, 2014), asking whether using technology is a good idea and whether they like the idea of using technology. Social participation was assessed by asking whether the participants engage in social or community activities on a scale of 1–10. Frailty status was determined based on the Korean Groningen Frailty Indicator (K-GFI). Covariates were age, gender, marital status, employment status, education level, and household income. Results from regression analyses showed significant interaction between frailty status and social participation on attitude towards using gerontechnology. Specifically, social participation was associated with positive attitude towards using gerontechnology among non-frail older adults. This association was not significant among frail older adults. Our findings suggest that the relationship between social participation and attitude towards using gerontechnology might differ by physical health status. Among older adults who are physically healthy and actively participate in social activities, the attitude towards using gerontechnology might be more positive due to greater exposure to new technology-related information. Future studies need to address alternative ways to enhance technology-friendliness among older adults with poor physical health.

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 660-660
Author(s):  
Miseon Kang ◽  
Si Young Song ◽  
Inhye Jung ◽  
YoonMyung Kim ◽  
Chang Oh Kim ◽  
...  

Abstract This study examined how the status of frailty moderated the association between the self-efficacy about gerontechnology use and the intention to use gerontechnology (IUG) among Korean older adults. In this study, gerontechnology devices referred to exoskeleton robots for exercise. The data was collected through an online survey in February 2021, and 324 Korean older adults aged 65 and above were included in the analysis (Women: 50.9%, Men: 49.1%). The dependent variable was the intention to use gerontechnology from the Almere model (Heerink, 2010) and the independent variable was self-efficacy about gerontechnology use from the Senior Technology Acceptance Model(Chen & Chan, 2014). Both were measured as continuous variables. The moderating variable was the status of frailty (Non-frail=0, Frail=1). Age, gender, education level, and log-transformed household income were controlled for. Multiple linear regression to examine moderation effect was conducted using PROCESS Macro model 1. The findings showed that frailty status moderates the association between self-efficacy and IUG among Korean older adults. Concretely, the higher self-efficacy about gerontechnology use, the lower IUG for non-frail Korean older adults. However, the main effect of self-efficacy was non-significant for the frail sample. Even though self-efficacy has been known to affect the variables related to technology use or acceptance positively, the results suggest that there may exist differences in research results depending on participants' health status. The type of gerontechnology devices may also have affected the results. Further exploration is needed to the interaction effects of potential influencing factors on the gerontechnology acceptance model.


Healthcare ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Nadir G. Abdelrahman ◽  
Raza Haque ◽  
Molly E. Polverento ◽  
Andrea Wendling ◽  
Courtney M. Goetz ◽  
...  

(1) Background: There is increasing scholarly support for the notion that properly implemented and used, technology can be of substantial benefit for older adults. Use of technology has been associated with improved self-rating of health and fewer chronic conditions. Use of technology such as handheld devices by older adults has the potential to improve engagement and promote cognitive and physical health. However, although, literature suggests some willingness by older adults to use technology, simultaneously there are reports of a more cautious attitude to its adoption. Our objective was to determine the opinions towards information technologies, with special reference to brain health, in healthy older adults either fully retired or still working in some capacity including older adult workers and retired adults living in an independent elderly living community. We were especially interested in further our understanding of factors that may play a role in technology adoption and its relevance to addressing health related issues in this population; (2) Methods: Two focus groups were conducted in an inner-city community. Participants were older adults with an interest in their general health and prevention of cognitive decline. They were asked to discuss their perceptions of and preferences for the use of technology. Transcripts were coded for thematic analysis; (3) Results: Seven common themes emerged from the focus group interviews: physical health, cognitive health, social engagement, organizing information, desire to learn new technology, advancing technology, and privacy/security; and (4) Conclusions: This study suggests that in order to promote the use of technology in older adults, one needs to consider wider contextual issues, not only device design per se, but the older adult’s rationale for using technology and their socio-ecological context.


Author(s):  
Nien Xiang Tou ◽  
Shiou-Liang Wee ◽  
Wei Ting Seah ◽  
Daniella Hui Min Ng ◽  
Benedict Wei Jun Pang ◽  
...  

AbstractTranslation of community-based functional training for older adults to reduce frailty is still lacking. We evaluated the effectiveness and implementation of a community-delivered group-based functional power training (FPT) program for frail older adults within their neighborhoods. A two-arm, multicenter assessor-blind stratified randomized controlled trial was conducted at four local senior activity centers in Singapore. Sixty-one community-dwelling older adults with low handgrip strength were randomized to intervention (IG) or control (CG) group. The IG underwent the FPT program (power and balance exercises using simple equipment) delivered by a community service provider. The 12-week program comprised 2 × 60 min sessions/week. CG continued usual activities at the centers. Functional performance, muscle strength, and frailty status were assessed at baseline and 3 months. Program implementation was evaluated using RE-AIM framework. The program was halted due to Coronavirus Disease 2019-related suspension of senior center activities. Results are reported from four centers, which completed the program. IG showed significantly greater improvement in the Short Physical Performance Battery test as compared to CG (p = 0.047). No effects were found for timed up and go test performance, muscle strength, and frailty status. The community program exhibited good reach, effectiveness, adoption, and implementation. Our study demonstrated that FPT was associated with greater improvement in physical function in pre-frail/frail participants as compared to exercise activities offered at local senior activity centers. It is a feasible intervention that can be successfully implemented for frail older adults in their neighborhoods. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04438876. Registered 19 June 2020–retrospectively registered.


Author(s):  
Rachelle DiGregorio ◽  
Harsha Gangadharbatla

Gamified self has many dimensions, one of which is self-tracking. It is an activity in which a person collects and reflects on their personal information over time. Digital tools such as pedometers, GPS-enabled mobile applications, and number-crunching websites increasingly facilitate this practice. The collection of personal information is now a commonplace activity as a result of connected devices and the Internet. Tracking is integrated into so many digital services and devices; it is more or less unavoidable. Self-tracking engages with new technology to put the power of self-improvement and self-knowledge into people's own hands by bringing game dynamics to non-game contexts. The purpose of this chapter's research is to move towards a better understanding of how self-tracking can (and will) grow in the consumer market. An online survey was conducted and results indicate that perceptions of ease of use and enjoyment of tracking tools are less influential to technology acceptance than perceptions of usefulness. Implications and future research directions are presented.


2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Millard

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to establish whether the inclusion of physical activity (PA) in a community programme setting is more beneficial than the benefit obtained from social participation for older adults. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study conducted with a sample of 105 adults age 65+ and older that take part in community activities organised by the Bristol based charity LinkAge. Participants took part in either solely social groups or social groups with a PA component. A self-report questionnaire was composed of measures assessing functional health and well-being, health-related quality of life, functional ability, outcome expectation for exercise, and social support. Findings A significantly different and higher score on physical health measures was reported by the physically active group for role physical, physical function, bodily pain, and the physical capacity score. No significant difference was found for health measures that include a mental component. The physically active group reported higher outcome expectations for exercise. Research limitations/implications Social activity in community programmes may provide a method to maintain a healthy mental state in older adults, but participation in PA in the same environment is associated with better scores for physical health measures. Originality/value Providing greater support for older people to engage in physical and social activities may enable them to maintain a higher quality of life.


Proceedings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 3
Author(s):  
Audrey Dumbura ◽  
Esma Ergüner Özkoç

In this study, Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), which is the only electricity producer and supplier of public grid products (prepaid meters, mobile payment) in Zimbabwe, was evaluated according to the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) for perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and attitude toward using technology. The objective of the study was to examine consumers’ technology acceptance of ZESA’s new technology-dependent products. In this context, an online survey was conducted with 262 participants. The results obtained in the study were in parallel with the theory. In addition, consumers from different ages and educational backgrounds were able to purchase their electricity tokens without difficulty.


Author(s):  
Motoaki Takamura ◽  
Toshimasa Sone ◽  
Takayuki Kawamura ◽  
Reiko Suzuki ◽  
Nobuaki Moriyama ◽  
...  

This cross-sectional study aimed to characterize the physical activity (PA) of older adults with pre-frail status by examining sedentary behavior (SB) and PA using triaxial accelerometer data, with non-frail older adults as the control group. In this study, we divided the study participants into older adults who regularly participated in self-initiated citizen group exercise activities and those who did not. Data were collected between September and December 2017. We analyzed data from 256 older adults (women: 86.3%) aged ≥65 years. The interaction effect of participation status (participation and non-participation group) and frailty status (pre-frail and non-frail group) for moderate-to-vigorous PA (F = 9.178, p = 0.003) and daily mean number of steps (F = 9.351, p = 0.002) was significant. For the participation group, there was no difference between pre-frail older adults and non-frail older adults regarding length of SB and PA time, indicating that PA level was maintained in the participating pre-frail older adults. In contrast, moderate-to-vigorous PA and daily mean number of steps were low in pre-frail older adults who did not participate in the activities. The opportunity to participate in self-initiated group exercise activities and other PAs in the community may help pre-frail older adults maintain their PA.


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