Usability Study of a Computer-Based Self-Management System for Older Adults with Chronic Diseases

Abstract Purpose Older adults with chronic diseases are more at risk for loneliness, and loneliness has a negative impact on health behaviors, which are key to managing chronic diseases. However, little is known about the association between loneliness and self-management behaviors in older adults with chronic diseases. As societies worldwide experience the growth of aging populations who are at higher risk of having chronic diseases as they age, clinicians and researchers should assess and address loneliness of older adults with chronic diseases. Methods This systematic review synthesizes research found in PubMed, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, CINAHL, and SocINDEX. Findings: fourteen studies were conducted in four countries and represented n= 128,610. Loneliness was measured by three different instruments. Reports of loneliness were frequent and ranged from 7.7% (in a report of severe loneliness) to 43.2% (moderate loneliness) of older adults. Older adults who experienced loneliness were less likely to be physically active, eat a healthy diet, or cope in positive ways and more likely to be female and seek healthcare. Conclusions This systematic review found that loneliness was moderately prevalent, and that loneliness was associated with negative disease self-management behaviors in older adults with chronic diseases. Gaps in the research include a need for studies guided by theoretical pathways, using a consistent, theoretically-based measure of loneliness, and conducted on among people with specific chronic diseases.

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Self-Management Behaviours and Change in Frailty Status among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A National Longitudinal Population-based Cohort Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1171960/v1 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Thi Lien To ◽

Ching-Pyng Kuo ◽

Chih-Jung Yeh ◽

Wen-Chun Liao ◽

Meng-Chih Lee

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Self Management ◽

Geriatric Syndrome ◽

Frailty Phenotype ◽

Frailty Status ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract Background: Frailty in older adults is a common geriatric syndrome that can be reversed, thus coping strategies for the aging population are essential. Self-management behaviours may represent cost-effective strategies to reverse physical frailty in community-dwelling older adults. This study aimed to describe the changes in frailty status among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan and investigate the association of self-management behaviours with changes in frailty status over a four-year follow-up period (2007 to 2011).Methods: This data was retrieved from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study of Aging (TLSA), which is a prospective cohort study of 1,283 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older without cognitive impairment. Frailty was assessed based on Fried's frailty phenotype, in which ≥ three criteria indicate frail. Self-management behaviours (maintaining body weight, quitting smoking, drinking less, exercising, diet control, and maintaining a regular lifestyle) were assessed using a questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the associations between self-management behaviours and changes in frailty status.Results: The prevalence of frailty was 8.7% at baseline and 8.1% after four years of follow-up, with 196 (15.3%) deaths. Overall, 74.6% of participants remained in the same state (non-frail or frail), 23.5% worsened (non-frail to frail, including missing data, and frail to death), and only 1.95% improved (frail to non-frail). Being aged ≥ 75-years-old, chronic diseases, and an absence of self-management behaviours were associated with higher risks of frailty at baseline and after follow-up. Exercise was significantly associated with a reversal of frailty in community-dwelling older adults (RR, 3.11; 95% CI, 1.95, 4.95) after adjusting for personal and disease covariates, regardless of whether death was coded as frail or not.Conclusions: Self-management behaviours beneficially reverse frailty status; maintaining regular exercise was especially associated with a reversal of frailty in community-dwelling older adults, even among individuals over 75-years-old and with chronic diseases. Older adults should be encouraged to perform adequate physical exercise to prevent the progression of frailty and ameliorate frailty status.

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Self-management behaviours of older adults with chronic diseases: comparative analysis based on the daily activity abilities

Australian Journal of Primary Health ◽

10.1071/py20159 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Dong Kong ◽

Meiyun Zuo ◽

Minder Chen

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Comparative Analysis ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Daily Activity ◽

Self Management

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The Influence of Computer Experience and Screen Size on Use Performance and Perceptions of a Tablet-Based Chronic Illness Self-Management System for Older Adults

Proceedings of the International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care ◽

10.1177/2327857914031008 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 58-62 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

D. Tao ◽

C. K. L. Or ◽

K. Li

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Chronic Illness ◽

Management System ◽

Information Technologies ◽

Self Management ◽

Computer Experience ◽

Screen Size ◽

Health Information Technologies ◽

Size Groups ◽

Screen System

A usability study of a tablet-based chronic illness self-management system was conducted to evaluate the system’s usability and to examine the effects of screen size and computer experience on use performance and perceptions of the system. A two-factor, between-subjects design was implemented, in which 40 older adults aged from 55 to 88 years were equally assigned to two screen size groups and required to perform a set of self-management tasks. The results showed that screen size had no effect on either the use performance or perceptions of the system, and that computer experience had significant effects on the former but no effect on the latter. Older adults without computer experience tended to perceive the large tablet screen system as more useful. This study verified the usability of the tablet-based self-management system with older adults. Its findings suggest the need to determine an optimal screen size for consumer health information technologies, and highlight the importance of computer experience in usability studies. Future studies may address its limitations.

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Self-Management of Chronic Diseases Among Older Korean Adults: An mHealth Training, Protocol, and Feasibility Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.9988 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Heejung Kim ◽

Eunhee Park ◽

Sangeun Lee ◽

Mijung Kim ◽

Eun Jeong Park ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Care ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Self Management ◽

Phase 3 ◽

Elderly Individuals ◽

Mhealth Apps ◽

Mobile Tablets ◽

Training Protocol

BACKGROUND Most training programs for self-management of chronic diseases in Korea currently involve face-to-face interactions primarily in a health care setting. Therefore, older Koreans living in the community continue to seek other training opportunities for the management of chronic diseases. This has led to the development of new training methods, such as mobile health (mHealth) care, which are valuable in community centers and homes. OBJECTIVE This feasibility study (1) developed an mHealth training protocol to empower community-dwelling elderly individuals to manage their chronic diseases; (2) examined the feasibility of delivering this mHealth training protocol to elderly individuals through mobile tablets and applications (apps); and (3) discussed the contextual and methodological challenges associated with the development of this protocol. METHODS The mHealth training protocol was developed based on the eHealth Enhanced Chronic Care Model and comprised of four phases. Phase 1 included standardized technology (mobile tablets) training using guidebooks, demonstrations, and guided practice. Phase 2 included provision of standardized information about disease management that was obtained from governmental and professional health care organizations. Phase 3 included provision of training on the use of high-quality mHealth apps that were selected based on individual diagnoses. Phase 4 included encouraging the patients to practice using self-selected mHealth apps based on their individual needs. Quantitative descriptive statistics and qualitative content analyses of user evaluations were used to assess the feasibility and user acceptance of this protocol. RESULTS Of the 27 older adults included in this study, 25 completed all 4 weeks of the mHealth training. The attrition rate was 7% (2/27), and the reasons included time conflicts, emotional distress, and/or family discouragement. The men required little or no training for Phase 1, and in comparison with men, women seemed to depend more on the mHealth trainers in Phase 3. Gender, level of education, and previous experience of using smartphones were associated with the speed of learning, level of confidence, and overall competence. CONCLUSIONS A tailored and personalized approach is required to develop mHealth training protocols for older adults. Self-management of chronic diseases via mHealth training requires careful consideration of the complex nature of human behavior, emotional responses, and familial influences. Therefore, integration of a theoretical, clinical, and technical approach is necessary for the successful development and implementation of an mHealth training program that targets older adults with chronic diseases in a community setting.

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