Bridging the technological divide: Stigmas and challenges with technology in clinical studies of older adults.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased adoption of remote assessments in clinical research. However, longstanding stereotypes persist regarding older adults’ technology familiarity and their willingness to participate in technology-enabled remote studies. We examined the validity of these stereotypes using a novel technology familiarity assessment (n = 342) and with a critical evaluation of participation factors from an intensive smartphone study of cognition in older adults (n = 445). The technology assessment revealed that older age was strongly associated with less technology familiarity, less frequent engagement with technology, and higher difficulty ratings. Despite this, the majority (86.5%) of older adults elected to participate in the smartphone study and showed exceptional adherence (85.7%). Furthermore, among those enrolled, neither technology familiarity, knowledge, perceived difficulty, nor gender, race, or education were associated with adherence. These results suggest that while older adults remain significantly less familiar with technology than younger generations, with thoughtful study planning that emphasizes participant support and user-centered design, they are willing and capable participants in technology-enabled studies. And once enrolled, they are remarkably adherent.

Download Full-text

A Qualitative Study toward Technologies for Active and Healthy Aging: A Thematic Analysis of Perspectives among Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary End Users

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18147489 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (14) ◽

pp. 7489

Author(s):

Margherita Rampioni ◽

Adrian Alexandru Moșoi ◽

Lorena Rossi ◽

Sorin-Aurel Moraru ◽

Dan Rosenberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Perceived Usefulness ◽

Research Network ◽

Political Agenda ◽

User Centered Design ◽

Sensing Technology ◽

Care Systems

It is expected that, by 2050, people aged over 60 in 65 nations will constitute 30% of the total population. Healthy aging is at the top of the world political agenda as a possible means for hindering the collapse of care systems. How can ICT/sensing technology meet older people’s needs for active and healthy aging? This qualitative study carried out in Italy and Romania in 2020 involved 30 participants: older adults, caregivers, and stakeholders. Based on a user-centered design approach, this study aimed to understand which requirements of ICT/sensing technologies could match people’s needs of active and healthy aging. Findings highlighted that ICT/sensing technology needs to focus on six major themes: (1) learnability, (2) security, (3) independence, empowerment, and coaching values, (4) social isolation, (5) impact of habit, culture, and education variables, and (6) personalized solutions. These themes are consistent with the Active Aging framework and the factors that influence perceived usefulness and potential benefits among older adults. Consequently, this study shows how well-known, but still unresolved, issues affect the field of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to promote active and healthy aging. This suggests that the reinforcement of the public health system, especially considering the pandemic effect, requires a concrete and formidable effort from an interdisciplinary research network.

Download Full-text

Older Adults’ Motivations for Participating in a “Tune-Up” of Their Driving Skills: A Multi-Stakeholder Analysis

Journal of Applied Gerontology ◽

10.1177/0733464820982413 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 073346482098241

Author(s):

Ruheena Sangrar ◽

Kyung Joon Mun ◽

Lauren E. Griffith ◽

Lori Letts ◽

Brenda Vrkljan

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Stakeholder Analysis ◽

Later Life ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Older Drivers ◽

Willingness To Participate ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Driver Training ◽

Near Misses ◽

Driving Experience

Driver training has the potential to keep older adults safe behind-the-wheel for longer, yet there is limited evidence describing factors that influence their willingness to participate in training. Focus groups with community-dwelling older drivers ( n = 23; 70–90 years) and semi-structured interviews with driving instructors ( n = 6) and occupational therapists ( n = 5) were conducted to identify these factors. Qualitative descriptive analyses highlighted how self-awareness of behind-the-wheel abilities in later life can influence an older adult’s motivation to participate in driver training, as well as their willingness to discuss their behaviors. Collision-involvement and near-misses prompted participants to reflect on their driving abilities and their openness to feedback. Participants’ preferences for learning contexts that use a strengths-based approach and validate the driving experience of older drivers, while providing feedback on behind-the-wheel performance, were raised. Older driver training initiatives that consider the needs of the aging population in their design can promote road safety and community mobility.

Download Full-text

A mixed reality cognitive orthosis to support older adults in achieving their daily living activities: perspective from stakeholders (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.34983 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Amel Yaddaden ◽

Guillaume Spalla ◽

Charles Gouin-Vallerand ◽

Patty Semeniuk ◽

Nathalie Bier

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽

Daily Living ◽

Mixed Reality ◽

Daily Life ◽

User Centered Design ◽

Daily Living Activities ◽

Effective Interventions ◽

Head Mounted Displays

BACKGROUND Mixed reality is an emerging technology allowing to "blend" virtual objects in the actual user's environment. A way to realize this is by using head-mounted displays. Many recent studies have suggested the possibility of using this technology to support the cognition of people with neurodegenerative disorders. However, most studies explored improvements in cognition rather than in independence and safety during the accomplishment of daily living activities. It is therefore crucial to document the possibility of using mixed reality to support the independence of older adults in their daily life. OBJECTIVE This study is part of a larger user-centered design study of a cognitive orthosis using pure mixed reality to support independence of people living with neurodegenerative disorders (NDs). The objectives were to explore: (1) What are the main difficulties encountered by older adults with NDs in their daily life to ensure that the pure mixed reality meets their needs; (2) What are the most effective interventions with this population in order to determine what types of assistance should be given by the pure mixed reality technology; (3) How should the pure mixed reality technology provide assistance to promote safety and independence at home; and (4) What are the main facilitators and barriers for the use of this technology. METHODS We conducted a descriptive qualitative study with 5 focus groups with experts of the disease and its functional impacts (n = 29) to gather information. Qualitative data from the focus groups was analyzed through an inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS The themes emerging from the analysis will provide clear guidelines to the development team prototyping a first version of a cognitive orthosis based on pure mixed reality. CONCLUSIONS The cognitive orthosis that will be developed in the light of this study will act as a proof of concept of the possibility of supporting people with neurodegenerative disorders using pure mixed reality.

Download Full-text

Willingness to Participate in Vaccine-Related Clinical Trials among Older Adults

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph15081743 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (8) ◽

pp. 1743 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Divyanshu Raheja ◽

Evelyn Davila ◽

Eric Johnson ◽

Rijalda Deović ◽

Michele Paine ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Clinical Trials ◽

Clinical Research ◽

Elderly Person ◽

The Elderly ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Willingness To Participate ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Research Findings

The purpose of this study is to understand among a convenience sample of 400 adults aged 60 years of age or older (1) reasons for being willing or unwilling to participate in a vaccine clinical research study and (2) overall perceptions about vaccine clinical research. A cross-sectional study using a sample of older adults residing in the metro-Atlanta area and surrounding neighborhoods was conducted. The study questionnaire contained 37 questions, including questions about socio-demographics and perceptions about clinical trial processes. Statistical analysis was conducted using logistic regression. The adjusted modeling results indicated that sex, distance to research clinic, and being informed about the research findings played a role in the likelihood of an elderly person participating in a vaccine study. Males were more likely to participate in clinical trials as compared to females (OR: 2.486; CI: 1.042–5.934). Most participants were willing to travel up to 25 miles from the research clinic. Of the respondents, 45% were unlikely to participate if the results of the current trial are not shared. Improving access to clinical trials in terms of distance traveled and ensuring streamlined processes to inform participants about the results of the trial in the future would increase willingness to participate in vaccine clinical trials. The survey could serve as a useful tool for conducting vaccine studies and other clinical trials by understanding the barriers specific to the elderly.

Download Full-text

Modeling Personas for Older Adults with Heart Failure

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1541931218621246 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 62 (1) ◽

pp. 1072-1076 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Richard J. Holden ◽

Pushkar Joshi ◽

Kartik Rao ◽

Anagha Varrier ◽

Carly N. Daley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Older Adults ◽

Information Needs ◽

Self Care ◽

Chronically Ill ◽

User Centered Design ◽

Future Design ◽

Patients With Heart Failure ◽

Design Activities ◽

Key Dimensions

In the early stages of the design process, designers often benefit from the use of personas, or archetypes of target users presented in a vivid way to highlight design-relevant characteristics. In the growing efforts to create health information technology (HIT) for older adults, empirically derived personas could help orchestrate more user-centered design activities. However, there is a lack of ready-to-use personas for older adult HIT users and more so for those designing in specific domains such as heart failure self-care. This paper presents personas of older adults derived from qualitative analysis of interviews with 24 older patients with heart failure. Analyses unearthed key dimensions distinguishing patients based on their dispositions towards the self-management of their chronic condition, including locus of control, relationship with the health/support system, information needs, and activities of self-care. Two personas are presented: Direction Follower and Researcher, with subtypes for the latter codified as Investigator and Explorer. Our work contributes to future design of systems including HIT to support chronically ill older adults.

Download Full-text

COVID-19 associated delirium: pathogenetic mechanisms of induction and clinical features

Medical Herald of the South of Russia ◽

10.21886/2219-8075-2021-12-1-33-37 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 33-37

Author(s):

L. V. Tsoy

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Literature Review ◽

Clinical Features ◽

Systematic Literature Review ◽

Clinical Studies ◽

Present Review ◽

Google Scholar ◽

Pathogenetic Mechanisms ◽

Potential Factors

The present review describes pathogenetic mechanisms and clinical features of COVID-19 associated delirium. Potential factors leading to the named condition and pathophysiological chains were described elaborately, including older adults’ manifestation analysis based on the latest clinical studies. A systematic literature review was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, e-library, Google Scholar and others.

Download Full-text

Fostering Civic Awareness and Participation Among Older Adults in Hong Kong: An Empowerment-Based Participatory Photo-Voice Training Model

Journal of Applied Gerontology ◽

10.1177/0733464819838448 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 39 (9) ◽

pp. 1008-1015 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Cheryl Hiu-Kwan Chui ◽

On Fung Chan ◽

Jennifer Y. M. Tang ◽

Terry Yat Sang Lum

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Hong Kong ◽

Formal Education ◽

Civic Participation ◽

Training Model ◽

World Health ◽

Willingness To Participate ◽

Voice Training ◽

Health Organization ◽

Photo Voice

Social and civic participation are important tenets for both the age-friendly city and active aging frameworks promoted by the World Health Organization. Yet older adults are often under-represented in civic affairs. This study examines the effects of using photo-voice as a method in facilitating older adults’ civic participation. Specifically, an empowerment-based participatory photo-voice training model was implemented among older adults with limited formal education in Hong Kong. We conducted three focus groups comprising 12 older adults and one in-depth interview with a social worker. Findings revealed that photo-voice is an effective tool in capturing older adults’ views that would have otherwise been difficult to articulate in words or in writing, and in enhancing older adults’ ability and willingness to participate in community and civic affairs. These findings underscore the importance of using novel techniques to build a more inclusive society that incorporates the views of older adults.

Download Full-text

Could Questions on Activities of Daily Living Estimate Grip Strength of Older Adults Living Independently in the Community?

Journal of Aging Research ◽

10.1155/2012/427109 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jessica Simard ◽

Maude Chalifoux ◽

Véronique Fortin ◽

Maude Jeanson Archambault ◽

Anne St-Cerny-Gosselin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Grip Strength ◽

Daily Living ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Perceived Difficulty ◽

Epidemiological Surveys ◽

Other Information ◽

Manual Tasks ◽

The One ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

The aim of this study was to identify questions that could estimate grip strength. Twenty-six questions about the degree of perceived difficulty performing manual tasks as well as two questions concerning self-rated grip strength were developed and completed by 123 community-dwelling older adults, followed by grip strength measurements using a Martin vigorimeter. Multiple regression analyses with all of the participants revealed that the question about the difficulty of opening a jar (question 4) was most associated with grip strength. When analyses were done by gender, the same question showed the best correlation for women, whereas the one for men was self-rated grip strength compared with people the same age (question 28). For the women, age and question 4 together explained 54% of the variance in their grip strength and for the men, age and question 28 explained 46%. Further studies are needed to identify other information that could help to better estimate grip strength for use in epidemiological surveys.

Download Full-text