Usability testing of a tablet-based self-management application for older adults with T2DM: The ASSISTwell application

IntroductionIn response to the burden of chronic disease among older adults, different chronic disease self-management tools have been created to optimise disease management. However, these seldom consider all aspects of disease management are not usually developed specifically for seniors or created for sustained use and are primarily focused on a single disease. We created an eHealth self-management application called ‘KeepWell’ that supports seniors with complex care needs in their homes. It incorporates the care for two or more chronic conditions from among the most prevalent high-burden chronic diseases.Methods and analysisWe will evaluate the effectiveness, cost and uptake of KeepWell in a 6-month, pragmatic, hybrid effectiveness–implementation randomised controlled trial. Older adults age ≥65 years with one or more chronic conditions who are English speaking are able to consent and have access to a computer or tablet device, internet and an email address will be eligible. All consenting participants will be randomly assigned to KeepWell or control. The allocation sequence will be determined using a random number generator.Primary outcome is perceived self-efficacy at 6 months. Secondary outcomes include quality of life, health background/status, lifestyle (nutrition, physical activity, caffeine, alcohol, smoking and bladder health), social engagement and connections, eHealth literacy; all collected via a Health Risk Questionnaire embedded within KeepWell (intervention) or a survey platform (control). Implementation outcomes will include reach, effectiveness, adoption, fidelity, implementation cost and sustainability.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval has been received from the North York General Hospital Research and Ethics Board. The study is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Ontario Ministry of Health. We will work with our team to develop a dissemination strategy which will include publications, presentations, plain language summaries and an end-of-grant meeting.Trial registration numberNCT04437238.

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Usability Testing for the Operation of a Mobile Robotic Telepresence System by Older Adults

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1071181320641284 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 64 (1) ◽

pp. 1191-1195

Author(s):

Samuel Olatunji ◽

Andre Potenza ◽

Tal Oron-Gilad ◽

Andrey Kiselev ◽

Amy Loutfi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Assisted Living ◽

Usability Testing ◽

Small Sample ◽

Developmental Factors ◽

Assistive Robot ◽

Adult Participants ◽

Autonomous Mode ◽

Levels Of Automation ◽

Local User

Mobile robotic telepresence (MRP) systems feature a video conferencing interface on a mobile robot, enabling pilot users to remotely control the robot while communicating with a local user. For older adults in an assisted living facility, the operators are mostly caregivers or remote family members. This small-sample usability testing aimed to evaluate the use of MRP by the older adult. Participants navigated the robot to locations in the home, e.g., to check if the front-door is closed. Two levels of automation were introduced; assisted teleoperation and autonomous. Observations revealed that the older adults enjoyed the dexterity with which the robot could be teleoperated in the assisted teleoperation mode. Yet, they preferred the operation of the MRP at the autonomous mode where the robot navigated autonomously towards the locations the user indicated. Usability, preference and objective findings raise awareness regarding elder care assistive robot developmental factors. Future experimental plans are discussed.

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Developing a Healthcare Technology Acceptance Model (H-TAM) for Older Adults with Hypertension

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x21001069 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-21

Author(s):

Maurita T. Harris ◽

Wendy A. Rogers

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Technology Acceptance ◽

Technology Acceptance Model ◽

Perceived Usefulness ◽

Relative Advantage ◽

Self Management ◽

Healthcare Technology ◽

Perceived Need ◽

Healthcare Technologies ◽

Acceptance Model

Abstract Older adults with a chronic health condition (e.g. hypertension) use various self-management methods. Healthcare technologies have the potential to support health self-management. However, it is necessary to understand the acceptance of these technologies as a precursor to older adults’ adoption and integration into their health plan. Our focus was on the factors older adults with hypertension initially consider when introduced to three new healthcare technologies that might support their health self-management. We compared their considerations for a blood pressure monitor, an electronic pillbox and a multifunction robot to simulate incrementally more complex technologies. Twenty-three participants (aged 65–84) completed four questionnaires and a semi-structured interview. The interview transcripts were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. We identified the factors that were frequently mentioned among the participants for each of the three healthcare technologies. The factors that older adults initially considered were familiarity, perceived benefits, perceived ease of use, perceived need for oneself, relative advantage, complexity and perceived need for others. Upon further reflection, participants considered advice acceptance, compatibility, convenience, facilitating conditions, perceived usefulness, privacy, subjective norm, and trust. We integrated the factors that older adults considered into the Healthcare Technology Acceptance Model (H-TAM), which elucidates the complexity of healthcare technology acceptance and provides guidance for future explorations.

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Older Adult Peer Specialists’ Role in Reducing Loneliness Among People With Mental Health Conditions

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2288 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 662-662

Author(s):

Karen Fortuna ◽

George Mois ◽

Jessica Brooks ◽

Amanda Myers ◽

Cynthia Bianco

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Real World ◽

Smartphone Application ◽

Interactive Effects ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Self Management ◽

Potential Effectiveness ◽

Mental Health Conditions ◽

Management Intervention

Abstract PeerTECH is a peer-delivered and technology-support integrated medical and psychiatric self-management intervention developed by peers. A pre/post trial by our group has shown PeerTECH is associated with statistically significant improvements in self-efficacy for managing chronic disease and psychiatric self-management skills. This presentation will discuss the feasibility and potential effectiveness of using ecological momentary assessments (EMA) with older adults with mental health conditions to allow us to recognize early signs of loneliness and intervene as early as possible in real-world settings. EMA involves repeated sampling of an individual’s behaviors and experiences in real time, real-world environments on the smartphone application. Then, we will discuss the main and interactive effects of loneliness and factors linked to mortality. In conclusion, we will discuss potential effectiveness of PeerTECH with older adults with SMI.

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Predictors for Confidence in Self-Management of Falls and the Role of Fear of Falls

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.964 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 301-301

Author(s):

Qiwei Li ◽

Becky Knight

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Fall Prevention ◽

Predictor Variable ◽

Path Model ◽

Self Management ◽

Hierarchical Regression ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Self Protection ◽

Fear Of Falls

Abstract Falls have been a crucial threat for older adults to stay independent. Once they have fallen, older adults are more likely to receive injuries and become people with disabilities. Conventionally, the measurement of fall efficacy focused on the capacity of performing certain activities such as walking or bathing without a fall. However, given the fact that one out of five older adults fall every year, self-efficacy in self-protection when falls do happen calls for a better understanding of confidence in self-management of a fall. Among predictors for fall prevention outcomes, “fear of falls” has received attention. However, “fear of falls” was largely missing in studies exploring self-management of falls in scenarios where falls do happen. This study explores the predictors for CSMoF including “fear of falls”. A series of simultaneous and hierarchical regression analyses with related interaction analyses and a path model were applied to determine the contribution of each predictor variable and the mediating role of “fear of falls”. The findings of the study reported that demographic characteristics, chronic conditions, and perceptions of falls were associated with CSMoF. The path analysis confirmed the mediating role of “fear of falls” as the indirect effects were occupying substantial percentages in the total identified effects. “Fear of falls” should continue to be a core of fall prevention programs and is particularly important for programs that aim to teach older adults what to do when they fall, whom to call for help, and how to avoid injuries upon falling.

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