Readiness for utilizing digital intervention: Patterns of internet use among older adults with diabetes

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 692-697
Author(s):  
Sunhee Park ◽  
Beomsoo Kim
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S194-S194
Author(s):  
Kexin Yu ◽  
Kexin Yu ◽  
Shinyi Wu ◽  
Iris Chi

Abstract Internet is increasingly popular among older adults and have changed interpersonal interactions. However, it remains controversial whether older people are more or less lonely with internet use. This paper tests the longitudinal association of internet use and loneliness among older people. One pathway that explains the association, the mediation effect of social contact, was examined. Data from the 2006, 2010 and 2014 waves of Health and Retirement Study was used. Hierarchical liner modeling results showed internet use was related to decreased loneliness over 12-year period of time (b=-0.044, p<.001). Internet use was associated with more social contact with family and friends overtime (b=0.261, p<.001), social contact was related to less perceived loneliness longitudinally (b=0.097, p<.001). The total effect of internet use on loneliness is -0.054 and the mediated effect is -0.025. The findings imply that online activities can be effective for reducing loneliness for older people through increased social contact.


SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A264-A264
Author(s):  
Norah Simpson ◽  
Isabelle Tully ◽  
Jessica Dietch ◽  
Joshua Tutek ◽  
Rachel Manber

Abstract Introduction Use of telemedicine platforms for conducting CBTI has the potential to reach more patients than in person treatment alone. While CBTI has been shown to be effective in older adults, questions about proficiency with technology and preference for treatment modality have not been addressed. Methods Baseline data from participants in the RCT of the Effectiveness of Stepped-Care Sleep Therapy In General Practice (RESTING) study were used. Analyses compared CBTI treatment modality preference (in person, online [video platform], no preference) across the following variables: insomnia severity (Insomnia Severity Index; ISI), depression (Geriatric Depression Scale; GDS), cognitive functioning (telephone-based cognitive screen) and internet proficiency (IP; assessing comfort with and frequency of internet use). Data collected prior to the pandemic-shut down (March 2020) were utilized for the primary analysis of treatment preference; n=71, mean age = 62.5 (SD = 8.1); 64.8% female; treatment preferences: in person (33.8%), no preference (25.4%), online (40.8%). A secondary analysis compared IP data from participants with baseline data from pre-pandemic (Nov 2019-Feb 2020, n=71), early pandemic (March-June 2020, n=28), and late pandemic (the most recent four months of enrollment, July 2020-Nov 2020, n=40) periods. Results Pre-pandemic, age was not significantly associated with treatment modality preference, nor any baseline clinical characteristics or demographic variables (p’s >.01). Only ‘comfort’ and ‘comfort+frequency’ scores from the internet proficiency measure differed significantly between treatment preference groups (p’s<.002). Post-hoc analyses revealed the online group had significantly higher comfort and comfort+frequency scores than the in person group (p’s<. 003). Comparing data from pre-pandemic, early pandemic, and late pandemic, frequency of internet use and comfort+frequency with internet use differed across groups (p’s <.004). Post-hoc comparisons revealed frequency of internet use scores were higher in the late pandemic compared to pre-pandemic (p=.003). Conclusion These findings suggest that comfort using technology, but not age or clinical characteristics, is associated with treatment modality preference for patients with insomnia who are enrolled in a technology-based clinical trial of CBTI. As proficiency in use of technology increases, for example, during and following the pandemic, one can expect that telemedicine will be an increasingly viable approach to providing CBTI among older adults. Support (if any) 1R01AG057500


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 410-410
Author(s):  
Vineet Raichur ◽  
Lindsay Ryan ◽  
Richard Gonzalez ◽  
Jacqui Smith

Abstract Cross-sectional analyses of internet use patterns among older adults find that the rate of internet use is less with greater physical and memory difficulties. It is not clear, however, how age-cohorts differ in their internet use as physical and memory difficulties increase over time. In addition to factors such as increasing accessibility (cost) and social influences, the expansion and cognitive complexity of functions performed by the internet-enabled devices over time could influence internet use patterns. In this study, we investigate how the association between internet use and episodic memory difficulties over time varies between cohorts. We analyzed longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 15,703 in 2002; Aged 51 and older) between years 2002-2016 using mixed effects logistic regression models. Immediate and delayed word recall measures were used to assess episodic memory. Rate of internet use in the sample increased from 30% in 2002 to 53% in 2016. Rate of internet use among younger age groups was significantly higher in the baseline year. Younger age groups also showed a significantly higher rate of increase in internet use over time. In general, internet use decreased with episodic memory impairment. In addition to these effects, the effect of episodic memory on the rate of increase in internet use over time is lower in younger cohorts. These results indicate that younger cohorts of older adults are more likely to maintain internet use as they continue to age and therefore could better utilize technology for communication, social interactions and health interventions.


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 715-730 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Berner ◽  
Marja Aartsen ◽  
Dorly Deeg

Research has indicated the need to consider the ageing process with technology adoption by older adults. This study examined psychological, health, social and demographic predictors with starting and stopping Internet use by older adults (2002–2012). Data were used from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, and Cox regression analyses were done to test predictors over time with starting or stopping Internet use. The results indicated that older adults starting to use the Internet (11.6%) outnumbered those who stopped (3.1%). Psychological, health, social and demographic predictors separately predicted starting and stopping Internet use. Starting use was predicted by lower age, higher education, normal cognition and living alone. The predictors in stopping use were being younger, having a high sense of mastery and being higher educated. The results need to be interpreted as indicative due to the small number of stoppers. Suggestions are made on how to improve usability.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 1186-1186
Author(s):  
H. Hsu ◽  
H. Tung ◽  
J. Wang ◽  
S. Hsu ◽  
S. Chuang

10.2196/15099 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. e15099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winja Weber ◽  
Anne Reinhardt ◽  
Constanze Rossmann

Background As a result of demographic changes, the number of people aged 60 years and older has been increasing steadily. Therefore, older adults have become more important as a target group for health communication efforts. Various studies show that online health information sources have gained importance among younger adults, but we know little about the health-related internet use of senior citizens in general and in particular about the variables explaining their online health-related information–seeking behavior. Media use studies indicate that in addition to sociodemographic variables, lifestyle factors might play a role in this context. Objective The aim of this study was to examine older people’s health-related internet use. Our study focused on the explanatory potential of lifestyle types over and above sociodemographic variables to predict older adults’ internet use for health information. Methods A telephone survey was conducted with a random sample of German adults aged 60 years and older (n=701) that was quota-allocated by gender, age, educational status, and degree of urbanity of their place of residence. Results The results revealed that participants used the internet infrequently (mean 1.82 [SD 1.07]), and medical personnel (mean 2.89 [SD 1.11]), family and friends (mean 2.86 [SD 1.21]), and health brochures (mean 2.85 [SD 1.21]) were their main sources of health information. A hierarchical cluster analysis based on values, interests, and leisure time activities revealed three different lifestyle types for adults aged over 60 years: the Sociable Adventurer, the Average Family Person, and the Uninterested Inactive. After adding these types as second-step predictors in a hierarchical regression model with sociodemographic variables (step 1), the explained variance increased significantly (R2=.02, P=.001), indicating that the Average Family Person and the Sociable Adventurer use the internet more often for health information than the Uninterested Inactive, over and above their sociodemographic attributes. Conclusions Our findings indicate that the internet still plays only a minor role in the health information–seeking behavior of older German adults. Nevertheless, there are subgroups including younger, more active, down-to-earth and family-oriented males that may be reached with online health information. Our findings suggest that lifestyle types should be taken into account when predicting health-related internet use behavior.


Author(s):  
Yiwei Chen ◽  
Bob Lee ◽  
Robert M. Kirk

Older adults (65 and above) are the fastest growing population to use computers and the Internet in their everyday lives. The primary purpose of this chapter is to use a Lifespan Developmental Perspective to examine both the constraints and the opportunities of Internet use among older adults. Given age-related changes in physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional processes, older adults may encounter different constraints in Internet use from younger adults. The Selective Optimization with Compensation model is used to explore opportunities for older adults in using the Internet to improve quality of life. Future product designs and training programs should take into account older adults’ physical and cognitive limitations, as well as their socio-emotional needs. It is also recommended that social policies should help older adults overcome these constraints in order to reduce age-related digital divide and promote quality of life for older adults.


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