Ophir Freund1, Iris Reychav2, Roger McHaney3, Ella Goland4, Joseph Azuri5. 1. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: ophir068@gmail.com. 2. Head of Department of Industrial Engineering & Management, Ariel University, 40700 Ariel, Israel. Electronic address: irisre@ariel.ac.il. 3. Daniel D. Burke Chair for Exceptional Faculty, Management Information Systems, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA. Electronic address: mchaney@ksu.edu. 4. V.P. Nursing & Health professions, Bait Balev Ltd., Herzliya, Israel. Electronic address: ela_g@bbalev.co.il. 5. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University and Maccabi Healthcare Services, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: azuri_yo@mac.org.il.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Patient compliance with medical advice and recommended treatment depends on perception of health condition, medical knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy. This study investigated how use of customized online medical databases, intended to improve knowledge in a variety of relevant medical topics, influenced senior adults' perceptions. METHOD: Seventy-nine older adults in residence homes completed a computerized, tablet-based questionnaire, with medical scenarios and related questions. Following an intervention, control group participants answered questions without online help while an experimental group received internet links that directed them to customized, online medical databases. RESULTS: Medical knowledge and test scores among the experimental group significantly improved from pre- to post-intervention (p<0.0001) and was higher in comparison with the control group (p<0.0001). No significant change occurred in the control group. CONCLUSION: Older adults improved their knowledge in desired medical topic areas using customized online medical databases. The study demonstrated how such databases help solve health-related questions among older adult population members, and that older patients appear willing to consider technology usage in information acquisition.
INTRODUCTION:Patient compliance with medical advice and recommended treatment depends on perception of health condition, medical knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy. This study investigated how use of customized online medical databases, intended to improve knowledge in a variety of relevant medical topics, influenced senior adults' perceptions. METHOD: Seventy-nine older adults in residence homes completed a computerized, tablet-based questionnaire, with medical scenarios and related questions. Following an intervention, control group participants answered questions without online help while an experimental group received internet links that directed them to customized, online medical databases. RESULTS: Medical knowledge and test scores among the experimental group significantly improved from pre- to post-intervention (p<0.0001) and was higher in comparison with the control group (p<0.0001). No significant change occurred in the control group. CONCLUSION: Older adults improved their knowledge in desired medical topic areas using customized online medical databases. The study demonstrated how such databases help solve health-related questions among older adult population members, and that older patients appear willing to consider technology usage in information acquisition.
Authors: Roberta Bevilacqua; Stefano Strano; Mirko Di Rosa; Cinzia Giammarchi; Katerina Katka Cerna; Claudia Mueller; Elvira Maranesi Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-11-10 Impact factor: 3.390