OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between an older individual's self-reported health and the perceived usefulness of computers in assisting with health-related tasks. METHODS: A total of 210 older adults (age≥60) completed questionnaire items pertaining to demographics, general health, perception of importance of daily activities, technology experience and use, and perceived usefulness of computers and the Internet. Results were obtained using a factor analysis and multiple regression. RESULTS: Self-reported health was found to have a significant negative relationship with the importance of health-related activities to daily living (Beta = -0.210) but a significant positive relationship with the perceived usefulness of computers in assisting with the same health-related activities (Beta = 0.151). DISCUSSION: Results indicate that adoption of health-supporting technologies could be facilitated by user-centered designs that better accommodate older adults in poor health. Alternatively, adoption may be facilitated by making the potential usefulness of computers more salient to older adults.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between an older individual's self-reported health and the perceived usefulness of computers in assisting with health-related tasks. METHODS: A total of 210 older adults (age≥60) completed questionnaire items pertaining to demographics, general health, perception of importance of daily activities, technology experience and use, and perceived usefulness of computers and the Internet. Results were obtained using a factor analysis and multiple regression. RESULTS: Self-reported health was found to have a significant negative relationship with the importance of health-related activities to daily living (Beta = -0.210) but a significant positive relationship with the perceived usefulness of computers in assisting with the same health-related activities (Beta = 0.151). DISCUSSION: Results indicate that adoption of health-supporting technologies could be facilitated by user-centered designs that better accommodate older adults in poor health. Alternatively, adoption may be facilitated by making the potential usefulness of computers more salient to older adults.
Authors: Sara J Czaja; Neil Charness; Arthur D Fisk; Christopher Hertzog; Sankaran N Nair; Wendy A Rogers; Joseph Sharit Journal: Psychol Aging Date: 2006-06
Authors: Hege K Andreassen; Maria M Bujnowska-Fedak; Catherine E Chronaki; Roxana C Dumitru; Iveta Pudule; Silvina Santana; Henning Voss; Rolf Wynn Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2007-04-10 Impact factor: 3.295