Trisha T C Lin1, John Robert Bautista2,3, Rachel Core4. 1. Department of Radio & Television, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan. 2. School of Information, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA. 3. Center for Health Communication, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA. 4. College of Arts and Sciences, Stetson University, DeLand, Florida, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study examines how seniors in Singapore use mobile devices for healthcare purposes. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with 35 mobile phone users aged between 58-82 years old. RESULTS: Seniors regard mobile phones as important personal devices for socialization, security, and emergency purposes. Most of the seniors consider mobile telephony (voice calls and text messaging) as an accessible platform to access healthcare. Perceived usefulness, ease of use, compatibility, technology anxiety, financial cost, and self-efficacy were identified as factors affecting the use of mHealth among seniors. Although a few adopt mHealth applications and mobile Internet for health-information seeking, some younger seniors show enthusiastic attitudes toward its adoption. Additionally, some seniors also have technology anxiety and resistance toward using mHealth applications. CONCLUSION: Seniors use mobile phones for healthcare purposes in their daily life, and its use involves several facilitators and barriers. Interpersonal training is likely to reduce their anxiety and increase mHealth literacy and adoption. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
OBJECTIVE: This study examines how seniors in Singapore use mobile devices for healthcare purposes. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with 35 mobile phone users aged between 58-82 years old. RESULTS: Seniors regard mobile phones as important personal devices for socialization, security, and emergency purposes. Most of the seniors consider mobile telephony (voice calls and text messaging) as an accessible platform to access healthcare. Perceived usefulness, ease of use, compatibility, technology anxiety, financial cost, and self-efficacy were identified as factors affecting the use of mHealth among seniors. Although a few adopt mHealth applications and mobile Internet for health-information seeking, some younger seniors show enthusiastic attitudes toward its adoption. Additionally, some seniors also have technology anxiety and resistance toward using mHealth applications. CONCLUSION: Seniors use mobile phones for healthcare purposes in their daily life, and its use involves several facilitators and barriers. Interpersonal training is likely to reduce their anxiety and increase mHealth literacy and adoption. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Entities:
Keywords:
mhealth; mobile phone; senior; technology adoption; technology anxiety
Authors: Pei Ern Mary Ng; Sean Olivia Nicholas; Shiou Liang Wee; Teng Yan Yau; Alvin Chan; Isaiah Chng; Lin Kiat Philip Yap; Tze Pin Ng Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2021-02-15 Impact factor: 4.379