Health-Related Internet Use in Older Primary Care Patients

Abstract

Background: Adults aged 65 years and older stand to benefit from the accumulating wealth of Internet-based health resources, including online interventions to assist in the self-management of chronic health conditions. However, concerns have been expressed that lesser Internet use and familiarity among older adults may limit the utility of web-based health interventions in older age groups. As these interventions become more prevalent, it is important to understand older adults’ receptivity to using the Internet as a tool in managing healthcare. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to gauge the extent to which older primary care patients are receptive to using web-based health resources, and to explore how health-related Internet use may be related to patient characteristics such as age, income, and health and mental health status. Methods: We surveyed 50 adults aged 65 years and older in a Veterans Administration primary care clinic regarding: (1) Internet use for any purpose, (2) Internet use to obtain health or mental-related information, and (3) interest in using Internet-based interventions to address various health-related needs. A substantial proportion of respondents were in their 70s, 80s, and 90s, and many had multiple medical conditions. Results: Nearly three-quarters of older primary care patients in our sample were regular Internet users and over half had experience in using the Internet to search for health information. The majority of Internet users endorsed an interest in using web-based resources to manage various aspects of their health and mental healthcare. Conclusions: Our results support the conclusion that older primary care patients, including those among the oldest-old and those with multiple medical conditions, are amenable to using the Internet as a means of enhancing healthcare.

Technology Use and Interest in Computerized Psychotherapy: A Survey of Veterans in Treatment for Substance Use Disorders

“…27 For comparison, a recent survey of older veterans revealed that over half expressed interest in using the Internet to track goals as well as manage anxiety and depression symptoms. 25 Similar surveys among individuals complaining of anxiety in the United Kingdom found similar results: 90% reported interest in computerized anxiety treatment in one study, and in another, one-half of individuals over the age of 65 years with depression and/or anxiety disorders indicated interest in CPT. 28,29 In addition, the latter studies also support the current finding that individuals interested in CPT were on average 5 years older than those who were not interested in CPT.…”

“…As VHA continues to develop CPT programs in preparation for their implementation and to expand its use of HIT in general, 25 there is a need to evaluate interest in such services and barriers among potential users. The current study surveyed interest in CPT and its relation to the use of information technology in a sample of VHA patients in treatment for substance use disorders.…”

Acceptance and use of health information technology by community-dwelling elders

“…(51) However, the oldest cohorts of adults who simultaneously have the greatest health needs also have the lowest familiarity with HIT. (19) This group is likely to say that they don't use the Internet or email because it doesn't seem relevant to them—they're “just not interested”—raising the question whether availability of targeted resources could overcome these barriers or not.…”

“…But there are signs that even the older elderly are increasingly using the Internet and are open to doing so for health information. (51)…”

“…(28, 40) Any research on HIT should be sure to include, perhaps even intentionally oversampling, older adults in order to assess age-related differences. (51)…”