Support for e-Health Services Among Elderly Primary Care Patients

Abstract

Background: E-health has a substantial potential to improve access to as well as support efficient and effective care for the elderly. Questions remain and must be addressed, however, regarding the challenges faced by the elderly in the use of this technology. The aim of the study was to assess the attitude (needs) and preferences of the elderly in a selected region of Poland regarding selected e-health services and the factors associated with them. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among 286 patients over 60 years of age being served by general practitioners in southwest Poland's Lower Silesia Province. The assessment pertaining to e-health was based on a specially designed questionnaire. Results: Nearly one-third of the study respondents had a computer at home, and 61% of these (19% of all surveyed elderly) used it. Twenty-two percent of respondents used the Internet, at least occasionally, whereas 62% used mobile phones. Approximately 41% (n = 116) of the elderly had a favorable attitude toward e-health services (labeled here as supporters) and were willing to use it if/when offered an opportunity to do so. A substantial majority (84%) of supporters expressed a desire to receive simple medical recommendations via mobile phone or a computer, although significant majorities (61% and 60%, respectively) would like to receive the results of tests by e-mail or short message service reminders for scheduled visits or prescribed medications. Slightly less than half (47%) of e-health supporters would request appointments online. Among the more important factors associated with support of e-health services were urban residence, higher education, and normal cognitive function, as well as having a computer, Internet access, or a mobile phone. Conclusions: The majority of elderly patients in this Polish community are not overly enthusiastic about using information and communications technology tools in their healthcare. Nevertheless, a substantial percentage (41%) among this group support selected e-health services.

Use of telemedicine-based care for the aging and elderly: promises and pitfalls

“…64,65 The undeniable advantage is also the involvement of seniors in the process of treatment and rehabilitation and improvement of their health awareness. Patients who do well in a telecare program may not need to come in for their next regularly scheduled in-person visit.…”

“…If the system is given a chance to fit into the everyday lifestyle of the elderly, giving them a sense of security and at the same time allowing them to lead a more independent life, its acceptance will increase significantly. 25,69,89 A study performed by Bujnowska and Pirogowicz 64 showed that approximately 41% of the elderly had a favorable attitude toward e-health services and were willing to use it if/when offered an opportunity to do so. A substantial majority (84%) of supporters expressed a desire to receive simple medical recommendations via mobile phone or a computer, although significant majorities (61% and 60%, respectively) wanted to receive the results of tests by email or SMS reminders for scheduled visits or prescribed medications.…”

Survey on IoT solutions applied to Healthcare

“…Similar to the previous work, in [24] is presented a case of study to assess the willingness to use information systems among 286 patients over 60 years register in southwest Poland's Lower Silesia Province. This questionnaire asks about the current usage of information technologies by the patients, and their willingness of usage of services based on this kind of technologies.…”

Seniors’ attitude to e-health

“…At present there are several definitions of the e-health concept (Bujnowska-Fedak & Pirogowicz, 2014;Oh, Rizo, Enkinit & Alejandro, 2005). E-health can be defined as the use of information and communication technologies, particularly the Internet, to enable healthcare and improve people' health.…”

“…E-health can have different forms such as electronic health records, electronic prescriptions, clinical decision support, telemedicine, mHealth, or consumer health informatics (EHealth, 2015). As Bujnowska-Fedak & Pirogowicz (2014) claim, e-health technological devices can increase access to healthcare, cut healthcare and administration costs, reduce patient's visits at the doctor, provide a complex overview of patient's state of health, raise information exchange, and improve public and individual health by personalized medical approach. E-health technologies are nowadays on their rise since they can help to overcome geographical barriers between the patient and the healthcare provider and address specific patient's needs.…”