The Usage of Digital Health Technology Among Older Adults in Hong Kong and the Role of Technology Readiness and eHealth Literacy: Path Analysis (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND Although digital health technologies help people maintain a healthy life, these technologies are purposeless unless elderly people use them. Thus, it is critical to identify ways to help elderly people recognize and try new technologies and maintain their use of these technologies in order to benefit the most from these technologies in a digital-based society. OBJECTIVE Our study aimed a) to assess the current usage of digital health technology (DHT) among elderly people in Hong Kong and b) to examine how the eHealth literacy of elderly people affects the relationship between the technology readiness and acceptance model (TRAM) and attitudes and intention toward DHT between high and low levels of eHealth literacy. METHODS 306 elderly individuals over 60 years old in Hong Kong participated in this study. After conducting confirmatory factor analysis to validate the measurement model, the hypothesized model was tested by using the structural equation model. RESULTS Optimism was significantly related to perceived usefulness (PU), while optimism, innovativeness, and discomfort were significantly associated with perceived ease to use (PEU). Both PU and PEU were significantly linked to attitude toward the use of DHT (ATDHT). Meanwhile, ATDHT significantly predicted the usage intention. Additionally, the results revealed the differences in the relationships of the TRAM between participants with adequate and inadequate eHealth literacy. The influence of optimism and innovativeness on PEU was stronger for the adequate group compared to the inadequate one, and the influence of discomfort for the adequate group was much weaker. CONCLUSIONS The findings provided partial support for the impact of eHealth literacy on encouraging elderly people to use DHT and obtain health benefits from it. This study also suggests to provide assistance and guidelines for elderly people to narrow the aging-related technology gap and to further explore the associations of eHealth literacy, the TRAM, and actual behaviors.

Sociodigital Determinants of eHealth Literacy and Related Impact on Health Outcomes and eHealth Use in Korean Older Adults: Community-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

“…This study also found that eHealth literacy significantly impacts the self-perception of health (Table 6). Better levels of eHealth literacy are related to better perceived health through access to quality health information and prompt and adequate health-related decisions [46,47]. Healthy behaviour, such as participation in annual medical check-ups, is not associated with eHealth literacy in this study population.…”

“…Moreover, a higher eHealth literacy level increases the positive impact on perceived usefulness and ease of use in technology and facilitates the adoption of digital health technology. [46] Recently, a municipality in South Korea has introduced an AI-featured call to prevent social isolation in seniors [47]. Such development affirmed that digital technology would narrow the unmet needs of health care and long-term care services in the future, provided that the users have the proper knowledge and self-efficacy in eHealth.…”