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

Abstract

Background Although digital health technologies (DHTs) help many people maintain a healthy life, including those of advanced age, these technologies are of little use to older adult populations if they are not being adopted in daily life. Thus, it is critical to identify ways to help older adults recognize and try new technologies and maintain their use of them to maximize the benefits of these technologies in a digital-based society. Objective Our study aimed (1) to assess the current usage of DHT among older adults in Hong Kong and (2) to examine how high and low levels of eHealth literacy in this group affects the relationship between the Technology Readiness and Acceptance Model (TRAM) and attitudes and intention toward DHT. Methods A total of 306 adults over 60 years of age in Hong Kong participated in this study. After conducting confirmatory factor analysis to validate the measurement model, the hypothesized model was tested using structural equation modeling. Results Optimism was significantly related to perceived usefulness, while optimism, innovativeness, and discomfort were significantly associated with perceived ease of use. Both perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use were significantly linked to attitude toward the use of DHTs. Meanwhile, attitude significantly predicted usage intention. Additionally, the results revealed the differences in the relationships of the TRAM between participants with high and low levels of eHealth literacy. The influence of optimism and innovativeness on perceived ease of use was stronger for the higher-level group than for the lower-level group, and the influence of discomfort for the higher-level group was much weaker. Conclusions The findings provided partial support for the impact of eHealth literacy on encouraging older adults to use DHT and obtain health benefits from it. This study also suggests providing assistance and guidelines for older adults to narrow the aging-related technology gap and to further explore the associations of eHealth literacy, the TRAM, and actual behaviors.

Application and Challenges of the Technology Acceptance Model in Elderly Healthcare: Insights from ChatGPT

“…The integration of technology in healthcare has undergone significant advancements, presenting both challenges and opportunities, particularly in the context of elderly healthcare [1][2][3][4]. As the global population ages, the demand for innovative solutions to address the distinctive healthcare needs associated with aging has grown exponentially [5].…”

“…As the global population ages, the demand for innovative solutions to address the distinctive healthcare needs associated with aging has grown exponentially [5]. These needs encompass a spectrum of age-related health challenges, including but not limited to chronic conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, cognitive decline, and sensory impairments [3,5]. Additionally, there is a pronounced requirement for healthcare interventions that consider factors such as mobility issues, social isolation, medication management, and the overall well-being of older individuals [6].…”

“…Within this landscape, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) has served as a valuable framework for understanding how individuals, especially the elderly, adopt and utilize healthcare technologies [2,3,5]. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is a widely recognized and influential framework that has been developed to understand and predict individuals' acceptance and adoption of technology [3,4].…”

“…Within this landscape, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) has served as a valuable framework for understanding how individuals, especially the elderly, adopt and utilize healthcare technologies [2,3,5]. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is a widely recognized and influential framework that has been developed to understand and predict individuals' acceptance and adoption of technology [3,4]. Originally proposed by Fred Davis in the late 1980s, TAM emerged as a psychological model aimed at explaining the factors influencing users' decisions to accept and use information technology [12].…”

“…These two key determinants shape users' attitudes and behavioral intentions toward adopting technology [2,4,[15][16][17]. Over the years, TAM has been extended and modified to incorporate additional factors and variables that may impact technology acceptance [2,3,15,16]. TAM2, TAM3, and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) are examples of extended models that consider social influence, cognitive instrumental processes, and other contextual factors [4,15,16,18].…”