Use of Information and Communication Technologies Among Older People With and Without Frailty: A Population-Based Survey

Niina Keränen (Corresponding Author), Maarit Kangas, Milla Immonen, Heidi Similä, Heidi Enwald, Raija Korpelainen, Timo Jämsä

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

    93 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background: Use of information and communication technologies (ICT) among seniors is increasing; however, studies on the use of ICT by seniors at the highest risk of health impairment are lacking. Frail and prefrail seniors are a group that would likely benefit from preventive nutrition and exercise interventions, both of which can take advantage of ICT. Objective: The objective of the study was to quantify the differences in ICT use, attitudes, and reasons for nonuse among physically frail, prefrail, and nonfrail home-dwelling seniors. Methods: This was a population-based questionnaire study on people aged 65-98 years living in Northern Finland. A total of 794 eligible individuals responded out of a contacted random sample of 1500. Results: In this study, 29.8% (237/794) of the respondents were classified as frail or prefrail. The ICT use of frail persons was lower than that of the nonfrail ones. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, age and education level were associated with both the use of Internet and advanced mobile ICT such as smartphones or tablets. Controlling for age and education, frailty or prefrailty was independently related to the nonuse of advanced mobile ICT (odds ratio, OR=0.61, P=.01), and frailty with use of the Internet (OR=0.45, P=.03). The frail or prefrail ICT nonusers also held the most negative opinions on the usefulness or usability of mobile ICT. When opinion variables were included in the model, frailty status remained a significant predictor of ICT use. Conclusions: Physical frailty status is associated with older peoples' ICT use independent of age, education, and opinions on ICT use. This should be taken into consideration when designing preventive and assistive technologies and interventions for older people at risk of health impairment.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article numbere29
    Pages (from-to)e29
    JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research
    Volume19
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 14 Feb 2017
    MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

    Keywords

    • frail elderly
    • Internet
    • smartphone
    • population characteristics
    • logistic regression
    • aged
    • Logistic regression
    • Frail elderly
    • Population characteristics
    • Aged
    • Smartphone
    • Smartphone/statistics & numerical data
    • Humans
    • Telecommunications/statistics & numerical data
    • Male
    • Computers, Handheld/statistics & numerical data
    • Finland/epidemiology
    • Frail Elderly/statistics & numerical data
    • Medical Informatics/statistics & numerical data
    • Aged, 80 and over
    • Female
    • Surveys and Questionnaires

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