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Too old for technology? Use of wearable healthcare devices by older adults and their willingness to share health data with providers

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: Wearable healthcare devices offer tremendous promise to effectively track and improve the well-being of older adults. Yet, little is known about the use of wearable devices by older adults. Drawing upon a national survey in US with 1481 older adults, we examine the use of wearable healthcare devices and the key predictors of use viz. sociodemographic factors, health conditions, and technology self-efficacy. We also examine if the predictors are associated with elders' willingness to share health data from wearable devices with healthcare providers. We find low level of wearable use (17.49%) among US older adults. We find significant positive associations between technology self-efficacy, health conditions, and demographic factors (gender, race, education, and annual household income) and use of wearable devices. Men were less likely (OR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.36-1.04) and Asians were more likely (OR = 2.60, 95% CI 0.89-7.64) to use wearables, as did healthy adults (OR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.37-2.87). Those who electronically communicated with their doctors (OR = 1.86, 95% CI 1.16-2.97), and those who searched online for health information (OR = 1.79, 95% CI 1.03-3.10) were more likely to use wearables. Though 80.15% of wearable users are willing to share health data with providers, those with greater technology self-efficacy and favorable attitudes toward exercise are more willing.

Source: Health Informatics Journal

DOI: 10.1177/14604582211058073

Authors: Ranganathan Chandrasekaran, Vipanchi Katthula, Evangelos Moustakas

Institutions: University of Illinois Chicago, Middlesex University Dubai

Language: English

Topic: Technology Use by Older Adults

Subfield: Demography

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,125