A systematic review of factors influencing attitudes towards and intention to use the long-distance caregiving technologies for older adults

J Wang; Y Fu; V Lou; S Y Tan; E Chui

doi:10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2021.104536

A systematic review of factors influencing attitudes towards and intention to use the long-distance caregiving technologies for older adults

Int J Med Inform. 2021 Sep:153:104536. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2021.104536. Epub 2021 Jul 17.

Authors

J Wang¹, Y Fu², V Lou³, S Y Tan⁴, E Chui⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. Electronic address: h1393072@connect.hku.hk.
² School of Social Development and Public Policy, Beijing Normal University, North Main Building 2003, 19 Xinjiekou Wai St., Beijing 100875, China. Electronic address: fuyuanyuan00@163.com.
³ Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong; Sau Po Centre on Ageing, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. Electronic address: wlou@hku.hk.
⁴ Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, 469C Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 259772, Singapore. Electronic address: s.tan14@u.nus.edu.
⁵ Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. Electronic address: ernest@hku.hk.

PMID: 34325206
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2021.104536

Abstract

Purpose: Long-distance caregiving (LDC) technologies play a significant role in enabling distant care and facilitating living-alone older adults to keep socially connected. However, there is scarce research exploring the older adults' attitudes towards and intention to use such technologies. This paper is based on a systematic review of existing literature to explore the multifarious factors influencing independent community-living older adults' attitudes towards and intention to use LDC technologies.

Methods: Articles published in English between 2006 and 2020 were reviewed by searching electronic databases of PubMed, ProQuest, EBSCOhost. The inclusion criteria were limited to quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods studies that involved: 1) distant caregiving; 2) older adults aged 60 years or above, who were living alone or with only their spouse in the community (even though the samples might also involve other non-older adults); 3) technologies including ICT-based devices, systems, or programs enabling data transmission were used; 4), intention to use or behavioral usage in regard to the technologies were reported or discussed.

Results: In total, 41 out of 8674 articles were included. Both determinants and moderators of affecting the use of the ICT-based LDC technologies were identified with theoretical guidance. To summarize, there are personal factors involved, such as personality, concerns regarding security and privacy, health conditions, requisite knowledge, financial conditions, and influence from significant others, encompassing formal and informal caregivers; and factors related to the devices, in terms of their user-friendliness and functionality.

Conclusion: This review highlights the importance of striking a good balance between functionality and privacy concerns, besides considering the direct and indirect cost to users. LDC technology education should be promoted at the societal level to facilitate older adults' better understanding of the device utilities by enhancing their technological literacy. Implications for various stakeholders to cope with the challenges of an aging population are also discussed.

Keywords: Aging; Long-distance caregiving; Older adults; Systematic review; Technology.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Aged
Aging
Attitude*
Humans
Independent Living
Intention*
Technology