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Published on: July 27, 2018
Use or non-use of gerontechnology--a qualitative study
1Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. alan.chan@cityu.edu.hk.
Summary
Older adults in Hong Kong generally have positive attitudes toward technology, valuing convenience. However, barriers like health risks and complexity hinder gerontechnology adoption, necessitating removal of personal, technological, and environmental obstacles.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Sociology of Technology
Background:
- Gerontechnology adoption is crucial for aging populations.
- Understanding older adults' perspectives on technology is essential for effective design and implementation.
- Qualitative insights are needed to explore nuanced attitudes and experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore older adults' attitudes and experiences with gerontechnology.
- To identify reasons for technology use and non-use among the elderly.
- To inform strategies for promoting gerontechnology adoption.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative research design.
- Four focus group discussions and 26 individual interviews conducted.
- Data analyzed using NVivo software with coding and grounded theory.
Main Results:
- Older adults in Hong Kong exhibit generally positive attitudes toward technology, citing convenience and advanced features.
- Negative attitudes stem from perceived health risks and social issues like isolation and addiction.
- Technology use is influenced by expected outcomes and social factors, while non-use is linked to personal, technological, and environmental barriers.
Conclusions:
- Gerontechnology use is a complex interplay of person, technology, and environment.
- Addressing personal, technological, and environmental barriers is key to encouraging non-users to adopt technology.
- Interventions should focus on mitigating risks and enhancing facilitators for broader gerontechnology acceptance.
