Engaging Elderly People in Telemedicine Through Gamification

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Digital Health

Background:

• The rapidly aging population increases demand for elderly care, highlighting the need for effective telemedicine solutions.
• Low user adherence to telemedicine technology, particularly among the elderly, necessitates strategies to improve engagement and retention.
• Gamification, applying game elements to non-game contexts, is an emerging strategy to enhance user motivation and adherence in digital health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing gamification theoretical frameworks and identify methods specifically designed for elderly users.
• To explore user classification theories for tailoring gamified content to the elderly demographic.
• To lay the groundwork for a new framework to enhance elderly adherence in telemedicine through gamification.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a comprehensive internet search across scientific and nonscientific engines.
• Included literature on gamification conceptualization, elderly engagement methods, and user classification theories.
• Synthesized findings to identify current approaches and knowledge gaps.

Main Results:

• Two primary gamification framework approaches were identified: applied (business-driven) and academic (theory-driven).
• Limited research exists on applying gamification to engage elderly users, with a notable gap in understanding practical effectiveness.
• Several user classification theories based on archetypes and motivations were found, showing strong interconnections.

Conclusions:

• Existing gamification frameworks seldom target the elderly population, indicating a need for specialized approaches.
• The efficacy of user classification for tailoring gamified content to the elderly in telemedicine remains unexplored.
• Future research should focus on developing a framework linking personality traits to game content preferences for elderly users.