Prevalence of Computer Use among Geriatric In- and Outpatients

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Digital Health
• Rehabilitation Technology

Background:

• Tele-rehabilitation offers significant benefits but faces low adoption rates among older adults.
• Understanding computer usage patterns in the geriatric population is essential for expanding digital health services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of computer use in geriatric patients.
• To identify patient characteristics associated with computer use for tele-rehabilitation.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study surveyed 249 cognitively well-functioning geriatric patients (aged 65+).
• Data collected included computer usage, demographics, frailty, and functional capacity.

Main Results:

• 124 out of 249 geriatric patients (approx. 50%) were computer users.
• Computer users were younger, less frail, had higher functional capacity, and higher education levels than non-users.

Conclusions:

• Computer literacy remains a barrier to tele-rehabilitation in the geriatric population.
• Implementing computer training, user-friendly devices, and technical support is recommended to enhance tele-rehabilitation accessibility for seniors.