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Boosting Digital Health Engagement Among Older Adults in Hong Kong: Pilot Pre-Post Study of the Generations Connect

Aaron Wan Jia He¹, Runqi Yuan¹, Tzu Tsun Luk²

¹School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Rm 520, 5/F, Academic Building, No. 3 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong), 852 39176610.

JMIR Formative Research

|May 9, 2025

Abstract

Background:

Older adults' utilization of digital health care remains low despite a high demand for regular health services. Easily accessible eHealth interventions designed for older adults are needed.

Objective:

This study aimed to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of an intergenerational, home-based eHealth literacy intervention package on older adults in Hong Kong.

Methods:

In this study, 101 older adults (n=64, 63.4% female) with a median age of 80 (IQR 77-85) years received an intergenerational, home-based eHealth literacy intervention package, delivered by trained university student interventionists. The intervention (median 60, IQR 40.8-70 minutes) included personalized guidance on using mobile health apps, QR code scanners and instant messaging, and access to online health information, along with recommendations for physical and mental well-being. Following the intervention, a daily health-coaching message was sent to older adults via WhatsApp for 14 days. eHealth literacy, health, and lifestyle were assessed at baseline and at a 2-week follow-up using paired t tests.

Results:

Retention rate for the 2-week follow-up was 70.3% (71/101). Compared to baseline, eHealth literacy scores increased by 2.39 points (P=.11; Cohen d=0.20), and daily smartphone use rose by 0.45 hours (P=.07; Cohen d=0.05). Participants self-reported increased physical activity (50/71, 70%), more frequent viewing of health videos (43/70, 61%), and improved handwashing practices (39/71, 55%). The intervention achieved a high satisfaction rating of 4.32 out of 5.

Conclusions:

The intergenerational, home-based eHealth literacy intervention package was feasible and acceptable, showing promise for increasing older adults' engagement with digital health care resources and promoting healthy behaviors. Future studies should explore longer-term effects and ways to further improve the intervention.

Keywords:

eHealth literacy health promotion home-based intervention intergenerational learning older adults

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