Factors associated with intention to use rehabilitation assistive technologies in older adults

Assistive rehabilitation technologies have been used as a way to address the challenges associated with aging. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the factors related to the intention to use rehabilitative assistive technology in older adults.

The cross-sectional study conducted in 2024 focused on older adults aged 60 and above who visited comprehensive health service centers in the city of Hamedan. The samples were selected using a multistage random sampling method. The data collection tools included a two-part researcher-designed questionnaire, covering demographic information and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology of the developed questionnaire. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation tests, linear regression, and structural equation modeling.

A total of 340 older adults participated (mean age = 70.44 ± 7.47 years). PLS-SEM results indicated that perceived need (β = 0.426, p < 0.001), performance expectancy (β = 0.178, p < 0.001), technology anxiety (β = 0.161, p < 0.001), social influence (β = 0.158, p < 0.001), and effort expectancy (β = 0.136, p < 0.001) significantly predicted intention to use assistive technologies. Overall, the extended UTAUT model accounted for 51% of the variance in behavioral intention. Multiple regression also revealed significant associations of age and history of chronic disease with intention to use (p < 0.05).

The findings underscore the importance of perceived need and technology anxiety as key additions to the UTAUT model in predicting intention to use. However, the unexplained variance suggests that additional influences-including personal characteristics, environmental supports and barriers, and technology-related features-should also be considered in future studies to provide a more comprehensive understanding of adoption among older adults.