eHealth and the Digital Divide Among Older Canadians: Insights from a National Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Informatics
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• Life course theory highlights the interplay between individual choices, socioeconomic context, and decision-making capacity.
• Older adults face unique social and environmental conditions influencing technology adoption and eHealth use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of eHealth application usage among older adults in Canada.
• To investigate the relationship between eHealth use and social determinants and health system interactions.

Main Methods:

• A national cross-sectional survey of 2000 older adults in Canada was conducted.
• Data collected included technology ownership, eHealth application use, social determinants, and health system interactions.

Main Results:

• While technological readiness is high (85.2% owned computers, 82.6% used internet weekly), eHealth application use is limited.
• Telemonitoring and fall detection technology adoption was low (9.4% and 4.2% respectively).
• Significant variations in eHealth use were observed, influenced by factors like province, living environment (rural vs. urban), insurance status, and perceived health.

Conclusions:

• A digital divide exists among older Canadians, potentially excluding those with greater needs and fewer resources from eHealth benefits.
• Addressing the digital health gap requires more than technological access; it necessitates policies promoting health equity and system sustainability.
• Interventions should target at-risk groups like rural residents, institutionalized seniors, and those with limited financial coverage to mitigate digital exclusion.