Perceptions of primary caregivers of severely dependent elderly with disabilities about internet-based home care: A...

Between 2000 and 2022, the number of individuals aged 65 and older in China rose from 88 million to 210 million, with their proportion of the total population increasing from 7.00 to 14.90%. In response to the intensification of population ageing and the shortage of nursing human resources, China has launched an internet-based home care model built on a web-based APP platform, which operates on an "online application, offline service" approach. Given that severely dependent disabled older adults are the main users of this model and their caregivers determine its adoption, it is crucial to understand caregivers' perceptions toward internet-based home care. Based on the Technology Acceptance Model, a descriptive qualitative research method using direct content analysis was employed to analyze the data. The findings were categorized into four themes: external variables, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and attitudes toward use. Future research should focus on strategies to mitigate patient safety risks, optimize service pricing, ensure service quality, and diversify the range of services offered.