Cognitive adaptability predicts digital health technology use in older adults

Use of digital health technology varies among older adults. The psychological factors influencing the acceptance and use of digital health technology among older adults are limitedly examined. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of psychological factors with digital health technology use in this population.

Cross-sectional data from the National Health Aging Trends Study (NHATS) were used to investigate four types of digital health technology use: seeking health information online, managing health insurance data, refilling prescriptions/scheduling appointments online, and participating in telehealth visits. Psychological factors included internal and external loci of control and cognitive adaptability. We used multivariable logistic regressions to examine associations between each psychological factor and each type of digital health technology use in older adults, adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors.

There was variation among participants (N = 4651) in the use of digital health technology: making telehealth visits (51.9%), managing health insurance data (42.4%), filling prescriptions/scheduling health appointments (30.3%), and obtaining health information (25.8%). Cognitive adaptability was statistically significantly associated with greater use of seeking online health information, managing health insurance data, refilling prescriptions/scheduling appointments online, and participating in telehealth visits. Internal and external loci of control were not statistically significantly associated with any type of digital health technology use among participants.

This study is among the first to demonstrate that cognitive adaptability is a significant predictor of digital health technology use among older adults. These findings highlight the need to implement user-centered design and to develop and test digital interventions. Furthermore, interventions that capitalize on the cognitive adaptability of older adults using a guided or problem-solving approach may improve their digital health technology usage. These measures can mitigate disparities in digital health technology use in this population.