Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
Methodology for Establishing a Community-Wide Life Laboratory for Capturing Unobtrusive and Continuous Remote Activity and Health Data
Published on: July 27, 2018
GPs' perceptions of digital technology for behavior change interventions for community-dwelling older adults: a
Yixuan Zeng1, Shuai Fang2, Yan Liang3
1School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Introduction:
Digital technologies have shown great potential in supporting behavior change interventions for older adults. However, general practitioners' (GPs) perceptions regarding using digital technologies to implement behavior change techniques (BCTs) in primary care settings remain unclear, especially in China. This cross-sectional study explored GPs' perceptions of such digital support and concurrent associations between perceived necessity, self-reported competence, and perceived usefulness.
Methods:
A convenience sample of 540 GPs from three Shanghai districts completed an online survey between December 1, 2023 and December 10, 2023. Separate clustering-robust logistic regression models were fitted for each of 16 BCT groups (with sociodemographic and occupational variables as confounders); given only three district-level clusters, inferential results are interpreted as exploratory rather than definitive.
Results:
GPs generally recognized BCT necessity but reported relatively low competence. Perceived necessity and self-reported competence were positively associated with perceived usefulness across all 16 BCTs (all FDR-adjusted p < 0.001). Descriptively, necessity's odds ratios were numerically higher in 15 BCTs, but this was a non-inferential descriptive pattern. Perceptions varied descriptively by BCT type; self-reported competence showed a wider endorsement spread than perceived necessity.
Discussion:
This exploratory study provides initial insights into GPs' perceptions in selected Shanghai community health service settings, highlighting key cognitive associations and a necessity-competence discrepancy. Digital technologies may support BCT delivery, but findings are tentative due to study limitations including single-item dichotomous measures, few district-level clusters, and within-respondent dependence across 16 BCT judgments. Rigorous future research is needed to validate patterns and inform initiatives.
