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Bults M, van Leersum CM, Olthuis TJJ, Siebrand E, Malik Z, Liu L, Miguel-Cruz A, Jukema JS, den Ouden MEM. Acceptance of a Digital Assistant (Anne4Care) for Older Adult Immigrants Living With Dementia: Qualitative Descriptive Study. JMIR Aging 2024; 7:e50219. [PMID: 38639994 PMCID: PMC11069095 DOI: 10.2196/50219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a need to develop and coordinate dementia care plans that use assistive technology for vulnerable groups such as immigrant populations. However, immigrant populations are seldom included in various stages of the development and implementation of assistive technology, which does not optimize technology acceptance. OBJECTIVE This study aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the acceptance of a digital personal assistant, called Anne4Care, by older adult immigrants living with dementia in their own homes. METHODS This study used a qualitative descriptive research design with naturalistic inquiry. A total of 13 older adults participated in this study. The participants were invited for 2 interviews. After an introduction of Anne4Care, the first interview examined the lives and needs of participants, their expectations, and previous experiences with assistive technology in daily life. Four months later, the second interview sought to understand facilitators and barriers, suggestions for modifications, and the role of health care professionals. Three semistructured interviews were conducted with health care professionals to examine the roles and challenges they experienced in the use and implementation of Anne4Care. Content analysis, using NVivo11, was performed on all transcripts. RESULTS All 13 participants had an immigration background. There were 10 male and 3 female participants, with ages ranging from 52 to 83 years. Participants were diagnosed with an early-stage form of dementia or acquired brain injury. None of the older adult participants knew or used digital assistive technology at the beginning. They obtained assistance from health care professionals and family caregivers who explained and set up the technology. Four themes were found to be critical aspects of the acceptance of the digital personal assistant Anne4Care: (1) use of Anne4Care, (2) positive aspects of Anne4Care, (3) challenges with Anne4Care, and (4) expectations. Assistance at first increased the burden on health care professionals and families. After the initial effort, most health care professionals and families experienced that Anne4Care reduced their tasks and stress. Contributions of Anne4Care included companionship, help with daily tasks, and opportunities to communicate in multiple languages. On the other hand, some participants expressed anxiety toward the use of Anne4Care. Furthermore, the platform required an internet connection at home and Anne4Care could not be used outside the home. CONCLUSIONS Although older adult immigrants living with dementia had no previous experience with digital assistive technology specifically, the acceptance of the digital personal assistant, called Anne4Care, by older adult immigrants living with dementia was rather high. The digital assistant can be further developed to allow for interactive conversations and for use outside of one's home. Participation of end users during various stages of the development, refinement, and implementation of health technology innovations is of utmost importance to maximize technology acceptance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marloes Bults
- Technology, Health & Care Research Group, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Catharina Margaretha van Leersum
- Department of Technology, Policy, and Society, Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
- Faculty of Humanities, Open University, Heerlen, Netherlands
| | | | - Egbert Siebrand
- Research Group Ethics and Technology, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Zohrah Malik
- Technology, Health & Care Research Group, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Lili Liu
- School of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Antonio Miguel-Cruz
- School of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- GRRIT Hub Glenrose Rehabilitation Research, Innovation & Technology, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jan Seerp Jukema
- Smart Health Research Group, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Marjolein Elisabeth Maria den Ouden
- Technology, Health & Care Research Group, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Enschede, Netherlands
- Care & Technology Research Group, Regional Community College of Twente, Hengelo, Netherlands
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Wu Q, Ngien A, Jiang S. Descriptive Norms and eHealth Use Among Older Adults: A Cross-Country Comparative Study. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2023:1-12. [PMID: 38148390 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2297120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
eHealth use enables older adults to access and manage healthcare resources, and benefits their health; however, older adults' uptake of eHealth remains low across societies. Social influences such as descriptive norms may be of critical importance in promoting the elderly's usage of eHealth. Based on the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction, this study investigates how descriptive norms relate to eHealth use among the elderly in China and the United States. Analysis of the combined sample (N = 1,070) showed that descriptive norms were positively related to eHealth use. Also, descriptive norms were indirectly associated with eHealth use via injunctive norms, attitudes and self-efficacy. Moderated mediation analysis indicated that these direct and indirect relationships differed across the two countries. This study highlights the important role of descriptive norms in promoting older adults' eHealth use behavior and addresses potential country differences in how the elderly respond to descriptive norms. Several important theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaofei Wu
- Department of Communications and New Media, National University of Singapore
| | - Annabel Ngien
- Department of Communications and New Media, National University of Singapore
| | - Shaohai Jiang
- Department of Communications and New Media, National University of Singapore
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