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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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Nieto-Martínez R, De Oliveira-Gomes D, Gonzalez-Rivas JP, Al-Rousan T, Mechanick JI, Danaei G. Telehealth and cardiometabolic-based chronic disease: optimizing preventive care in forcibly displaced migrant populations. JOURNAL OF HEALTH, POPULATION, AND NUTRITION 2023; 42:93. [PMID: 37667387 PMCID: PMC10478318 DOI: 10.1186/s41043-023-00418-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
The number of migrants, which includes forcibly displaced refugees, asylum seekers, and undocumented persons, is increasing worldwide. The global migrant population is heterogeneous in terms of medical conditions and vulnerability resulting from non-optimal metabolic risk factors in the country of origin (e.g., abnormal adiposity, dysglycemia, hypertension, and dyslipidemia), adverse travel conditions and the resulting stress, poverty, and anxiety, and varying effects of acculturation and access to healthcare services in the country of destination. Therefore, many of these migrants develop a high risk for cardiovascular disease and face the significant challenge of overcoming economic and health system barriers to accessing quality healthcare. In the host countries, healthcare professionals experience difficulties providing care to migrants, including cultural and language barriers, and limited institutional capacities, especially for those with non-legal status. Telehealth is an effective strategy to mitigate cardiometabolic risk factors primarily by promoting healthy lifestyle changes and pharmacotherapeutic adjustments. In this descriptive review, the role of telehealth in preventing the development and progression of cardiometabolic disease is explored with a specific focus on type 2 diabetes and hypertension in forcibly displaced migrants. Until now, there are few studies showing that culturally adapted telehealth services can decrease the burden of T2D and HTN. Despite study limitations, telehealth outcomes are comparable to those of traditional health care with the advantages of having better accessibility for difficult-to-reach populations such as forcibly displaced migrants and reducing healthcare associated costs. More prospective studies implementing telemedicine strategies to treat cardiometabolic disease burden in migrant populations are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramfis Nieto-Martínez
- Precision Care Clinic Corp., Saint Cloud, FL, USA.
- Departments of Global Health and Population and Epidemiology, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
- Foundation for Clinic, Public Health, and Epidemiology Research of Venezuela (FISPEVEN INC), Caracas, Venezuela.
| | - Diana De Oliveira-Gomes
- Foundation for Clinic, Public Health, and Epidemiology Research of Venezuela (FISPEVEN INC), Caracas, Venezuela
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Juan P Gonzalez-Rivas
- Departments of Global Health and Population and Epidemiology, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Foundation for Clinic, Public Health, and Epidemiology Research of Venezuela (FISPEVEN INC), Caracas, Venezuela
- International Clinical Research Centre (ICRC), St Anne's University Hospital Brno (FNUSA), Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tala Al-Rousan
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey I Mechanick
- The Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis Center for Clinical Cardiovascular Health at Mount Sinai Heart, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Goodarz Danaei
- Departments of Global Health and Population and Epidemiology, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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