Frontiers in Public Health (Jun 2021)

The Perceptions and Experiences of Mobile Health Technology by Older People in Guangzhou, China: A Qualitative Study

  • Jiong Tu,
  • Manxuan Shen,
  • Jiudi Zhong,
  • Gang Yuan,
  • Miaohong Chen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.683712
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9

Abstract

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The study explores older people's perceptions and experiences with mobile technology adoption in hospitals. Twenty nine older people were interviewed at a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou from June to December 2020. All the interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Older people are a diversified group. Various factors impact their readiness for technology use, including their educational level, age, past experiences, living arrangements, etc. The older people in this study in general expressed a great concern about using the new health technology and many encountered barriers to its successful adoption. Yet, the barriers and difficulties that they encountered are embedded in a changed social context in China. The findings above provide insights into the adoption of health technology, and tailored measures to facilitate older people's technology adoption are suggested.

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