title: Remote Health Monitoring for Older Adults and Those with Heart Failure: Adherence and System Usability.
abstract: Remote health monitoring technology has been suggested as part of an early intervention and prevention care model. Older adults with a chronic health condition have been shown to benefit from remote monitoring but often have challenges with complex technology. The current study reports on the usability of and adherence with an integrated, real-time monitoring system over an extended period of time by older adults with and without a chronic health condition.
  
  
  
  Older adults 55 years of age and over with and without heart failure participated in a study in which a telehealth system was used for 6 months each. The system consisted of a wireless wristwatch-based monitoring device that continuously collected temperature and motion data. Other health information was collected daily using a weight scale, blood pressure cuff, and tablet that participants used for health surveys. Data were automatically analyzed and summarized by the system and presented to study nurses.
  
  
  
  Forty-one older adults participated. Seventy-one percent of surveys, 75% of blood pressure readings, and 81% of daily weight measurements were taken. Participants wore the watch monitor 77% of the overall 24/7 time requested. The weight scale had the highest usability rating in both groups. The groups did not otherwise differ on device usage.
  
  
  
  The findings indicate that a health monitoring system designed for older adults can and will be used for an extended period of time and may help older adults with chronic conditions reside longer in their own homes in partnership with the healthcare system.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, Florida State University , Tallahassee, Florida.
authors.forename: Jarrett
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: 2 AFrame Digital, Inc. , Reston, Virginia.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.affiliation: 2 AFrame Digital, Inc. , Reston, Virginia.
authors.forename: Christine Tsien
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Silvers
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, Florida State University , Tallahassee, Florida.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Charness
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, Florida State University , Tallahassee, Florida.
authors.forename: Walter R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Boot
authors.affiliation: 3 iTelehealth Inc. , Cocoa Beach, Florida.
authors.forename: Loretta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schlachta-Fairchild
authors.affiliation: 2 AFrame Digital, Inc. , Reston, Virginia.
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crump
authors.affiliation: 4 College of Nursing, Florida State University , Tallahassee, Florida.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.affiliation: 4 College of Nursing, Florida State University , Tallahassee, Florida.
authors.forename: Carrie Beth
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Ent
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001835:Body Weight; D002908:Chronic Disease; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058998:Remote Sensing Technology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012648:Self Care; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: adherence; e-health; home health monitoring; mobile health; telehealth; usability