title: Technology use by older adults in the Netherlands and its associations with demographics and health outcomes.
abstract: Information and communications technology (ICT) has the potential to contribute to the quality of life of older adults. The aim of this study was to analyze the use of a broad array of ICT devices and services among Dutch older adults and to determine whether demographics and health outcomes are associated with this use. A questionnaire was dispensed among a group of Dutch older adults (≥65 years). A univariate analysis of covariance was used to analyse results. Two hundred ninety-one subjects filled out the questionnaire. Reported use of newer technologies was lower compared with older technologies. Increased age (p = 0.048, Confidence Interval [CI]: -0.73: -0.004), lower degree of education (p = 0.008, CI: -59.64: -5.59), birthplace outside of Europe (p = 0.024, CI: -21.99: -0.73), lower income (p = 0.005, CI: -46.44:25.38), less arthrosis of the hands (p = 0.042, CI: -1.38:21.11), and a lower physical functioning (p = 0.008, CI: 1.43:9.41) resulted in a lower ICT use score with an adjusted R2 of 0.311. Older adults are slower to adapt to newer technologies. It appears it is not the degree of physical restrictions, but rather the degree of adaptability to these restrictions that influence the use of ICT.
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Innovation in Healthcare, Research Group Demand Driven Care , Utrecht University of Applied Sciences , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sigrid N W
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8106-2064
authors.initials: SNW
authors.lastname: Vorrink
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Innovation in Healthcare, Research Group Demand Driven Care , Utrecht University of Applied Sciences , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Angelo M G E F
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2650-6520
authors.initials: AMGEF
authors.lastname: Antonietti
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Innovation in Healthcare, Research Group Demand Driven Care , Utrecht University of Applied Sciences , Utrecht , The Netherlands.|b Department of the Built Environment , Eindhoven University of Technology , Eindhoven , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Helianthe S M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9735-1015
authors.initials: HSM
authors.lastname: Kort
authors.affiliation: c Research Group for Cardiovascular and Respiratory Rehabilitation, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences , KU Leuven-University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium.|d Respiratory Division , University Hospital Gasthuisberg , Leuven , Belgium.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Troosters
authors.affiliation: e Department of Respiratory Medicine, Division Heart and Lungs , University Medical Centre Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5318-8276
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zanen
authors.affiliation: e Department of Respiratory Medicine, Division Heart and Lungs , University Medical Centre Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan-Willem J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6684-9889
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lammers
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000073256:Information Technology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013685:Telecommunications
keywords: information technology and telecommunications; older adults; universal design