title: Use of Information and Communication Technologies Among Older People With and Without Frailty: A Population-Based Survey.
abstract: Use of information and communication technologies (ICT) among seniors is increasing; however, studies on the use of ICT by seniors at the highest risk of health impairment are lacking. Frail and prefrail seniors are a group that would likely benefit from preventive nutrition and exercise interventions, both of which can take advantage of ICT.
  
  
  
  The objective of the study was to quantify the differences in ICT use, attitudes, and reasons for nonuse among physically frail, prefrail, and nonfrail home-dwelling seniors.
  
  
  
  This was a population-based questionnaire study on people aged 65-98 years living in Northern Finland. A total of 794 eligible individuals responded out of a contacted random sample of 1500.
  
  
  
  In this study, 29.8% (237/794) of the respondents were classified as frail or prefrail. The ICT use of frail persons was lower than that of the nonfrail ones. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, age and education level were associated with both the use of Internet and advanced mobile ICT such as smartphones or tablets. Controlling for age and education, frailty or prefrailty was independently related to the nonuse of advanced mobile ICT (odds ratio, OR=0.61, P=.01), and frailty with use of the Internet (OR=0.45, P=.03). The frail or prefrail ICT nonusers also held the most negative opinions on the usefulness or usability of mobile ICT. When opinion variables were included in the model, frailty status remained a significant predictor of ICT use.
  
  
  
  Physical frailty status is associated with older peoples' ICT use independent of age, education, and opinions on ICT use. This should be taken into consideration when designing preventive and assistive technologies and interventions for older people at risk of health impairment.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Infotech Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Niina Susanna
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4495-4802
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Keränen
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Maarit
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5803-4113
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kangas
authors.affiliation: Center for Life Course Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Milla
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1128-119X
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Immonen
authors.affiliation: Center for Life Course Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0241-1957
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Similä
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Information Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1953-2157
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Enwald
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Center for Life Course Health Research, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Oulu Deaconess Institute, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Raija
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3627-0542
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Korpelainen
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Timo
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8394-9462
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jämsä
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D034201:Computers, Handheld / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000068997:Smartphone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013685:Telecommunications / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Internet; aged; frail elderly; logistic regression; population characteristics; smartphone