Using eHealth Technologies: Interests, Preferences, and Concerns of Older Adults.
BACKGROUND
The Internet and eHealth technologies represent new opportunities for managing health. Age, sex, socioeconomic status, and current technology use are some of the known factors that influence individuals' uptake of eHealth; however, relatively little is known about facilitators and barriers to eHealth uptake specific to older adults, particularly as they relate to their experiences in accessing health care.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to explore the interests, preferences, and concerns of older adults in using the Internet and eHealth technologies for managing their health in relation to their experiences with the current health care system.


METHODS
Two focus groups (n=15) were conducted with adults aged 50+ years. Pragmatic thematic analysis using an inductive approach was conducted to identify the interests, preferences, and concerns of using the Internet and eHealth technologies.


RESULTS
Five themes emerged that include (1) Difficulty in identifying credible and relevant sources of information on the Web; (2) Ownership, access, and responsibility for medical information; (3) Peer communication and support; (4) Opportunities to enhance health care interactions; and (5) Privacy concerns. These findings support the potential value older adults perceive in eHealth technologies, particularly in their ability to provide access to personal health information and facilitate communication between providers and peers living with similar conditions. However, in order to foster acceptance, these technologies will need to provide personal and general health information that is secure, readily accessible, and easily understood.


CONCLUSIONS
Older adults have diverse needs and preferences that, in part, are driven by their experiences and frustrations with the health care system. Results can help inform the design and implementation of technologies to address gaps in care and access to health information for older adults with chronic conditions who may benefit the most from this approach.
School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.|Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Patrick
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5325-9871
P
Ware
Division of Clinical Epidemiology, McGill University, and McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Susan J
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9755-2490
SJ
Bartlett
Research Chair in Digital Health, HEC Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Guy
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7425-1994
G
Paré
School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Iphigenia
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6799-6955
I
Symeonidis
Centre de Recherche, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Cara
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7102-2333
C
Tannenbaum
Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Gillian
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6297-9240
G
Bartlett
School of Rehabilitation, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.|Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation (CRIR), Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Lise
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4925-6352
L
Poissant
School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.|Division of Clinical Epidemiology, McGill University, and McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.|Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation (CRIR), Constance-Lethbridge Rehabilitation Center, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Sara
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5172-6790
S
Ahmed
Internet; chronic disease; self care; telemedicine