University of Twente Student Theses

Login

Investigating the relevance of monitoring health domains using technology among older adults : health, technology and older adults

El Menshawy, N. (2016) Investigating the relevance of monitoring health domains using technology among older adults : health, technology and older adults.

[img] PDF
1MB
Abstract:Introduction: Monitoring of health is becoming more important because the number of people receiving home care in the upcoming years will increase significantly and there are also more chronically ill older adults (World Health Organization, 2015). Many chronically ill people and older adults want to continue living in their own homes and in their own environment as long as possible. A way of monitoring health is the use of technology. The research aims are (1) evaluating the health domains that should be monitored from the perspective of older adults, (2) assessing the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of monitoring technology, and (3) investigating the acceptance of monitoring technology. Methods: Twelve adults aged above 65 years were questioned during interviews and a case study for the health domain physical activity is employed, whereby the participants used monitoring technology (smartphone, smart scale, and pedometer) for a period of four weeks and were secondly interviewed. Results: Most participants (N=8) would like to have an overview of their calorie intake, because of their health issues. Besides, it is important that nutrition monitoring takes specific needs into account. Participants would like to train their cognitive skills, but are not interested in having an overview of their cognitive function (N=9). All participants consider that it is important to train their cognitive function, because they are aware that it declines with time. Participants mentioned that they like to use technology to monitor their physical activity (N=11). The main perceived added-value of it is to get an overview of their daily physical activity and to see if whether they are meeting the recommended guidelines (N=9). Participants mentioned that it would be interesting to monitor wellbeing (N=5). After using the technology, participants (N=11) mentioned that they like to use technology to monitor their physical activity, that they became more aware of their physical activity and that it is actually very handy and nice to have it (N=5), and that they became more active (N=8). Conclusions: The domains nutrition, cognition and physical activity are important to monitor. Besides these domains, older adults mentioned wellbeing and physiological parameters at home (e.g. blood pressure and heart rate) important as well, but are less important. Older adults are aware that it is important to have insight in all of these health domains.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology BSc (56604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/70015
Export this item as:BibTeX
EndNote
HTML Citation
Reference Manager

 

Repository Staff Only: item control page