Environmental and contextual factors influencing e-health use among older adults: A rapid review

•This review highlights the importance of striking a good balance between functionality and privacy concerns, besides considering the direct and indirect cost to users.•Technology education should be promoted at the societal level to facilitate older adults’ better understanding of the device utilit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of medical informatics (Shannon, Ireland) Ireland), 2024-07, Vol.187, p.105448-105448, Article 105448
Main Authors: Sharkiya, Samer H., Hag, Anat M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Contextual Factors
e-Health
Environmental
Humans
Older Adults
Social Support
Telemedicine
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Summary:•This review highlights the importance of striking a good balance between functionality and privacy concerns, besides considering the direct and indirect cost to users.•Technology education should be promoted at the societal level to facilitate older adults’ better understanding of the device utilities by enhancing their technological.•The study focuses on the adoption of public eHealth services by older adults, considering the challenges posed by rapid aging and the prevalence of chronic diseases. E-health services offer potential benefits for healthcare delivery, especially for older adults, yet their adoption remains suboptimal due to various barriers. Understanding the environmental and contextual factors influencing e-health use among this demographic is crucial for enhancing their health outcomes. This rapid review aims to explore the various environmental and contextual factors affecting the use of e-health among older adults, focusing on identifying strategies to enhance acceptance and usefulness. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, a mixed-methods rapid review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. Databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched. Quantitative data were qualitized for integration with qualitative data, and a thematic analysis was performed on the assembled data. A total of 11 studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing five cross-sectional surveys, four qualitative studies, one longitudinal study, and one Discrete Choice Experiment. The thematic analysis revealed five key themes: social influence and norms, environmental and infrastructure factors, economic factors and cost considerations, family and caregiver support, and organizational support and culture. The review highlights the need for e-health solutions that enhance social support, are adaptable to diverse living environments, address economic barriers with cost-effective solutions, and are culturally sensitive to effectively engage older adults.
ISSN:1386-5056
1872-8243
DOI:10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105448