Mobile health technology adoption across generations: Narrowing the digital divide
Fox, GraceORCID: 0000-0003-1392-6833 and Connolly, ReginaORCID: 0000-0003-3196-2889
(2018)
Mobile health technology adoption across generations: Narrowing the digital divide.
Information Systems Journal, 28
(6).
pp. 995-1019.
ISSN 1365-2575
Mobile health (m-health) technologies offer many benefits to
individuals, organizations, and health professionals alike. Indeed, the utilization
of m-health by older adults can foster the development of proactive patients,
while also reducing financial burden and resource pressures on health systems.
However, the potentially transformative influence of m-health is limited as
many older adults resist adoption leading to the emergence of an age-based
digital divide. This study leverages protection motivation theory and social
cognitive theory to explore the factors driving resistance among older adults.
This mixed methods study integrates survey findings with insights from
qualitative interviews to highlight that the m-health digital divide is deepening
due to older adults’ perceived inability to adopt, and their unwillingness to adopt
stemming from mistrust, high risk perceptions, and strong desire for privacy.
The paper contributes to the privacy and social inclusion literature by
demonstrating that while many older adults have access to m-health, they are
currently excluded, and require careful consideration by technology
organizations and researchers. The study provides recommendations for
narrowing the m-health digital divide through inclusive design and educational
efforts to improve self-efficacy, develop privacy literacy, and build trust,
thereby ensuring older citizens are both capable, and willing to adopt
Item Type:
Article (Published)
Refereed:
Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:
privacy; inclusion; health technology adoption; mobile health; digital divide; health information privacy concerns; older citizens; mobile health adoption; mixed methods; social inclusion