Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Aging
Date Submitted: Feb 24, 2020
Open Peer Review Period: Feb 24, 2020 - Mar 2, 2020
Date Accepted: Mar 23, 2020
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
AGE-ON: A tablet training program for older adults improves attitudes towards technology but does not impact social isolation or loneliness
ABSTRACT
Background:
The internet and technology may help older adults connect with family and friends. However, many older adults have obstacles to internet and technology use such as lack of knowledge and self-efficacy.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of the AGE-ON tablet training program on social isolation, loneliness and quality of life.
Methods:
Adults >60 years took part in a series of six weekly workshops covering the basic features of a tablet. Before and after the program, social isolation, loneliness, social support, and quality of life were assessed. In addition, data on current tablet use and attitudes towards technology use were collected. Satisfaction with the program was also assessed at the end of the study using six Likert-scale questions.
Results:
Participants (n = 32, mean age 76.3, 63% female, and predominantly retired (94%)) reported being highly satisfied with the program. After completing the program, no differences in social isolation, loneliness, social support or quality of life were found. Frequency of tablet use did increase, as did participant’s attitudes towards technology.
Conclusions:
The AGE-ON program resulted in increased tablet use frequency and may improve comfort and attitudes towards tablet device use among older adults. This program may assist older adults in overcoming obstacles to internet and technology use to better connect with family and friends, but further work targeting older adults who are socially isolated or at risk of social isolation is needed to more fully understand whether tablet training programs may be beneficial in this population. Clinical Trial: NCT03472729
Citation
Request queued. Please wait while the file is being generated. It may take some time.
Copyright
© The authors. All rights reserved. This is a privileged document currently under peer-review/community review (or an accepted/rejected manuscript). Authors have provided JMIR Publications with an exclusive license to publish this preprint on it's website for review and ahead-of-print citation purposes only. While the final peer-reviewed paper may be licensed under a cc-by license on publication, at this stage authors and publisher expressively prohibit redistribution of this draft paper other than for review purposes.