JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Older adults want to preserve their health and autonomy and stay in their own home environment for as long as possible. This is also in the interest of policymakers who try to cope with growing staff shortages and increasing healthcare expenses. Ambient Assisted Living technologies (AAL) can support the desire for independence and aging in place. However, the implementation of these technologies is much slower than previously expected. This has been attributed to the lack of focus on user acceptance and user needs.

Objective:

This study seeks to develop theoretical grounded understanding of the acceptance of AAL technologies among older adults and compare the relative importance of different acceptance factors.

Methods:

A conceptual model of AAL acceptance was developed with the theory of planned behavior as a theoretical starting point. An online survey among n = 1.296 Dutch older adults was conducted to validate the theoretical model. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the hypothesized relationships.

Results:

Our conceptual model showed good fit with the observed data (RMSEA (.04), SRMR (.06), CFI (.93), TLI (.92)) and explained 69% of the variance in use intention. All but two of the hypothesized paths were significant at P <.001 level. Overall, Dutch older adults were relatively open to the idea of using AAL technologies in the future (M = 3.34, SD = .73).

Conclusions:

This study contributes to a more user-centered and theoretical grounded discourse in AAL research. Understanding the underlying behavioral, normative, and control beliefs that contribute to the decision to use or reject AAL technologies, helps developers to make informed design decisions based on user’s needs and concerns. These insights on acceptance factors can be valuable for the broader field of e-health development and implementation.