Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Human Factors
Date Submitted: Oct 19, 2023
Date Accepted: Jun 7, 2024
Perceived benefit and satisfaction with a tablet computer and an emergency smartwatch by older adults and their relatives: results from a prospective real-world pilot study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Assistive technologies (ATs) have the potential to promote quality of life and independent living of older adults but also to relieve the burden of formal and informal caregivers and relatives. Technological developments in the last decades have led to a boost of available ATs. However, evidence on the effectiveness of ATs in the real-world application remains scarce.
Objective:
This prospective, exploratory user-study tested the benefit and usability of different ATs in the real-world environment.
Methods:
Community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 65 and their relatives tested a tablet with a simplified interface or a smartwatch with programmable emergency contacts for eight weeks in their everyday life. Benefits and usability of AT were assessed by all older adults and their relatives using different assessment tools employed prior to and/or after the intervention. Outcome measures included the Technology Usage Inventory (TUI), Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology 2.0 (QUEST 2.0) and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM).
Results:
17 older adults (tablet n = 8, smartwatch n = 9) and 16 relatives (tablet n = 7, smartwatch n = 9) were included in the study. Participants in the smartwatch group were slightly frailer and more dependent but reported higher technology acceptance (TUI) and satisfaction (QUEST 2.0) scores than those of the tablet group. In the tablet group, relatives had better technology acceptance and satisfaction ratings than older adults. Identified everyday issues with the COPM included contact/communication and entertainment/information for the tablet, safety and getting help in emergency situations for the smartwatch, and usability of the AT for both devices. While the performance and satisfaction in these domains improved in almost all participants of the smartwatch group, changes in the tablet group were inconsistent.
Conclusions:
This study highlights remaining obstacles for a widespread and effective application of ATs in everyday life of older adults and their relatives. While the results do not provide evidence for a positive effect regarding communication deficits, benefits could be shown for the area of safety. Future research and technical developments need to consider the preferences, problems, and goals of older adults but also of their relatives and caregivers to improve the acceptability and effectiveness of ATs.
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