JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic compelled older adults to engage with technology to a greater extent given emergent public health observance and home-sheltering mandates in the United States. This study examined subjective experiences of technology use among older adults as a result of unforeseen and widespread public health guidance, which catalyzed their need to use technology differently, more often, or in new ways.

Objective:

Objective:

To explore whether older adults scoring higher on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) questionnaire fared better in aspects of technology use, and reported better experiences, in comparison to those scoring lower.

Methods:

Methods:

A qualitative study utilizing prevalence and thematic analyses of data from 18 older adults (mean age = 79) in two groups: n=9 scoring higher and n=9 scoring lower on UTAUT.

Results:

Results:

Older adults were fairly competent technology users across both higher- and lower-scoring groups. The higher-scoring group noted greater use of technology in terms of telehealth and getting groceries and household items. Cognitive difficulty was described only among the lower-scoring group; they used technology less to get groceries and household items and to obtain health information. Qualitative themes depict (a) the role of habit in technology use, (b) enthusiasm about technology buttressed by (b1) the protective role of technology, (c) challenges in technology use, and (d) getting help regardless of technology mastery.

Conclusions:

Conclusions:

Whereas the pandemic compelled older adults to alter or increase technology use, it did not change their global outlook on technology use. Older adults’ prior habits of technology use and available help influenced the degree to which they made use of technology during the COVID-19 pandemic.