Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Jul 12, 2024
Date Accepted: Feb 18, 2025
Experiences and Expectations of Immigrant and Non-immigrant Older Adults Toward eHealth Services: A Qualitative Interview Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
The emergence of eHealth services could contribute to improving people’s quality of life by optimizing effective and efficient care. However various challenges might limit some older adults’ use of such services.
Objective:
This study investigated local, and immigrant older adults’ (+65) experiences using eHealth services to identify the sources of their perceived feelings and find out their wishes regarding these services. The aim is to improve the usability of the eHealth services for older adults, create positive attitudes regarding eHealth services among older adults and encourage them to use these services.
Methods:
This study employed a qualitative descriptive research design. To collect data, semi-structured interviews were conducted from February to May 2023. The participants (N=25) were local or immigrant older adults. Data were analyzed through inductive and deductive content analysis. Participants’ emotions and wishes regarding eHealth services were interpreted through the Self-Determination Theory.
Results:
Our results showed that interacting with eHealth services was challenging for some older adults. They perceived several difficulties, with the most obvious ones being related to insufficient digital skills, personal preferences and attitudes and usability issues. These challenges were the main sources of negative emotions which caused failure in satisfying participants’ basic psychological needs, especially their need for competence. In contrast, positive emotional responses were connected to satisfaction of all basic psychological needs. To facilitate the use of eHealth services for older adults, it was suggested to focus on improving the usability aspects and satisfying users’ psychological need for competence.
Conclusions:
Several challenges hindered participants’ use of eHealth services and caused negative emotions. Tackling the challenges and considering older adults’ wishes regarding eHealth services might lead to positive emotions and could support older adults’ motivation to use these services.
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