JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Although technology usage is steadily increasing among older adults, adoption and confidence greatly lags behind their younger counterparts. Sociocultural and health disparities intersect with aging to present distinct structural and psychosocial barriers to adoption of newer technologies. Growing evidence suggests that digital health literacy interventions may improve technology skills, increase technological self-efficacy, and increase frequency of technology use. However, these digital literacy interventions do not systematically consider participants’ values and goals, which we know are key to long term behavior change. Purpose: The proposed study aims to develop and evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of a person-directed, values-based digital literacy intervention for older adults.

Methods:

We enrolled 20 participants in a 1:1 randomized pilot control trial with waitlist control. Inclusion criteria included aged 65 and older with English proficiency and willingness to improve digital literacy. Exclusion criteria involved severe cognitive impairment. Over the course of 8-12 weeks, participants received up to six in-home biweekly visits and interim phone calls based on their individual digital literacy needs and participant-directed goals. Each participant also received internet connectivity and a tablet if not already available. Our main outcome was digital literacy improvement. We also assessed technological self-efficacy, digital health literacy, quality of life, and measures of physical and emotional well-being. Discussion: This protocol offers a unique model centering the values and goals of older adults to improve access, use and understanding of technology. Tapping into the motivators of older adults may offer a more beneficial way to encourage older adult technology use. VISTA could be useful in many contexts- home bound or seriously ill older adults or as a pre-intervention for interventions involving advanced technology understanding.