Currently submitted to: JMIR Aging
Date Submitted: Mar 9, 2026
Open Peer Review Period: Mar 19, 2026 - May 14, 2026
(currently open for review)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
An Integrative Review of the factors influencing the adoption and acceptance of digital applications for older adults in long-term care settings
ABSTRACT
Background:
Digital health technologies play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of life for an increasing number of older people living in long-term care. Applications are among the most discussed and researched topics within healthcare innovation and have the potential to revolutionise clinical practice. Although research has expanded, the evidence suggests knowledge is minimal on the factors that influence residents’ in long-term care acceptance and adoption of digital apps.
Objective:
Explore the factors that influence older adults’ intention to use digital health applications in LTC settings
Methods:
Searches were conducted in Scopus, ProQuest Health and Medical, CINAHL, MEDLINE and IEEE Explore. Search terms were associated with, and MeSH terms related to, (1) digital health applications and (2) long-term care settings. Citation searching and hand-searching identified any other studies. The search took place between 2020 and 2025.
Results:
Of 1,184 studies identified, seven met inclusion criteria. Each explored digital app use with or by older residents in long-term care. Thematic analysis generated four analytic themes: (1) Strengthening Resident Self-Concept and Wellbeing Supports App Adoption; (2) Digital Experience Influences App Acceptance; (3) Ethical and Relational Dimensions of App Adoption; and (4) Organisational Culture Impacts App Acceptance. Collectively, these themes highlight the interplay between digital health innovation, resident wellbeing, and the organisational context of care delivery.
Conclusions:
Digital health apps offer promising opportunities to strengthen older persons’ health and wellbeing when implemented as part of a culture of innovation in care practice. Findings indicate that individual, systemic, and structural factors influence successful integration. Designing digital interventions that are ethically grounded, user-friendly, and responsive to residents’ identities and capabilities can enhance both quality of life for older adults and innovation capacity within care systems.
Citation
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Copyright
© The authors. All rights reserved. This is a privileged document currently under peer-review/community review (or an accepted/rejected manuscript). Authors have provided JMIR Publications with an exclusive license to publish this preprint on it's website for review and ahead-of-print citation purposes only. While the final peer-reviewed paper may be licensed under a cc-by license on publication, at this stage authors and publisher expressively prohibit redistribution of this draft paper other than for review purposes.