Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta.
Department of Human Development, Center for Gerontology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg.
Gerontologist. 2019 Jan 9;59(1):34-44. doi: 10.1093/geront/gny113.
There is growing evidence of the benefits of computers for older adults. Yet, adoption rates are lower compared with younger adults. Extant theoretical models of technology acceptance are limited in their application to older adults-studies on which these models are based included a limited sample of older adults or none at all; none assessed use of a technology specifically designed for older adults; and most only measured intention to use a technology or short-term use, rather than longer-term use (i.e., adoption). We assessed adoption of a computer system specifically designed for older users, for a diverse sample, over an extended period of time.
We analyzed archival data from 150 ethnically diverse older adults (65-98 years of age) who participated in the Personal Reminder Information and Social Management (PRISM) randomized controlled trial (Czaja SJ, Boot WR, Charness N, Rogers WA, Sharit J, Fisk AD,…Nair SN. The personalized reminder information and social management system (PRISM) trial: Rationale, methods and baseline characteristics. Contemp Clin Trials. 2015;40:35-46; Czaja SJ, Boot WR, Charness N, Rogers WA, Sharit J. Improving social support for older adults through technology: Findings from the PRISM randomized controlled trial. Gerontologist. 2017;58:467-477). We examined the extent to which attitudes, personal characteristics (e.g., age, gender, and personality), and cognitive abilities predicted mid-term and long-term adoption of a computer system designed for older adults.
There were individual differences in PRISM use over time. Regression analyses indicated that individual differences in earlier use of the system, executive functioning, and computer efficacy predicted long-term use.
These data provide insights for broader-based models of technology acceptance to guide design, instruction, and deployment of products for older adults. Specifically, the provision of opportunities to foster efficacy and gain positive experience with computer technologies may play a critical role in the likelihood that older adults adopt such technologies.
NCT01497613.
越来越多的证据表明，计算机对老年人有益。然而，与年轻人相比，老年人的采用率较低。现有的技术接受理论模型在应用于老年人方面存在局限性——这些模型所依据的研究仅包括有限的老年样本，或者根本没有；没有评估专门为老年人设计的技术的使用情况；而且大多数仅测量对技术的使用意图或短期使用，而不是长期使用（即采用）。我们评估了专为老年用户设计的计算机系统在一个多样化的样本中的采用情况，时间跨度较长。
我们分析了参加个性化提醒信息和社会管理（PRISM）随机对照试验（Czaja SJ、Boot WR、Charness N、Rogers WA、Sharit J、Fisk AD……Nair SN. 个性化提醒信息和社会管理系统（PRISM）试验：原理、方法和基线特征。当代临床试验。2015;40:35-46; Czaja SJ、Boot WR、Charness N、Rogers WA、Sharit J. 通过技术改善老年人的社会支持：来自 PRISM 随机对照试验的结果。老年病学家。2017;58:467-477）的 150 名不同种族的老年人（65-98 岁）的档案数据。我们考察了态度、个人特征（如年龄、性别和人格）和认知能力在多大程度上预测了专为老年人设计的计算机系统的中期和长期采用。
在一段时间内，PRISM 的使用存在个体差异。回归分析表明，系统早期使用、执行功能和计算机效能方面的个体差异预测了长期使用。
这些数据为更广泛的技术接受模型提供了见解，以指导为老年人设计、指导和部署产品。具体来说，提供机会培养效能感并获得计算机技术的积极经验可能在老年人采用此类技术的可能性方面发挥关键作用。
NCT01497613。
