Pam McKinney here live blogging with @sheilayoshikawa from the ECIL conference in Krakow, Poland. Augusta Palsdottir from the university of Reykjavik. Augusta began by asserting that being able to make informed decisions about their health they need to have access to quality health information, and digital technologies can help people manage their own health. Rapid developments in the health information landscape means that people have to constantly adjust to new services and new information, and new ways of communicating with health professionals. Older adults adapt less quickly, and may have health conditions that make it difficult to use ICT. They may need help from others and consider electronic information less valuable. Older adults prefer to get information from health professionals, But if there is seen to be high value in electronic health information then older people will use it.
There is a new online health portal in Iceland, which includes health records and prescriptions, although it is not fully developed. It allows access to high quality information about healthy lifestyles. The aim of the study was to explore the adoption of healthcare ICT in older adults. the studies were quantitative, one took place before covid in 2019, and one in 2022. Both were telephone and internet surveys, focusing on people aged 56 years and over. Questions focused on the use of the electronic health portal Heilsuvera to communicate with health professionals, and to seek information about healthy lifestyles. In 2019 74% seldom used the portal to communicate with doctors, make appointments or send a message, but in 2022 this reduced to 37%. People were encouraged to use the system for covid information, and also to use it to avoid attending the dr surgery. However the results show that there was no increase in the use of the portal for seeking information about healthy living from 2019 to 2022. There was also an increase in confidence to begin to use new technology from 2019 to 2022, and people also found it easier to get help to use new health ICT. There was a positive change in attitude to adopting new health ICTs between the two studies, but they need assistance from friends and family.
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