Health-Related Correlates of Demonstrated Smartphone Expertise in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Smartphone use in the older population is understudied, despite a growing use of technology in this age group. This study characterized the relation of demonstrated smartphone expertise to self-reported health attitudes and behaviors in 85 community-dwelling adults, mean age 77.24 (7.64) years. Self-report instruments included a demographic survey, a health attitudes measure, and a mobility checklist. Participants completed a behavioral challenge, the Smartphone Task for Older Adults (STOA). Demonstrated expertise in smartphone use (STOA-DESU), familiarity with apps, and ability to replicate functions after demonstration showed differential relations with health outcomes. DESU was positively associated with education, income, Altarum Consumer Engagement Measure (ACE), and Life Space Questionnaire (LSQ) scores and was negatively associated with age and daily medications. Additional findings replicated aspects of the well-known digital divide, and showed that those older adults with restricted mobility or diabetes had less knowledge of and more difficulties in using smartphones. Despite these problems, health-related functions must be optimized for older populations.

Automated summary

This study examined the relationship between demonstrated expertise in smartphone use and self-reported health attitudes and behaviors in 85 community-dwelling adults, with findings showing differential relations with health outcomes and replicating aspects of the digital divide. Older adults with restricted mobility or diabetes were found to have less knowledge of and more difficulties in using smartphones, highlighting the need to optimize health-related functions for this population.