DOI: 10.1111/ajag.12149
Research Access to mobile communications by older people Toan Nguyen
Introduction
Knowledge and Innovation, Novita Children's Services; and Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Older people want to ‘age in place’, and live safely, independently and comfortably in their own home and community [1–3]. However, for many older people, this desire is compromised by the gradual or sudden onset of impairments or declining health as a result of ageing. For older people, the experience of functional impairments such as reduced mobility, vision, hearing, manual dexterity and muscle strength can be frustrating and depressing; leading to social isolation, loss of independence and increased need for safety measures [2,4]. In 2009, 40% of Australians aged 65–69 reported having a disability. This percentage increases steadily with age, with 88% of people aged 90 years and over having a disability that limits, restricts or impairs their core activities of communication, mobility and self-care [5].
Carol Irizarry Social Work and Social Planning, School of Social and Policy Studies, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Rob Garrett Knowledge and Innovation, Novita Children's Services, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Andrew Downing Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Aim: To investigate how older people effectively identify, select and learn to use mobile communications technologies to enhance communication and safety, and support independent living. Methods: One hundred and fifty-three older South Australians participated in a purpose-designed survey questionnaire. Results: Older people relied on family and friends for information and advice (76%), and their children’s assistance with buying (45%) and learning to use (48%) new technology. The most preferred learning method was face-to-face training (56%). Less than half (44%) were interested in trying out new designs/applications, functions and capabilities that could assist with independent living. The highest need was for personal security and emergencies (88%). Conclusions: Findings suggest that the family and friends of older people play an important role in identifying, selecting and learning to use mobile communication technologies. The safety and emergency capabilities of mobile communications technologies were more important than having functions that could assist with independent living. Key words: independent living, mobile communications, mobile phone, older people, survey questionnaire.
Correspondence to: Mr Toan Nguyen, Novita Children’s Services, Knowledge and Innovation. Tel: +618 8243 8303; Fax: +618 8243 8361; Email: [email protected] The work was undertaken at the Department of Knowledge and Innovation, Novita Children’s Services and the School of Engineering, University of South Australia. Australasian Journal on Ageing, Vol •• No •• •• 2014, ••–•• © 2014 ACOTA
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Worldwide, there is a strong focus on developing and using information and communication technologies and assistive technologies to support independent living for older people [1,2,6–8]. Examples include the development of smart home technology (i.e. specialised products including embedded sensing devices developed for home and health-care monitoring of falls or the movement of older people around their home) and an ambient intelligence environment in which people are surrounded by intelligent devices that are capable of recognising and responding to their presence and activity [9]. Appropriate training, support and innovative strategies that can enable older people to use everyday technology are approaches that could be made available relatively quickly and at low cost compared with the investment and time required to develop new specialised products. Hence, there is potential for the provision of effective accessible mobile communications technologies (MCTs) to enhance communication and safety, support independent living for older people and lead to significant improvements of their quality of life and overall well-being. MCTs, particularly mobile phone technology, have become ubiquitous, adaptable and near-universal platforms that support many modes of communication and provide access to information and environmental control systems, services and entertainment [9,10]. However, mobile phone technology, like other technology-driven products, is designed and marketed for younger, able, dextrous users who are comfortable with and enjoy using technology as an everyday part of their lives [11,12]. Despite the social and commercial incentives for the industry, and the fact that older people are the only increasing population group in most developed societies, older mobile phone users are often a neglected group in 1
N g u y e n
T ,
product development and marketing [12]. Although older people could derive great benefit from mobile phone technology, many are unable to readily access and use most of the currently available products [13–15]. In May 2012, only 77% of those older people aged 65 years and over used mobile phones compared with 99% of those aged 18–24 years [10]. While smartphones have ‘more advanced computing capability and connectivity’ [10; p.5] than mobile phones, their usage by older people aged 65 years and over drops to 15% compared with 74% for those aged 18–24 years [10]. While rates of mobile phone usage by older Australians with disabilities are unavailable, there are indications that a lack of accessibility to MCTs and their low uptake and usage remain impediments for those who have a disability or are ageing [16]. Older people are often disadvantaged by difficulties in finding effective mobile phone technology that meets their needs and capabilities. This is frequently due to an inadequate knowledge of the availability and functionality of these technologies, the (unnecessary) complexity of use and the lack of appropriate training and support [17,18]. An understanding of the fundamental issues and enduring solutions to these problems will be significant to the older population, especially those who have functional impairments. This research was part of a larger Australia Research Council funded project, which aimed to establish the fundamental issues and adaptable solutions that would enable older people to effectively identify, select, access, learn and master MCTs to enhance communication, increase their safety and support their independent living.
Methods Study design A purpose-designed survey gathered information from older people aged 65 years and over about their opinions and experiences on the issues of identifying, selecting and using MCTs to assist with daily communication, security and independence, and its potential as a means to support independent living. Ethics approval of this study was obtained through the University of South Australia Human Research Ethics Committee (EC 000196–2010). Sample and setting Using a combination of convenience and quota sampling approaches, respondents were matched as closely as possible to the general South Australian population in terms of age (65–74, 75–84 and 85 years+), sex and key socioeconomic status indicators as reported in Table 1. Quota sampling uses ‘key categories in the larger population to specify how many members of the sample should fall into each of those categories or combinations of categories’ [20]. Convenience sam2
I r i z a r r y
C ,
G a r r e t t
R
e t
a l .
Table 1: Demographic characteristics of respondents (n = 153) Respondents (%)
Population over 65 in South Australia (%)†
51.6 32.1 16.3
49.5 37.1 13.4
55.9 44.1
62.7 37.3
54.9 32.0 13.1
57.1 29.9 13.0
69.3 30.7
56.5 43.5
75.8 23.5 0.7
71.2 28.8 —
40.4 52.9 6.0 0.7
32.8 59.5 7.7 —
69.3 28.1 2.6
71.9 28.1 —
10.5 34.6 39.8 11.8 2.6 0.7
12.0 24.0 33.0 22.0 9.0 —
4.6 15.7 11.8 24.1 42.5 1.3
26.9% post-school qualifications
Age group 65–74 75–84 85+ Sex Female Male Marital status Married Widowed Other Country of birth Australia Overseas Living location Metropolitan Region No response Living situation Alone With spouse/partner With others No response Income Pension + other investments Other No response Self-reported health Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor No response Education Primary Some secondary Complete Year 12 Trade/business certificate Tertiary No response †Source: State of Ageing in South Australia [19].
pling was achieved through cooperation and assistance from aged care and community health organisations and services as well as older people’s clubs, centres and information services staff throughout metropolitan and regional/rural South Australia. Paper and online survey responses were collected between June and November 2010. Key areas of investigation Respondents completed a self-report questionnaire on the following key areas: 1 Motivation for using MCT and their ease of use. 2 Methods and preferences for identifying, selecting or buying, and learning to use MCT effectively and any factors, barriers or difficulties that impede these processes. 3 Consideration for future technology, applications and other potential uses for mobile communications devices to support independent living. Australasian Journal on Ageing, Vol •• No •• •• 2014, ••–•• © 2014 ACOTA
M o b i l e
4 Demographic characteristics including health and physical state of respondents. Statistical analysis Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS V19.0) was used for the frequency analysis of categorical and noncategorical response variables. The results were tested using Pearson χ2 test for heterogeneity (i.e. the likelihood of obtaining the results by chance). In addition, Spearman’s rank correlation (r) test was used to test the significance of correlations between categorical and non-categorical variables (i.e. demographic characteristics against the key areas of investigation). Results for χ2(P-score)
Research Access to mobile communications by older people Toan Nguyen
Introduction
Knowledge and Innovation, Novita Children's Services; and Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Older people want to ‘age in place’, and live safely, independently and comfortably in their own home and community [1–3]. However, for many older people, this desire is compromised by the gradual or sudden onset of impairments or declining health as a result of ageing. For older people, the experience of functional impairments such as reduced mobility, vision, hearing, manual dexterity and muscle strength can be frustrating and depressing; leading to social isolation, loss of independence and increased need for safety measures [2,4]. In 2009, 40% of Australians aged 65–69 reported having a disability. This percentage increases steadily with age, with 88% of people aged 90 years and over having a disability that limits, restricts or impairs their core activities of communication, mobility and self-care [5].
Carol Irizarry Social Work and Social Planning, School of Social and Policy Studies, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Rob Garrett Knowledge and Innovation, Novita Children's Services, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Andrew Downing Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Aim: To investigate how older people effectively identify, select and learn to use mobile communications technologies to enhance communication and safety, and support independent living. Methods: One hundred and fifty-three older South Australians participated in a purpose-designed survey questionnaire. Results: Older people relied on family and friends for information and advice (76%), and their children’s assistance with buying (45%) and learning to use (48%) new technology. The most preferred learning method was face-to-face training (56%). Less than half (44%) were interested in trying out new designs/applications, functions and capabilities that could assist with independent living. The highest need was for personal security and emergencies (88%). Conclusions: Findings suggest that the family and friends of older people play an important role in identifying, selecting and learning to use mobile communication technologies. The safety and emergency capabilities of mobile communications technologies were more important than having functions that could assist with independent living. Key words: independent living, mobile communications, mobile phone, older people, survey questionnaire.
Correspondence to: Mr Toan Nguyen, Novita Children’s Services, Knowledge and Innovation. Tel: +618 8243 8303; Fax: +618 8243 8361; Email: [email protected] The work was undertaken at the Department of Knowledge and Innovation, Novita Children’s Services and the School of Engineering, University of South Australia. Australasian Journal on Ageing, Vol •• No •• •• 2014, ••–•• © 2014 ACOTA
bs_bs_banner
Worldwide, there is a strong focus on developing and using information and communication technologies and assistive technologies to support independent living for older people [1,2,6–8]. Examples include the development of smart home technology (i.e. specialised products including embedded sensing devices developed for home and health-care monitoring of falls or the movement of older people around their home) and an ambient intelligence environment in which people are surrounded by intelligent devices that are capable of recognising and responding to their presence and activity [9]. Appropriate training, support and innovative strategies that can enable older people to use everyday technology are approaches that could be made available relatively quickly and at low cost compared with the investment and time required to develop new specialised products. Hence, there is potential for the provision of effective accessible mobile communications technologies (MCTs) to enhance communication and safety, support independent living for older people and lead to significant improvements of their quality of life and overall well-being. MCTs, particularly mobile phone technology, have become ubiquitous, adaptable and near-universal platforms that support many modes of communication and provide access to information and environmental control systems, services and entertainment [9,10]. However, mobile phone technology, like other technology-driven products, is designed and marketed for younger, able, dextrous users who are comfortable with and enjoy using technology as an everyday part of their lives [11,12]. Despite the social and commercial incentives for the industry, and the fact that older people are the only increasing population group in most developed societies, older mobile phone users are often a neglected group in 1
N g u y e n
T ,
product development and marketing [12]. Although older people could derive great benefit from mobile phone technology, many are unable to readily access and use most of the currently available products [13–15]. In May 2012, only 77% of those older people aged 65 years and over used mobile phones compared with 99% of those aged 18–24 years [10]. While smartphones have ‘more advanced computing capability and connectivity’ [10; p.5] than mobile phones, their usage by older people aged 65 years and over drops to 15% compared with 74% for those aged 18–24 years [10]. While rates of mobile phone usage by older Australians with disabilities are unavailable, there are indications that a lack of accessibility to MCTs and their low uptake and usage remain impediments for those who have a disability or are ageing [16]. Older people are often disadvantaged by difficulties in finding effective mobile phone technology that meets their needs and capabilities. This is frequently due to an inadequate knowledge of the availability and functionality of these technologies, the (unnecessary) complexity of use and the lack of appropriate training and support [17,18]. An understanding of the fundamental issues and enduring solutions to these problems will be significant to the older population, especially those who have functional impairments. This research was part of a larger Australia Research Council funded project, which aimed to establish the fundamental issues and adaptable solutions that would enable older people to effectively identify, select, access, learn and master MCTs to enhance communication, increase their safety and support their independent living.
Methods Study design A purpose-designed survey gathered information from older people aged 65 years and over about their opinions and experiences on the issues of identifying, selecting and using MCTs to assist with daily communication, security and independence, and its potential as a means to support independent living. Ethics approval of this study was obtained through the University of South Australia Human Research Ethics Committee (EC 000196–2010). Sample and setting Using a combination of convenience and quota sampling approaches, respondents were matched as closely as possible to the general South Australian population in terms of age (65–74, 75–84 and 85 years+), sex and key socioeconomic status indicators as reported in Table 1. Quota sampling uses ‘key categories in the larger population to specify how many members of the sample should fall into each of those categories or combinations of categories’ [20]. Convenience sam2
I r i z a r r y
C ,
G a r r e t t
R
e t
a l .
Table 1: Demographic characteristics of respondents (n = 153) Respondents (%)
Population over 65 in South Australia (%)†
51.6 32.1 16.3
49.5 37.1 13.4
55.9 44.1
62.7 37.3
54.9 32.0 13.1
57.1 29.9 13.0
69.3 30.7
56.5 43.5
75.8 23.5 0.7
71.2 28.8 —
40.4 52.9 6.0 0.7
32.8 59.5 7.7 —
69.3 28.1 2.6
71.9 28.1 —
10.5 34.6 39.8 11.8 2.6 0.7
12.0 24.0 33.0 22.0 9.0 —
4.6 15.7 11.8 24.1 42.5 1.3
26.9% post-school qualifications
Age group 65–74 75–84 85+ Sex Female Male Marital status Married Widowed Other Country of birth Australia Overseas Living location Metropolitan Region No response Living situation Alone With spouse/partner With others No response Income Pension + other investments Other No response Self-reported health Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor No response Education Primary Some secondary Complete Year 12 Trade/business certificate Tertiary No response †Source: State of Ageing in South Australia [19].
pling was achieved through cooperation and assistance from aged care and community health organisations and services as well as older people’s clubs, centres and information services staff throughout metropolitan and regional/rural South Australia. Paper and online survey responses were collected between June and November 2010. Key areas of investigation Respondents completed a self-report questionnaire on the following key areas: 1 Motivation for using MCT and their ease of use. 2 Methods and preferences for identifying, selecting or buying, and learning to use MCT effectively and any factors, barriers or difficulties that impede these processes. 3 Consideration for future technology, applications and other potential uses for mobile communications devices to support independent living. Australasian Journal on Ageing, Vol •• No •• •• 2014, ••–•• © 2014 ACOTA
M o b i l e
4 Demographic characteristics including health and physical state of respondents. Statistical analysis Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS V19.0) was used for the frequency analysis of categorical and noncategorical response variables. The results were tested using Pearson χ2 test for heterogeneity (i.e. the likelihood of obtaining the results by chance). In addition, Spearman’s rank correlation (r) test was used to test the significance of correlations between categorical and non-categorical variables (i.e. demographic characteristics against the key areas of investigation). Results for χ2(P-score)
