This paper is in the following e-collection/theme issue:

TTRN CPH 2022: "Digital Health beyond COVID-19: Lessons Learned" (37)

Published on in Vol 8, No 1 (2022): Jan-Dec

Preprints (earlier versions) of this paper are available at https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/40911, first published .
Evaluation of a Tailored Digital Literacy Intervention in Affordable Older-Adult Housing: Case Study

Evaluation of a Tailored Digital Literacy Intervention in Affordable Older-Adult Housing: Case Study

Evaluation of a Tailored Digital Literacy Intervention in Affordable Older-Adult Housing: Case Study

Authors of this article:

Pauline DeLange Martinez1 Author Orcid Image ;   Rebeca Espinoza Giacinto2 Author Orcid Image ;   Stuart Henderson2 Author Orcid Image ;   David Lindeman3 Author Orcid Image
Article Authors Cited by Tweetations Metrics

    Abstract

    1Public Health Sciences Department, University of California, Davis, CA, United States

    2School of Medicine, Office of Research – Evaluation Unit, University of California Davis Health, Sacramento, CA, United States

    3Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) and the Banatao Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States

    Corresponding Author:

    Pauline DeLange Martinez, MA

    Public Health Sciences Department

    University of California

    One Shields Ave, MS1C

    Davis, CA, 95616

    United States

    Phone: 1 530 752 2793

    Email: pdmartinez@ucdavis.edu


    Background: Older age, low socioeconomic status, living alone, and low English proficiency are independent factors associated with low information communication technology (ICT) use. Evidence-based interventions are needed to increase digital access and literacy among underrepresented groups.

    Objective: This study aimed to increase the understanding of factors influencing ICT adoption and sustainable resources for training and support in affordable older-adult housing.

    Methods: Broadband, tablet computers, training, and support were offered at 1 affordable older-adult housing community. Three 60-minute classes covered device basics, Google Translate, YouTube, and Zoom; in-language user guides were provided. Resident Ambassadors offered weekly in-language tech support. Mixed methods evaluation included surveys at entry, 30 days, and 90 days and key informant interviews.

    Results: Overall, 72% (N=76) of residents participated. The average age was 78 (SD 8) years, and the participants were primarily Asian (62%), lived alone (68%), and had low English proficiency (65%). About half (49%) of the participants had less than a high school degree. Reasons to decline initial participation included: already owned another device, visual or cognitive challenges, or unwillingness to complete surveys. Of the participants, 89% attended at least 1 class and 37% attended all 3 classes. Over 90% of participants found the classes helpful, 87% found the user guide helpful, and 49% received help from a neighbor. At 30 and 90 days, 82% of the participants reported using their tablet at least twice per week for various activities. However, over half of participants reported the tablet was difficult to learn, and from 30 to 90 days, confusion and the fear of making mistakes when using the tablet slightly increased.

    Conclusions: Overall, participants reported high satisfaction with the devices and tech support, although the decreasing comfort with technology over time indicates a need for additional training and ongoing support. This case study provides a model to increase ICT use among older adults in affordable older-adult housing communities.

    iproc 2022;8(1):e40911

    doi:10.2196/40911

    Keywords

    technology acceptance; digital literacy; digital divide; low-income; gerontology; gerontechnology; aged; emigrants and immigrants; poverty; computer literacy; evaluation; low English proficiency; information communication technologies; ICT use 

    Conflicts of Interest

    None declared.

    Edited by B Dinesen; This is a non–peer-reviewed article. submitted 08.07.22; accepted 17.08.22; published 19.08.22

    Copyright

    ©Pauline DeLange Martinez, Rebeca Espinoza Giacinto, Stuart Henderson, David Lindeman. Originally published in Iproceedings (https://www.iproc.org), 19.08.2022.

    This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in Iproceedings, is properly cited. The complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on https://www.iproc.org/, as well as this copyright and license information must be included.