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How digital inclusiveness programs promote the health-related outcomes among older adults in Hong Kong?
Date Issued
2025
Conference
Citation
Lam, G., Lau, H. P., Lui, F., & Tsang, C. K. (2025 Jul 5). How digital inclusiveness programs promote the health-related outcomes among older adults in Hong Kong?. CPCE Health Conference 2025, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Type
Conference Paper
Abstract
Hong Kong has already entered a super-aged society when the population aged 65 or above accounts for 23.3% in 2024. While digital divide is commonly found, smartphone ownership of older adults aged 65 and above has significantly increased from 68.1% in 2020 to 90.7% in 2022, which is the combined result of the mandatory scanning of a QR code using smartphone to enter various premises, an introduction of LeaveHomeSafe app and donation of smartphones to some underprivileged older adults by some organizations.
The current study aims at examining how digital inclusiveness courses targeting older adults enhance their health literacy and health-related outcomes. The current study conducted semi-structures in-depth interviews lasting for an hour with the program staff from three organizations from April to May 2025, which organized digital inclusiveness program, digital buddy program and the launch of e-health mobile app for older adults. The deductive thematic analysis was conducted based on four stages of evaluation research (i.e. needs assessment, program design and theory, program implementation and program outcomes) by NVivo 15.
The programs were implemented in response to the needs assessment, which is jointly caused by the growing aging population and an increasing smartphone ownership among the older adults. Moreover, the digital inclusiveness programs were designed based on program theory, which is evidently demonstrated by digital buddy program embedding mental health literacy into digital inclusiveness programs because mental health literacy is always associated with stigma and a sole promotion of mental health is less acceptable among the older adults. Another e-health mobile app is designed based on the Integrated care for older people (ICOPE) model proposed by the World Health Organization with the premise of introducing one app comprising health-related functions and knowledge to the older adults, carers and organizations at both individual and community levels.
Moreover, difficulties are always found in the program implementation, namely the difficulties in learning apps and smartphone and divergent learning progress among the older adults. All the programs were implemented and coordinated in a good manner given that training sessions were provided for the teachers and digital buddies (the university students), and a good organizational structure was provided (i.e. program coordinator leads the learning session and teachers can ask the program coordinator in case of queries). To test whether the program achieved the objectives and derived program outcomes, the organizations conducted surveys and focus groups to solicit feedback from the older adults. It is found that the immediate outcomes such as the knowledge of using smartphone and apps application were enhanced. Another immediate outcome is that the mental health literacy of the older adults was enhanced as shown by the pre and post comparison of mental health literacy. It is accompanied by the strengthening of intergenerational transfer of knowledge and caring and social network. The distal outcome is the enhancement of health literacy through the e-health mobile apps, resulting in empowerment of older adults in making informed choice of health services.
Moreover, difficulties are always found in the program implementation, namely the difficulties in learning apps and smartphone and divergent learning progress among the older adults. All the programs were implemented and coordinated in a good manner given that training sessions were provided for the teachers and digital buddies (the university students), and a good organizational structure was provided (i.e. program coordinator leads the learning session and teachers can ask the program coordinator in case of queries). To test whether the program achieved the objectives and derived program outcomes, the organizations conducted surveys and focus groups to solicit feedback from the older adults. It is found that the immediate outcomes such as the knowledge of using smartphone and apps application were enhanced. Another immediate outcome is that the mental health literacy of the older adults was enhanced as shown by the pre and post comparison of mental health literacy. It is accompanied by the strengthening of intergenerational transfer of knowledge and caring and social network. The distal outcome is the enhancement of health literacy through the e-health mobile apps, resulting in empowerment of older adults in making informed choice of health services.
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