Factors Affecting ICT Use in Health Communication among the Older Population in Jiangsu, China.

We examined the status of information communication technology (ICT) use among the older population in China and investigated their use of ICT in health communication and the factors that impacted their ICT adoption. A total of 215 people who were 45 or older participated in the study. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data on the participants' social demographic characteristics, health condition, ICT use and ICT-based health communication activities. The data were analyzed using Chi-square test, one-way ANOVA, univariate logistic regression and multiple logistic regression. The results showed that 38.1 % of the participants reported being in a good health while 14.9 % were living with no chronic disease. The utilization of ICT was low, especially for computer and digital monitor devices. Only 4.7 % of the participants reported seeking health information online via computer and 7.4 % seeking health information using their cellphone, while 32 % and 14.9 % of the participants contacted healthcare providers or other patients via cellphone. Findings suggest a digital divide exists between the older population and other age groups in China. The older population need to increase the use of digital monitor devices and other ICT to facilitate their self-management process for healthcare purposes. eHealth literacy should be promoted among the older population to increase the adoption and use of ICT in health communication. Future intervention program developers and service providers should tailor their products and services to benefit the older population, especially those with low incomes, limited education and little experience of using ICT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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