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Affordance trajectories and the usefulness of online records access among older adults in Sweden

Affordance trajectories and the usefulness of online records access among older adults in Sweden

Authors :
Isto Huvila
Hanife Rexhepi
Jonas Moll
Maedeh Ghorbanian Zolbin
Charlotte Blease
Annika Bärkås
Rose-Mharie Åhlfeldt
Josefin Hagström
Bridget Kane
Isabella Scandurra
Maria Hägglund
Gunnar O. Klein
Bo Wang
Anna Kharko
Source :
Digital Health, Vol 10 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
SAGE Publishing, 2024.

Abstract

Objective The current understanding of the breadth of individual differences in how eHealth technologies are perceived as useful for different purposes is incomprehensive. The aim/purpose of the study is to improve the understanding of diverse perceptions of the usefulness of technologies by exploring older adults’ use of their patient-accessible electronic health records (PAEHRs). Methods The study applies and extends Affordance Theory based on an empirical analysis of data from the NORDeHEALTH 2022 Patient Survey on attitudes toward PAEHR in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia. Responses from 3964 participants in Sweden, aged 65 + years were analysed. Data included demographics and agreement ratings to reasons for using PAEHR. To analyse variation in the reasons for using PAEHR, group comparisons were conducted based on gender (male/female), age group (65–74, 75–84 and 85+) and earlier encouragement to use PAEHR. Results Overall, the findings suggest that PAEHRs have multiple parallel affordance trajectories and affordance potencies that actualise differently depending on needs. The top reasons, pointing to both orientational and goal-oriented affordances for using PAEHR, were improving understanding of health issues, getting an overview of medical history/treatment and ensuring understanding of what the doctor said. Men reported more often sharing information with relatives or friends as a reason to access PAEHR. Women were more inclined, albeit similarly to men less frequently, to read their PAEHR for detecting errors. Age had little influence on reasons for using PAEHR. Conclusions The study applies and extends Affordance Theory in the context of older adults’ PAEHR use based on findings from the largest national investigation of reasons for older users to access PAEHR in Sweden demonstrating the applicability of the theory in improving the understanding of the diversity of individual perceptions on eHealth technologies.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20552076
Volume :
10
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Digital Health
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.891a024a9cbf456c9c6c76d8874fe024
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241287354