Barriers to the Use of Mobile Applications in Older Adults and Solutions

Öz

People have developed many different ways to maintain and access health information due to advances in communication and information technology. One of the most up-to-date ways of protecting and improving the health of individuals is the use of technological devices and mobile applications. Older adults emerge as a group that has difficulty adapting to this new way of accessing health information. Health information technologies, which have many advantages for sick and healthy individuals, should also be usable by older adults. These technological applications will be useful when designed to take into account the possible changes in health status of older adults with a disability, a chronic illness, or aging. In order to evaluate technology use by older adults, it is important to understand their technology acceptance and the barriers that affect their adoption. Older adults face various physical-cognitive, social-psychological and technological design barriers to the use of technological devices and mobile applications. In order to eliminate or reduce these barriers, technological devices and mobile applications should have easy access, maximum transparency and minimum uncertainty. Because older adults' access to and use of health-related mobile applications will strengthen their autonomy and increase their quality of life. However, in order to adapt to the ever-accelerating technology, it is necessary to focus on the design of technological products specific to the elderly and to encourage the elderly to use these tools.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• older adults
• mobile application
• barrier
• solution

Yaşlı Yetişkinlerde Mobil Uygulamaların Kullanımındaki Engeller ve Çözüm Önerileri

Öz

İnsanlar, sağlık bilgisini sürdürmek ve bunlara erişmek için, iletişim ve bilgi teknolojisindeki ilerlemelerden dolayı birçok farklı yol geliştirmiştir. Bireylerin sağlığını koruma ve geliştirmenin en güncel yollarından biri de teknolojik cihaz ve mobil uygulamaların kullanımıdır. Sağlık bilgisine erişmenin bu yeni yoluna adapte olmakta zorluk çeken bir grup olarak yaşlı yetişkinler karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Hasta ve sağlıklı bireyler için pek çok avantajı bulunan sağlık bilgi teknolojilerinin, yaşlı yetişkinler tarafından da kullanılabilir olması gerekir. Bu teknolojik uygulamalar yaşlı yetişkinlerin engelli olma, kronik bir hastalığa sahip olma veya yaşlanma ile birlikte sağlık durumundaki olası değişiklikleri dikkate alınarak tasarlandığında faydalı olacaktır. Yaşlı yetişkinlerin teknoloji kullanımını değerlendirebilmek için teknolojiyi kabul durumları ile benimsemelerini etkileyen engelleri anlamak önemlidir. Yaşlı yetişkinler, teknolojik cihazların ve mobil uygulamaların kullanımına ilişkin fiziksel-bilişsel, sosyal-psikolojik ve teknolojik tasarıma ilişkin çeşitli engellerle karşılaşmaktadır. Bu engellerin ortadan kaldırılması ya da azaltılması için teknolojik cihazların ve mobil uygulamaların kolay erişim, maksimum şeffaflık ve minimum belirsizliğe sahip olmaları gerekmektedir. Çünkü yaşlı yetişkinin sağlığa ilişkin mobil uygulamalara erişimi ve kullanımı otonomilerini güçlendirerek, yaşam kalitelerinin artmasını sağlayacaktır. Bununla birlikte giderek hızlanan teknolojiye adapte olmaları için yaşlılara özgü teknolojik ürünlerin tasarımına ağırlık verilmesi ve yaşlıların bu araçları kullanmaya özendirilmeleri gerekmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• mobil uygulama
• yaşlı yetişkin
• engel
• çözüm

Kaynakça

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