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Research Article
Attitudes and Perspectives of Older Adults on Technologies for Assessing Frailty in Home Settings: A Focus Group Study
Chao Bian
University of Toronto
Corresponding Author
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This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background The rapid development of technology such as sensors and artificial intelligence in recent years enables monitoring frailty criteria to assess frailty early and accurately from a remote location such as a home. However, research shows technologies being abandoned or rejected by users due to a lack of compatibility and consumer involvement with the technologies. This study aims to understand older adult’s perceptions and preferences of technologies that can be potentially used to assess frailty in home settings.
Methods This study is a qualitative study in which data were collected through focus group interviews. We recruited 15 older participants. Questions were asked to achieve the goal of understanding their attitudes on the technologies. These questions include 1) the concerns or barriers of installing and using the presented technology in daily life at home, 2) the reasons participants like or dislike a particular technology, 3) what makes a particular technology more acceptable, and 4) participants’ preferences in choosing technologies. Data were transcribed, coded and categorized, and finally synthesized to understand the attitudes towards presented technologies.
Results A total of 15 older adults aged 65 and older were recruited. Three focus group sessions were conducted with five participants in each session. In the findings, the attitudes and perspectives of participants on the technologies for assessing frailty were presented in four areas: A) general attitude towards using the technologies, B) concerns about the technologies, C) existing living habits or patterns related to using the technologies, and D) constructive suggestions related to the technologies.
Conclusions This study focuses on understanding the attitudes and perceptions of older adults on several technologies that could potentially be used to assess frailty in home settings. Participants generally have positive attitudes towards allowing the technologies to be installed and used at their home. Some technologies were found to be more acceptable if used under certain conditions. However, questions and concerns still remain. The study also found the living habits or patterns of older adults could affect the design and use of technology. Lastly, many valuable suggestions have been made by participants.
Keywords
Frailty, Assessment, Technology, Sensors, In-Home Health Monitoring, Attitudes, Focus Group
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CURRENT STATUS: Under Revision
Version 1
Posted 17 Dec, 2020
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Editorial decision: Major revision
On 11 Jan, 2021
Review #1 received
Received 29 Dec, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 29 Dec, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 29 Dec, 2020
Review #4 received
Received 29 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 16 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #5 agreed
On 16 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #7 agreed
On 16 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 16 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #6 agreed
On 16 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #8 agreed
On 16 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 16 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #4 agreed
On 16 Dec, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 16 Dec, 2020
Editor assigned
On 16 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 16 Dec, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 16 Dec, 2020
First submitted
On 10 Dec, 2020
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Subject Areas
Geriatrics & Gerontology
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Geriatrics. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research Article
Attitudes and Perspectives of Older Adults on Technologies for Assessing Frailty in Home Settings: A Focus Group Study
Chao Bian
University of Toronto
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Revision
Version 1
Posted 17 Dec, 2020
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 11 Jan, 2021
Review #1 received
Received 29 Dec, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 29 Dec, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 29 Dec, 2020
Review #4 received
Received 29 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 16 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #5 agreed
On 16 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #7 agreed
On 16 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 16 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #6 agreed
On 16 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #8 agreed
On 16 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 16 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #4 agreed
On 16 Dec, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 16 Dec, 2020
Editor assigned
On 16 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 16 Dec, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 16 Dec, 2020
First submitted
On 10 Dec, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Geriatrics & Gerontology
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background The rapid development of technology such as sensors and artificial intelligence in recent years enables monitoring frailty criteria to assess frailty early and accurately from a remote location such as a home. However, research shows technologies being abandoned or rejected by users due to a lack of compatibility and consumer involvement with the technologies. This study aims to understand older adult’s perceptions and preferences of technologies that can be potentially used to assess frailty in home settings.
Methods This study is a qualitative study in which data were collected through focus group interviews. We recruited 15 older participants. Questions were asked to achieve the goal of understanding their attitudes on the technologies. These questions include 1) the concerns or barriers of installing and using the presented technology in daily life at home, 2) the reasons participants like or dislike a particular technology, 3) what makes a particular technology more acceptable, and 4) participants’ preferences in choosing technologies. Data were transcribed, coded and categorized, and finally synthesized to understand the attitudes towards presented technologies.
Results A total of 15 older adults aged 65 and older were recruited. Three focus group sessions were conducted with five participants in each session. In the findings, the attitudes and perspectives of participants on the technologies for assessing frailty were presented in four areas: A) general attitude towards using the technologies, B) concerns about the technologies, C) existing living habits or patterns related to using the technologies, and D) constructive suggestions related to the technologies.
Conclusions This study focuses on understanding the attitudes and perceptions of older adults on several technologies that could potentially be used to assess frailty in home settings. Participants generally have positive attitudes towards allowing the technologies to be installed and used at their home. Some technologies were found to be more acceptable if used under certain conditions. However, questions and concerns still remain. The study also found the living habits or patterns of older adults could affect the design and use of technology. Lastly, many valuable suggestions have been made by participants.