Page 73 - Petelin, Ana. 2021. Ed. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press.
P. 73
https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-293-129-2.71-80
Attitudes towards smart technologies
among older people and their informal
carers in Slovenia
Simona Hvalič-Touzery, Vesna Dolničar
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social Sciences, Centre for Social Informatics
Simona.Hvalic-Touzery@fdv.uni-lj.si
Abstract
Introduction: Despite the growing body of evidence of smart solutions’
positive outcomes on older people and their informal carers, the use
of these solutions is still low, even more so in Slovenia. Moreover,
in recent years, mostly single smart solutions have been developed,
covering only a small range of applications. The international project
i-evAALution evaluated the acceptance and the impact of the bundle
of several single solutions (emergency watch, tablet and smart home
devices) on community-dwelling older people and their informal carers.
We present the preliminary results of only one segment of the whole
study focusing on the results of a baseline questionnaire conducted
in Slovenia. Methods: The randomised control trial was conducted in
2019-2021 in the Central Slovenia region. A total of 55 dyads, including
older care recipients (PE) and their primary informal carers (SE), were
recruited and completed the baseline questionnaire. Care recipients
were on average 78.6 years old (SD = 7.79) and 43.6 % had fallen in the
past year. Carers were on average 52.8 years old (SD = 11.58). On average,
they provided 5.8 hours of care per week (SD = 10.41) and had been
doing so for an average of 6.6 years (SD = 7.69). The majority (71 %) of
carers were the children of the care recipient. Participants completed
questionnaires at three or four measurement time points: at baseline
(before randomisation to test or control group), post-installation (test
group only), after 4-5 months (both groups), and after 12 months (control
group only). Data were processed using the statistical package SPSS 20.0.
Results: We observed a significant difference in technology competence
between care recipients and carers (MPE = 2.63, MSE = 2.12, p = 0.000)
and the interest in technology (MPE = 3.12, MSE = 3.70, p = 0.004). In
addition, the most important features of a tested i-evAALution bundle
recognised by both carers and care recipients were safety (MPE =
4.32, MSE = 4.46), emergency services (MPE = 4.17, MSE = 4.41) and
Attitudes towards smart technologies
among older people and their informal
carers in Slovenia
Simona Hvalič-Touzery, Vesna Dolničar
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social Sciences, Centre for Social Informatics
Simona.Hvalic-Touzery@fdv.uni-lj.si
Abstract
Introduction: Despite the growing body of evidence of smart solutions’
positive outcomes on older people and their informal carers, the use
of these solutions is still low, even more so in Slovenia. Moreover,
in recent years, mostly single smart solutions have been developed,
covering only a small range of applications. The international project
i-evAALution evaluated the acceptance and the impact of the bundle
of several single solutions (emergency watch, tablet and smart home
devices) on community-dwelling older people and their informal carers.
We present the preliminary results of only one segment of the whole
study focusing on the results of a baseline questionnaire conducted
in Slovenia. Methods: The randomised control trial was conducted in
2019-2021 in the Central Slovenia region. A total of 55 dyads, including
older care recipients (PE) and their primary informal carers (SE), were
recruited and completed the baseline questionnaire. Care recipients
were on average 78.6 years old (SD = 7.79) and 43.6 % had fallen in the
past year. Carers were on average 52.8 years old (SD = 11.58). On average,
they provided 5.8 hours of care per week (SD = 10.41) and had been
doing so for an average of 6.6 years (SD = 7.69). The majority (71 %) of
carers were the children of the care recipient. Participants completed
questionnaires at three or four measurement time points: at baseline
(before randomisation to test or control group), post-installation (test
group only), after 4-5 months (both groups), and after 12 months (control
group only). Data were processed using the statistical package SPSS 20.0.
Results: We observed a significant difference in technology competence
between care recipients and carers (MPE = 2.63, MSE = 2.12, p = 0.000)
and the interest in technology (MPE = 3.12, MSE = 3.70, p = 0.004). In
addition, the most important features of a tested i-evAALution bundle
recognised by both carers and care recipients were safety (MPE =
4.32, MSE = 4.46), emergency services (MPE = 4.17, MSE = 4.41) and
