What facilitates the acceptance of technology to promote social participation in later life? A systematic review

Abstract

Background

Social participation is an important aspect of health and well-being across the lifespan, but older adults might encounter some barriers, which has been highlighted in the current Covid-19 pandemic situation, where technology has become the primary way to maintain contact with family and friends. In fact, technology can serve both as a facilitator and barrier to social participation in later life, and this issue needs to be further understood.

Aim

To identify the barriers and facilitators encountered by older adults in using technology to promote social participation.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted. Studies were included if they were peer-reviewed, written in English or French, included participants 50 years or older, included technology to promote social participation, and reported potential barriers or facilitators regarding such technologies. Four databases were included: MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsychINFO and, ERIC. Each study was reviewed by two independent reviewers. The quality of the study was appraised using the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool.

Results

Seventeen studies were included in this report. Four main themes emerged from the data: perceived benefits of the technology, self-confidence and knowledge about using the technology efficiently and safely, affordability of the technology, and ability of the technology to adapt to the physical and cognitive declines in later life.

Conclusion

These findings can help health care professionals to make better decisions when deciding to recommend technology for their older clients.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• Acceptance of technology to promote social participation in later life is a multi-complex process. There is no “one size fits all” approach, a person-centered intervention must be used.

• When introducing new technologies, using an adapted/tailored training approach could potentially increase self-efficacy in using technology.

• Rehabilitation professionals’ misconceptions concerning the use of technology in later life can be a barrier to acceptance. It’s important to be aware of our own believes and attitudes in this context.

Keywords:

• Older adults
• social participation
• technology
• barriers
• facilitators

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).