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ABSTRACT
Objectives: InTouch is an electronic communication platform designed to be accessible by computer-naive seniors. The present study explored the process of adoption and use of the application by seniors with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI) through the lens of Social Cognitive Theory (SCT).
Method: We studied adoption and use of InTouch for social communication over a 12-week period in a 475-bed Veteran's care facility at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Canada. Eleven older adult veterans participated, six of whom had MCI, as indicated by their Montreal Cognitive Assessment score. Veterans were partnered with volunteers, each was provided with an iPad with the InTouch application. Qualitative data were collected through interviews, field notes, and direct observation. Quantitative data were collected from data logging of the software and medical charts. Data types and sources were triangulated and examined through the lens of SCT.
Results: A total of 2361 messages (102 videos, 359 audios, 417 photos, 1438 texts) were sent by 10 of the 11 veterans over the 12-week study period. There was no apparent difference in extent of adoption or use, between participants with and without MCI. Participants used various resources and techniques to learn, provided that they felt motivated to connect with others using the app.
Conclusion: This pilot illustrates both the accessibility of InTouch and the promise of using extrinsic motivators such as social bonding to promote learning in institutionalized older adults with and without cognitive impairment, whose intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy may well be suffering.
Acknowledgments
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the seniors and family members who participated in this study and to the staff of the Veteran's Wing of Sunnybrook HSC for facilitating this study.
Disclosure statement
Dr Anita Stern is the President of famli.net, the start-up company (a spin-off from the lab) marketing the technology. However, she only recently assumed this position and did not have that role during the study. Dr. Ron Baecker is chair of the company's advisory committee. He was CEO of the start-up during the study but was off on sick leave during the study. The other authors have no conflicts to declare. This study is approved by the Research Ethics Boards of both the University of Toronto and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.