Internet Use and Need for Digital Health Technology Among the Elderly: a Cross-sectional Survey in China

Overview

Journal BMC Public Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Public Health

Date 2020 Sep 12

PMID 32917171

Citations 45

Authors

Xinran Sun

Wenxin Yan

Hao Zhou

Zhaoqing Wang

Xueying Zhang

Shuang Huang

Li Li

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: China is becoming an aging society at the fastest pace in history, and there are a large number of empty nesters in the country. With economic and social development, internal support systems among families are gradually weakening. Supporting the elderly is thus emerging as a significant issue, and promoting digital health technologies is an effective way to help address it. Encouraging the application of Internet to elderly care and Internet use among the elderly are important means of promoting digital health technologies. This paper examines the current state of the use of the Internet by the elderly and factors influencing it (including physical, psychological, and social) as well as demand among the elderly for smart services.

Methods: A total of 669 subjects over the age of 60 years were randomly selected from 13 cities in Heilongjiang province and surveyed using questionnaires from May 1 to July 31, 2018. The questionnaires were collected for descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, and the analysis of influential factors.

Results: Of the people surveyed, 38.6% used the Internet. Their favorite online activity was online dating (74.2%), and the health information they obtained through the Internet was mainly related to diet (63.1%) and exercise (47.1%). The subjects demanded smart bracelets (MD = 2.80) and emergency callers (MD = 2.77). Gender, age, education, monthly income, quality of life, number of friends, and social participation were found to have an impact on Internet use.

Conclusions: More measures are needed to reduce barriers to the use of the Internet and promote digital health technologies. The society, equipment manufacturers, and family members of the elderly should work together to enable them to reap the benefits of online technologies.

Citing Articles

Spatio-temporal evolution and driving factors of the coupling and coordinated development of China's digital economy and older adult care services.

Liu H, Wang W, Li S Front Public Health. 2025; 13:1490461.

PMID: 40078756 PMC: 11897250. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1490461.

Does education level affect the health status of the elderly? The chain mediating effect of internet use, health behavior and social class identity.

Qin T, Wei P, Xie Y PLoS One. 2025; 20(2):e0319389.

PMID: 40019900 PMC: 11870362. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0319389.

Internet use and life satisfaction among empty nesters in rural areas of Yangzhou: based on propensity score matching and mediating effect model.

Liu Y, Wang Y, Yang Z, Xu W, Tian G, Gao Y BMC Geriatr. 2025; 25(1):128.

PMID: 40000969 PMC: 11863514. DOI: 10.1186/s12877-025-05788-x.

Spatiotemporal effect of internet use on life expectancy: cross-country insight from a geographically and temporally weighted analysis.

Pu H, Kang W, Gao W, Wang S, Wu R, Ren Z BMC Public Health. 2025; 25(1):569.

PMID: 39934763 PMC: 11817067. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-21760-1.

The impact of internet use on physical activity among Chinese older adults: the mediating role of social support.

Shen Y, Lu C, Wang B Front Public Health. 2025; 13:1492188.

PMID: 39916702 PMC: 11801014. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1492188.

References

Hays R, DiMatteo M . A short-form measure of loneliness. J Pers Assess. 1987; 51(1):69-81. DOI: 10.1207/s15327752jpa5101_6. View

Choi N, DiNitto D . Internet use among older adults: association with health needs, psychological capital, and social capital. J Med Internet Res. 2013; 15(5):e97. PMC: 3668603. DOI: 10.2196/jmir.2333. View

Neves B, Fonseca J, Amaro F, Pasqualotti A . Social capital and Internet use in an age-comparative perspective with a focus on later life. PLoS One. 2018; 13(2):e0192119. PMC: 5826529. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192119. View

Gordon N, Hornbrook M . Older adults' readiness to engage with eHealth patient education and self-care resources: a cross-sectional survey. BMC Health Serv Res. 2018; 18(1):220. PMC: 5872546. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-018-2986-0. View

Cotten S, Anderson W, McCullough B . Impact of internet use on loneliness and contact with others among older adults: cross-sectional analysis. J Med Internet Res. 2013; 15(2):e39. PMC: 3636305. DOI: 10.2196/jmir.2306. View

Medeiros F, Xavier A, Schneider I, Ramos L, Sigulem D, DOrsi E . Digital inclusion and functional capacity of older adults living in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil (EpiFloripa 2009-2010). Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2012; 15(1):106-22. DOI: 10.1590/s1415-790x2012000100010. View

Raven M, Kaplan L, Rosenberg M, Tieu L, Guzman D, Kushel M . Mobile Phone, Computer, and Internet Use Among Older Homeless Adults: Results from the HOPE HOME Cohort Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2018; 6(12):e10049. PMC: 6305882. DOI: 10.2196/10049. View

Bauer R, Glenn T, Strejilevich S, Conell J, Alda M, Ardau R . Internet use by older adults with bipolar disorder: international survey results. Int J Bipolar Disord. 2018; 6(1):20. PMC: 6161969. DOI: 10.1186/s40345-018-0127-7. View

Levine D, Lipsitz S, Linder J . Changes in Everyday and Digital Health Technology Use Among Seniors in Declining Health. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2017; 73(4):552-559. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glx116. View

10.

Hajek A, Konig H . The association between use of online social networks sites and perceived social isolation among individuals in the second half of life: results based on a nationally representative sample in Germany. BMC Public Health. 2019; 19(1):40. PMC: 6325850. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-6369-6. View

11.

Erickson J, Johnson G . Internet use and psychological wellness during late adulthood. Can J Aging. 2014; 30(2):197-209. DOI: 10.1017/S0714980811000109. View

12.

Choi N . Relationship between health service use and health information technology use among older adults: analysis of the US National Health Interview Survey. J Med Internet Res. 2011; 13(2):e33. PMC: 3221375. DOI: 10.2196/jmir.1753. View

13.

Heo J, Chun S, Lee S, Lee K, Kim J . Internet use and well-being in older adults. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2015; 18(5):268-72. DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2014.0549. View

14.

Rabin R, de Charro F . EQ-5D: a measure of health status from the EuroQol Group. Ann Med. 2001; 33(5):337-43. DOI: 10.3109/07853890109002087. View

15.

York Cornwell E, Waite L . Social network resources and management of hypertension. J Health Soc Behav. 2012; 53(2):215-31. PMC: 3727627. DOI: 10.1177/0022146512446832. View

16.

Choi N, DiNitto D . The digital divide among low-income homebound older adults: Internet use patterns, eHealth literacy, and attitudes toward computer/Internet use. J Med Internet Res. 2013; 15(5):e93. PMC: 3650931. DOI: 10.2196/jmir.2645. View

17.

Tsuchiya A, Ikeda S, Ikegami N, Nishimura S, Sakai I, Fukuda T . Estimating an EQ-5D population value set: the case of Japan. Health Econ. 2002; 11(4):341-53. DOI: 10.1002/hec.673. View

18.

Levy H, Janke A, Langa K . Health literacy and the digital divide among older Americans. J Gen Intern Med. 2014; 30(3):284-9. PMC: 4351282. DOI: 10.1007/s11606-014-3069-5. View