Environmental and contextual factors influencing e-health use among older adults: A rapid review

Introduction: E-health services offer potential benefits for healthcare delivery, especially for older adults, yet their adoption remains suboptimal due to various barriers. Understanding the environmental and contextual factors influencing e-health use among this demographic is crucial for enhancing their health outcomes.

Aim: This rapid review aims to explore the various environmental and contextual factors affecting the use of e-health among older adults, focusing on identifying strategies to enhance acceptance and usefulness.

Methods: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, a mixed-methods rapid review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. Databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched. Quantitative data were qualitized for integration with qualitative data, and a thematic analysis was performed on the assembled data.

Findings: A total of 11 studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing five cross-sectional surveys, four qualitative studies, one longitudinal study, and one Discrete Choice Experiment. The thematic analysis revealed five key themes: social influence and norms, environmental and infrastructure factors, economic factors and cost considerations, family and caregiver support, and organizational support and culture.

Conclusion: The review highlights the need for e-health solutions that enhance social support, are adaptable to diverse living environments, address economic barriers with cost-effective solutions, and are culturally sensitive to effectively engage older adults.