Informal Dementia Caregivers: Current Technology Use and Acceptance of Technology in Care

Daniel Wójcik, Katarzyna Szczechowiak, Patrycja Konopka, Mateusz Owczarek, Agata Kuzia, Izabela Rydlewska-Liszkowska and Małgorzata Pikala
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Daniel Wójcik: Department of Management and Logistics in Health Care, Medical University of Lodz, Poland InterDoktorMen Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, Poland
Katarzyna Szczechowiak: Wroclaw’s Alzheimer Center, 53-659 Wroclaw, Poland
Patrycja Konopka: Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 00-378 Warsaw, Poland
Mateusz Owczarek: Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, 50-527 Wroclaw, Poland
Agata Kuzia: Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, 50-527 Wroclaw, Poland
Izabela Rydlewska-Liszkowska: Department of Management and Logistics in Health Care, Medical University of Lodz, Poland InterDoktorMen Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, Poland
Małgorzata Pikala: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Social and Preventive Medicine of the Medical University of Lodz, 90-752 Lodz, Poland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-14

Abstract: (1) Background : Given the increased social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges faced by informal dementia caregivers have increased. An increasing use of technology, both in care and dementia clinical trials, depends upon caregivers’ abilities as a user. Accordingly, the aim of our study was to verify the current technology (smartphone and computer) use and acceptance in care, regarding socio-demographic variables; (2) Methods : Questionnaires were distributed to 102 dementia caregivers, mostly of patients with moderate dementia; (3) Results : The majority of participants were women (63%), and large number of them used technological devices such as a smartphone (91%) or computer (81%). Results revealed differences between age, gender, and education level on technology acceptance. Interestingly, smartphone use and acceptance seemed to be feasible, regardless of age, whereas computer use was negatively correlated with age. Technology was perceived by respondents as most useful for patients’ activities including locomotion, toileting, and meals; (4) Conclusions : The future of technology use in dementia care should indicate solutions tailored to individual characteristics such as new technology solutions (GPS trackers, smartphone apps, dietary intervention, and meal planning apps).

Keywords: socio-demographic characteristics; informal caregivers; dementia; Alzheimer’s disease; technology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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