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Current level of technology use, health and eHealth literacy in older Canadians with a recent fracture—a survey in orthopedic clinics

Osteoporosis International volume 31, pages 1333–1340 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Summary

Among older adults who have recently sustained a fracture, there is substantial adoption of mobile technology. Furthermore, health and eHealth literacy level reported by participants supports the development of interactive eHealth interventions toward fostering better patient engagement in skeletal health management.

Introduction

Electronic health resources are increasingly used in the self-management of medical conditions. We aimed to identify the current level of technology adoption, health, and eHealth literacy among older adults with a recent fracture, to determine if the use of electronic interventions would be feasible and acceptable in this population.

Methods

Adults ≥ 50 years with recent fractures were invited to complete a self-administered survey composed of 21 questions, including an 8-item perceived eHealth literacy scale.

Results

A total of 401 participants completed the survey (women, 64%; ≥ 65 years, 59%; university education, 32%). Most participants reported no difficulty in reading printed health material (67%) and felt confident in filling out medical forms (65%). Younger age and higher levels of education were associated with higher health literacy. Most respondents (81%) owned at least one mobile device (smartphone, 49%; tablet, 45%). eHEALS scores were similar among men (29, IQR 24–32) and women (29, IQR 25–33), and between younger age group categories (50–64 years, 30; IQR 26–33; and 65–74 years, 29; IQR 25–32), but lower in the oldest age group (≥ 75 years, 24; IQR 21–29; p < 0.05). Compared with the youngest group, those ≥ 75 years had higher odds of an eHEALS < 26 (odds ratio, 4.2; 95% confidence interval 2.0–8.9) after adjusting for sex and education level.

Conclusion

There is significant adoption of mobile technology among older adults. Health and eHealth literacy reported by this study population supports the development of interactive eHealth interventions toward fostering better patient engagement in skeletal health management.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the participants of the survey for their time and interest in the study. SNM is chercheur-boursier des Fonds de Recherche du Québec en Santé.

Details of contributors and guarantor

Authors’ roles: conception, design, analysis, drafting the article (CC, MW, SNM), interpretation of data (all authors); critically revising the article for important intellectual content (all authors); final approval of the version to be published (all authors); and agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work (all authors). CC and SNM had full access to all the data in the study and take the responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Funding

This study was supported by an operating grant of the Canadian Institute of Health Research (201410PHE; application 337,797). The funding source had no role in the design of the study, analysis of the results, writing of the manuscript, or decision to submit for publication.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

    C. Cherid, N. E. Mayo & S. N. Morin

  2. The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 5252 Boulevard de Maisonneuve O, Room 3E-11, Montreal, Québec, H4A 3S5, Canada

    A. Baghdadli, M. Wall, N. E. Mayo, G. Berry, E. J. Harvey & S. N. Morin

  3. Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

    G. Berry, E. J. Harvey, A. Albers & S. G. Bergeron

  4. St. Mary’s Hospital, Montreal, Canada

    A. Albers

  5. Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada

    S. G. Bergeron

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  1. C. Cherid
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Correspondence to S. N. Morin.

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Conflicts of interest

Chams Cherid, Amel Baghdadli, Michelle Wall, Nancy Mayo, Gregory Berry, Edward J Harvey, Anthony Albers, and Stephane G Bergeron declare they have no conflict of interest. Suzanne N Morin has received a research grant from Amgen, paid to a research institution, in the context of other work.

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Cherid, C., Baghdadli, A., Wall, M. et al. Current level of technology use, health and eHealth literacy in older Canadians with a recent fracture—a survey in orthopedic clinics. Osteoporos Int 31, 1333–1340 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-020-05359-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-020-05359-3

Keywords

  • eHealth
  • eHealth literacy
  • Fractures
  • Older adults
  • Survey
  • Technology adoption