Addressing Accessibility Crisis: A Gerontechnology Education Project among Patients in a Hong Kong Hospital Setting

Abstract

Purpose Gerontechnology is an innovative solution that plays an important role in promoting patients’ independent living, reducing institutional care, and alleviating caregiver burden. However, one of the major crises hindering its wide acceptance and utilization in Hong Kong is poor accessibility, preventing end-users from acquiring knowledge about gerontechnology products and purchase methods (Our Hong Kong Foundation, 2021). Our project aims to address this gap by promoting patients' gerontechnology knowledge and acceptance through education while identifying their needs to maximize utilization. Method Patients with physical or mental illnesses, at Tai Po Hospital, Hong Kong, who had an assessed need for gerontechnology, were recruited in the project. Occupational therapists provided single 20–30-minute face-to-face education sessions, individually or in groups, with multimedia support to introduce gerontechnology and its products, including selection and purchase methods. Pre- and post-education surveys were conducted using a 0–10-point rating scale to assess changes in knowledge and acceptance. Patients' keenness towards product trial use services and their preferred products were also investigated. Results and Discussion 70 patients (Age <70, n=45; Female, n=49) with physical (n=34) or mental illnesses (n=36) were recruited from August to November 2023. Regarding knowledge changes, participants overall showed significant improvement in self-perceived knowledge of gerontechnology, F (1,66) =186.61, p<.001, product features, F (1,66) =78.39, p<.001, and purchase methods, F (1,66) =51.43, p<.001. There is significant interaction effect of age group on knowledge changes which the younger age group (<70) showed significantly greater improvement than the older age group (≥70) across the same knowledge categories: gerontechnology, F (1,66) =9.72, p<.003, product features, F (1,66) =5.47, p<.022, and purchase methods, F (1,66) =5.53, p<.022. This suggested future education focusing on younger patients and caregivers who displayed better knowledge acquisition. Regarding acceptance changes, participants showed significantly enhanced acceptance of gerontechnology, as evidenced by their increased readiness to use, F (1,66) =13.99, p<.001 and purchase, F (1,66) =22.80, p<.001, the products. These changes were not significantly different between age groups (<70 vs ≥70) or disease groups (physical vs mental), indicating the project's comparable effectiveness in enhancing gerontechnology acceptance among patients of various ages and illnesses. Furthermore, 50% of participants expressed positive attitudes (rating ≥6) towards product trial use services to enhance purchase readiness. Similar popular products including smartwatches, sensor lights, and smart pill boxes were identified in both patients with physical and mental illnesses, highlighting the potential benefits of incorporating trial use services for these products to facilitate widespread utilization. In conclusion, gerontechnology education is crucial for addressing the accessibility crisis and enhancing knowledge and acceptance among end-users. Introducing new targeted promotion initiatives and focusing on specific products can maximize utilization and contribute to the sustainability of the gerontech ecosystem.

References

Our Hong Kong Foundation. (2021). Healthcare and Ageing Policy Research Report: Building an Age-Friendly City Embedding Gerontechnology Into Everyday Life. https://ourhkfoundation.org.hk/sites/default/files/media/pdf/OHKF_Gerontech_report_en.pdf

Keywords: gerontechnology education, patient empowerment

Affiliation: Occupational Therapy Department, Tai Po Hospital, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong

Corresponding Author Email: jch822@ha.org.hk