Factors Related to Smartphone use among Ethnic Elderly at Yangmen Subdistrict, Sameng District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

This research is a cross-sectional survey study. The objective was to explore the use of smartphones, the factors associated with the use of smartphones in ethnic elderly people and to compare digital health literacy among ethnic elderly with and without smartphones. The sample group used in this study was the elderly, the ethnic group of Keren and Lisu with aged 60 years and over. 174 people out of a total population of 288 people were recruited in the study, which was calculated using the formula of Daniel set a confidence level of 95% and a margin of error of 5%. Sampling approach was purposive sampling method. The content validity of the questionnaire was checked by 3 experts. The reliability in digital health literacy and technology acceptance were tested, cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.88 and 0.70 respectively. Inferential statistics were Binary Logistic regression and Mann-Whitney U test.

Results: Mean age of elderly was 71.20 years. There were 94 female (54%). The were 94 elderly persons who used smartphones accounted for 35.10%. Factors significantly associated to the use of smartphones among ethnic elderly were male (Adjusted odds ratio 2.70, 95% CI: 1.15-6.30), younger than 75 years old (Adjusted odds ratio 4.35,95% CI: 1.12-16.85) having underlying disease (Adjusted odds ratio 3.12, 95%CI: 1.12-8.85) Technology acceptance factor in terms of perceived usefulness (Adjusted odds ratio 7.22, 95% CI 1.58-32.98) and their perception of their self-efficacy to use smartphones 13.36 (2.47-72.16). The median digital health literacy among the elderly who used smartphones was statistically significantly higher than those who did not use smartphones (P<0.01).

Encouraging ethnic elderly people to accept technology, perceived usefulness, and self-efficacy of using smartphones to make the elderly more digitally literate. which may affect the quality of life in the further.