The Role of Digital Media and Technologies and eHealth Literacy in Elderly Holistic Healthcare Practices

Main Article Content

Kirati Kachentawa

Abstract

      The purpose of this study aimed to conduct a literature review on the role of digital media and technologies, as well as eHealth literacy in the elderly’s holistic healthcare practices, following that the researcher offered recommendations that might be implemented for Thai elderly people in form of academic article. In terms of article selection methods, researcher employed purposive sampling technique from research and academic articles published in widely recognized national and international databases in online format and available through Google scholar search between 2019 and 2023, finally, the 16 articles met the inclusion requirements was chosen. A review of research and academic papers revealed that media and digital technologies, including eHealth literacy skills, had an impact on the elderly’s holistic healthcare practices. However, the digital divide between seniors with and without gadgets that could connect to media and digital technologies remained a concern. In addition, there was the issue of inadvertent dissemination of fake news through chat applications, both in terms of who obtained and who sent such news. Furthermore, several studies have conclusively demonstrated factors other than digital media and technologies influenced senior citizens’ holistic healthcare practices. Self-efficacy perception and social support were discovered to be common factors. Traditional medicine and religious beliefs were applied in the Thai geriatric environment to promote holistic healthcare practices among them. Social support from family members, involvement in community activities, living simply, self-sufficiency, and those of working and earning a high wage were all taken into account.


Keywords: Digital media and technologies, eHealth literacy, The elderly, Holistic Healthcare Practices


 


 

Article Details

Section
Articles

References

Arcury, T. A., Sandberg, J. C., Melius, K. P., Quandt, S. A., Leng, X., Latulipe, C., Miller, D.P., Jr, Smith, D. A., & Bertoni, A. G. (2020). Older adult internet use and eHealth literacy. Journal of Applied Gerontology: The Official Journal of the Southern Gerontological Society, 39(2), 141–150. doi: 10.1177/0733464818807468

Arayasajapong, W., Pinagalung, S., Srisuruk, P., Paholpak, S., & Mongput, K. (2021). Factors related to healthy aging among older persons. The Journal of Behavioral Science, 16(3), 59–71.

Augner, C. (2022). Digital divide in elderly: Self-rated computer skills are associated with higher education, better cognitive abilities and increased mental health. The European Journal of Psychiatry, 36(3), 76-181. doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpsy.2022.03.003

Balatsoukas, P., Kennedy, C. M., Buchan, I., Powell, J., & Ainsworth, J. (2015). The Role of Social network technologies in online health promotion: A narrative review of theoretical and empirical factors influencing intervention effectiveness. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 17(6), e141. doi: 10.2196/jmir.3662

Bujnowska-Fedak, M. M., & Węgierek, P. (2020). The impact of online health information on patient health behaviours and making decisions concerning health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(3), 880. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17030880

Brørs, G., Norman, C. D., & Norekvål, T. M. (2020). Accelerated importance of eHealth literacy in the COVID-19 outbreak and beyond. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 19(6), 458-461. doi.org/10.1177/1474515120941307

Choi, M. (2020). Association of eHealth use, literacy, informational social support, and health-promoting behaviors: Mediation of health self-efficacy. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(21), 7890. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17217890

Detthippornpong, S., Songwathana, P., & Bourbonnais, A. (2022). Holistic health practices of rural Thai homebound older adults: A focused ethnographic study. Journal of Transcultural Nursing: Official Journal of the Transcultural Nursing Society, 33(4), 521–528. doi: 10.1177/10436596221090270

Electronic Transactions Development Agency. (2022). Thailand internet user behavior 2022. Electronic Transactions Development Agency. (in Thai)

Foundation of the Thai Gerontology Research and Development Institute. (2021a). Only 12.9 percent of low-income older adults have access to digital technology to keep up with news. Retrieved May 5, 2023, from https://thaitgri.org/?p=39879. (in Thai)

Foundation of the Thai Gerontology Research and Development Institute. (2021b). Discussion forum: Fake news with the older adults who know how to keep up with media safely. Coherently agree that the older adults did not check the information before sharing. Retrieved May 5, 2023, from https://thaitgri.org/?p=39755. (in Thai)

Delello, J. A., & McWhorter, R. R. (2017). Reducing the digital divide: Connecting older adults to iPad technology. Journal of Applied Gerontology: The Official Journal of the Southern Gerontological Society, 36(1), 3–28. doi: 10.1177/0733464815589985

Fu, L., & Xie, Y. (2021). The effects of social media use on the health of older adults: An empirical analysis based on Chinese general social survey. Healthcare (Basel), 9(9),1143. doi: 10.3390/healthcare9091143

Gordon, N. P., & Hornbrook, M. C. (2018). Older adults’ readiness to engage with eHealth patient education and self-care resources: A cross-sectional survey. BMC Health Services Research, 18(1), 220. doi: 10.1186/s12913-018-2986-0

Han, M., Tan, X. Y., Lee, R., Lee, J. K., & Mahendran, R. (2021). Impact of social media on health-related outcomes among older adults in Singapore: Qualitative study. Journal of Medical Internet Research Aging, 4(1), e23826. doi: 10.2196/23826

Heo, J., Chun, S., Lee, S., Lee, K. H., & Kim, J. (2015). Internet use and well-being in older adults. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 18(5), 268–272. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2014.0549

Issaradath, W. (2022). Elderly and holistic health care. Journal of Social Science and Buddhistic Anthropology, 7(12), 147-161. (in Thai)

Jung, S.O., Son, Y.H., & Choi, E. (2022). E-health literacy in older adults: An evolutionary concept analysis. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision, 22(28), 1-13. doi.org/10.1186/s12911-022-01761-5

Kachentawa. (2019). Causal model analysis of communication factors affecting holistic healthcare behavior of the elders. Academic Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Burapha University 27(54), 22-47. (in Thai)

Kachentawa, K. (2023). The development of E-health literacy indicators for older Thai adults in adjusting to live with the new normal lifestyle. The Journal of Behavioral Science, 18(1), 49–64.

Kaewthep, K., Nilphueng, R., & Jenjad, R. (2013). Communication, food, health. The Thailand Research Fund. (in Thai)

Kim, K., Shin, S., Kim, S., & Lee, E. (2023). The relation between eHealth literacy and health-related behaviors: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25, e40778. doi: 10.2196/40778

Kleechaya, P. (2021). Digital technology utilization of elderly and framework for promoting Thai active and productive aging. Journal of Communication Arts,39(2), 56-78. (in Thai)

Kokkinakis, D. (2022). eHealth literacy and capability in the context of the pandemic crisis. In H. F. Erhag, U. L. Nilsson, T. R. Sterner, & I. Skoog (Eds), A Multidisciplinary Approach to Capability in Age and Ageing (pp. 109–129). Springer.

Kumar, R., Singh, A., Mishra, R., Saraswati, U., Bhalla, J., & Pagali, S. (2022). A review study on the trends of psychological challenges, coping ways, and public support during the COVID-19 pandemic in the vulnerable populations in the United States. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 920581. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.920581

Levin-Zamir, D., & Bertschi, I. (2018). Media health literacy, eHealth literacy, and the role of the social environment in context. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(8), 1643. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15081643

NIKKEI Asia. (2023). ‘Digital seniors’ emerge in Asia amid pandemic, Euromonitor says. https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Digital-seniors-emerge-in-Asia-amid-pandemic-Euromonitor-says

Norman, C. D., & Skinner, H. A. (2006). eHealth literacy: Essential skills for consumer health in a networked world. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 8(2), e9. doi: 10.2196/jmir.8.2.e9.

Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council. (2022). The 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2022-2026). Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council. (in Thai)

Patcharanuruk, T. (2005). Medical sociology. OS Design & Printing. (in Thai)

Peng, J. R., Su, H. C., Lin, C. P., Chen, C. C., Chang, C. J., Gong, S. L., & Chu, P. H. (2021). Role of an e-Health intervention in holistic healthcare: A quasiexperiment in patients undergoing cardi doi.org/10.1155/2021/6692952 ac catheterization in Taiwan. Journal of Healthcare Engineering, 2021, 6692952. doi.org/10.1155/2021/6692952

Ruchiwit, M., Phanphairoj, K., Sumneangsanor, T., & Mamom, J. (2021). The factors of the holistic health status of Thai elders in the 21st century. Current Aging Science, 14(1), 19–25. doi: 10.2174/1874609813666200131123537

Ruchiwit, M., & Phanphairoj, K. (2022). The holistic health status of older adults in Thailand. Ageing International, 47(2), 1-12. doi.org/10.1007/s12126-021-09421-1

Smailhodzic, E., Boonstra, A., & Langley, D. J. (2021). Social media enabled interactions in healthcare: Towards a taxonomy. Social Science & Medicine (1982), 291, 114469. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114469

Stellefson, M., Paige, S. R., Alber, J. M., Chaney, B. H., Chaney, D., Apperson, A., & Mohan, A. (2019). Association between health literacy, electronic health literacy, disease-specific knowledge, and health-related quality of life among adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Cross-sectional study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(6), e12165. doi: 10.2196/12165

Sun, X., Yan, W., Zhou, H., Wang, Z., Zhang, X., Huang S., & Li, L. (2020). Internet use and need for digital health technology among the elderly: A cross-sectional survey in China. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1386. doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09448-0

Tyler, M., Simic, V., & De George-Walker, L. (2018). Older adult Internet super-users: Counsel from experience. Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 42(4), 328-339. doi.org/10.1080/01924788.2018.1428472

Wang, Y., Song, Y., Zhu, Y., Ji, H., & Wang, A. (2022). Association of eHealth literacy with health promotion behaviors of community-dwelling older people: The chain mediating role of self-efficacy and self-care ability. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(10), 6092. doi:10.3390/ijerph17072263

Wilson, J., Heinsch, M., Betts, D., Booth, D., & Kay-Lambkin, F. (2021). Barriers and facilitators to the use of e-health by older adults: A scoping review. BMC Public Health 21, 1556. doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11623-w

World Health Organization. (2021). Global strategy on digital health 2020-2025. World Health Organization.

World Health Organization. (2022). Health and well-being. Retrieved May 10, 2023, from https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/major-themes/health-and-well-being

World Health Organization. (2023a). Ageing and health. Retrieved May 10, 2023, from https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/feature-stories/detail/thailands-leadership-and-innovation-towards-healthy-ageing

World Health Organization. (2023b). Thailand’s leadership and innovations towards healthy ageing. Retrieved May 10, 2023, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health

Xie, L., & Mo, P. K. H. (2023). Comparison of eHealth literacy scale (eHEALS) and digital health literacy instrument (DHLI) in assessing electronic health literacy in Chinese older adults: A mixed-methods approach. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(4), 3293. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20043293

Xie, L., Zhang S., Xin, M., Zhu, M., Lu, W., & Mo, P. K. (2022). Electronic health literacy and health-related outcomes among older adults: A systematic review. Preventive Medicine, 157(1), 106997. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.106997.