Title: Factors predicting the use of telecare systems: psychological viewpoint

Authors: José Manuel Ojel-Jaramillo Romero; José Juan Cañas Delgado; Antonio Cándido Ortiz

Addresses: Institute of Innovation for Human Well-being (I2BC), Severo Ochoa Street, 16-20, 19590 Campanillas, Malaga, Spain. ' Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain. ' Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain

Abstract: Telecare is a type of information and communication technology (ICT) that provides help to dependents, especially older adults, by providing access to teams of professionals who can attend to the client's needs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year via a telephonic network. Previous studies have shown that design and motivational factors are related to use of telecare by older people. In this study, we examined how sociodemographic, motivational, design, cognitive, and attitudinal factors are related to telecare device use. A questionnaire and the state-trait anxiety inventory were administered to a sample of 96 telecare users. The results showed that factors related to the vocabulary of the telecare device interface, discomfort caused by the pendant device during the night, attitudinal factors, situational anxiety, and the anxious personality trait are predictors of whether or not a person will use the telecare device.

Keywords: human factors; ergonomics; telecare devices; sociodemographics; motivation; device vocabulary; device interface; discomfort; anxious personalities; anxiety; personality traits; e-healthcare; electronic healthcare; patient monitoring; remote healthcare; home care; psychology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFE.2012.045259

International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics, 2012 Vol.1 No.1, pp.3 - 20

Published online: 06 Aug 2014 *

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