Can Assessment of Health on an ICT-platform Improve Optimal Functionality and Lead to Participatory Care Among Older Adults?

摘要

The number of people reaching old age is increasing rapidly, challenging the society and healthcare to promote healthy and meaningful aging. There is, and has been for a few years, a big interest in collecting patient reported outcomes (PROs) as a base for clinical management. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and assistive technology in elderly care increase and may facilitate the care of older adults as they are moved from nursing homes to private homes. An ICT-platform for reporting health issues with immediate access to self-care advice and direct communication with healthcare professionals has been developed. The overall aim of this project is to evaluate the effects of the interactive ICT-platform regarding optimal functionality and participatory care. The project will be conducted in three phases: development of the ICT-platform, feasibility evaluation and evaluation of effects. The platform is unique by integrating interactive components for direct clinical management and needs to be thoroughly evaluated before implementation in daily practice. It is hypothesized that, by using an interactive ICT-platform, it will promote participatory care and enhance the communication between older adults and their professional carers. The platform will be further developed, as well as tested in a full-scale study.