Digital Technology for Rural Older Adults’ Health Management: Challenges, Support Systems, and Contextual Policy Approaches

Abstract

The digital transformation has opened new opportunities for elderly health management, particularly in rural areas where access to healthcare remains limited. This research aimed to: 1. Study the behavior and use of digital technology among elderly in rural communities related to health management; 2. Analyze the challenges and barriers to digital technology use among elderly in rural contexts; 3. Investigate support for promoting the use of digital technology in health management among elderly; and 4. Propose policy guidelines appropriate to the community context for promoting the use of digital technology for health management among the elderly. A qualitative research sample of 30 key informants was purposively selected, consisting of 14 elderly aged 60 and over, 8 community leaders, and 8 village health volunteers (VHVs). The research instruments included in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Content validity was tested by three experts with a score of 0.8. Qualitative analysis was used to analyze thematic data, and data reliability was verified using triangulation and member checking. The findings indicated that the participants engaged in digital technology behaviors related to health management, including health communication, the use of health-related applications, and the search for health information. The primary challenge identified was the digital divide, stemming from disparities in skills, resources, and infrastructure, which hinder older adults in rural areas from fully utilizing digital technologies for health purposes. The barriers to digital technology use among older adults were found to derive from four main dimensions: individual factors, technological and accessibility factors, social and family factors, and service system and policy factors. Meanwhile, the mechanisms that support the adoption of digital technology in health care for older adults include policy formulation and the development of local operational plans to ensure continuous budget allocation. The recommended policy directions appropriate to the community context for promoting the use of digital technologies in older adults’ health management comprise: Developing participatory, locally relevant curricula, providing financial and resource support, strengthening digital infrastructure, and Advancing holistic policy integration. These strategies aim to enhance older adults’ skills and confidence in using digital technologies for self-care, ensure equitable access to devices and internet connectivity, expand digital infrastructure to remote areas, and promote the widespread provision of telehealth services. Furthermore, they encourage collaboration among national, local, and community-level stakeholders in developing digital health systems, as well as the establishment of national policies that systematically and sustainably integrate health and digital technology.