Perspectives of Older Adults on Self-Care of Chronic Diseases Utilizing Online Health Resources: An Exploratory Descriptive Qualitative Study.

Abstract

As the aging population grows rapidly, older adults are living longer with multiple chronic diseases. Coupled with the rise of the digital era, older adults are experiencing the brunt of the global aging phenomenon. The study aims to explore the perspectives of older adults on self-care for chronic diseases with the application of online resources. An exploratory qualitative study with focus group discussions was conducted to shed light on the insights of older adults from senior activity centers. Purposive sampling was used to include older adults with at least one chronic disease and living in the community. Twenty older adults were interviewed face-to-face in four focused-group discussions, led by a semi-structured interview guide that thematic analysis was then applied to. Four overarching themes and 14 subthemes emerged. The four major themes were (1) Barriers to a Healthier Life; (2) Proactively Acquiring Knowledge for Health Management; (3) Socially-influenced Health Decision-Making, and (4) Conducive Ecosystem Encourages Health-Promoting Behaviors. Older adults often face challenges in navigating the evolving digital landscape, yet they are receptive to learning from social networks and online resources, which help them make healthier self-care choices. Hence, a supportive environment is essential to empower older adults to effectively utilize online resources for managing their chronic diseases.