„Das ist noch nicht meine Welt“: Eine qualitative Studie zur Frage, was ältere Menschen im ländlichen Sachsen-Anhalt von der Teilnahme an einer Online Health Community halten

Abstract

Background

Digitalization can be an important strategy for upholding medical services in rural areas in the face of demographic change and a looming shortage of skilled care workers. An online health community (OHC) can strengthen self-management and health literacy and serve as a digital interface between citizens and medical service providers.

Methods

We investigated the viewpoints of elderly people in southern Saxony-Anhalt towards digitalization in general and their willingness (or lack thereof) to participate in a future OHC. Therefore, we conducted 20 semi-structured interviews and five focus groups with elderly people. In addition, two expert interviews were conducted to assess regional contextual factors. Data were evaluated using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Participants experience changes in their everyday life brought about by digitalization which they perceive as a source of uncertainty that threatens their identity. They fear that digital technologies will cause a loss of authenticity in their personal relationships and express concerns about sharing content digitally with unknown others. Furthermore, participants feel pressured to acquire digital skills. Yet, they also fear exclusion from participating in digital technologies. However, participants use digital technologies for pragmatic reasons and view them as potential solutions for existing problems, such as overcoming spatial distance.

Discussion and Conclusion

Participants‘ everyday experiences with digital technologies and their pragmatic attitudes towards using them may have a positive impact on OHC participation. In addition to known barriers such as security concerns, the pervasiveness of digitalization in everyday life, however, unsettles participants, which might have a negative impact on their participation in an OHC.