JMIR Aging最新文献

{"title":"Interrelationships Among Individual Factors, Family Factors, and Quality of Life in Older Chinese Adults: Cross-Sectional Study Using Structural Equation Modeling.","authors":"Yuting Wu, Cong Gong, Lifang Pi, Meixin Zheng, Weifang Liu, Yamei Wang","doi":"10.2196/59818","DOIUrl":"10.2196/59818","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>China's rapidly aging population necessitates effective strategies for ensuring older adults' quality of life (QOL). While individual factors (IF) and family factors (FF) are known to influence QOL, existing research often examines these factors in isolation or focuses on specific subpopulations, overlooking potential interactions and mediating pathways.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to examine both direct and indirect pathways connecting IF and FF to older adults' QOL, focusing on the mediating roles of health risks (HR) and health care service demand (HSD).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study uses structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze cross-sectional data from 8600 older participants in the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), a nationally representative study using a multistage probability proportional to size sampling method.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 8600 participants, the majority (5586/8502, 65.7%) were aged 60-70 years, with a near-equal distribution of males and females at around 50%. The average PCS score was 76.77, while the MCS score averaged 59.70. Both IF (β=0.165, P<.001) and FF (β=0.189, P<.001) had a direct positive effect on QOL. Furthermore, the indirect effects of IF (β=0.186, P<.001) and FF (β=0.211, P<.001) through HR and HSD were also significant. In the direct model, IF and FF had a greater impact on MCS (β=0.841) than on PCS (β=0.639). However, after including the 2 mediating factors, HR and HSD, the influence of IF and FF on MCS (β=0.739) became consistent with that on PCS (β=0.728). Subgroup analyses revealed that the direct effect of IF on QOL was significant in the 60-70 age group (β=0.151, P<.001) but not in those over 70 years old (β=0.122, P=.074). Comorbidity status significantly influenced the pathway from HR to HSD, with older adults having 2 or more chronic diseases (β=0.363) showing a greater impact compared to those with fewer than 2 chronic diseases (β=0.358).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Both IF (education, per capita disposable income, and endowment insurance) and FF (satisfaction with a spouse and children) directly impact the QOL in older people. Meanwhile, IF and FF have equal influence on QOL through the mediating role of HR and HSD. Recognizing the interplay among these factors is crucial for targeted interventions to enhance the well-being of older adults in China.</p>","PeriodicalId":36245,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Aging","volume":"7 ","pages":"e59818"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11555452/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142523264","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of Wearable Device Adherence for Monitoring Physical Activity in Older Adults: Pilot Cohort Study.","authors":"Huitong Ding, Kristi Ho, Edward Searls, Spencer Low, Zexu Li, Salman Rahman, Sanskruti Madan, Akwaugo Igwe, Zachary Popp, Alexa Burk, Huanmei Wu, Ying Ding, Phillip H Hwang, Ileana De Anda-Duran, Vijaya B Kolachalama, Katherine A Gifford, Ludy C Shih, Rhoda Au, Honghuang Lin","doi":"10.2196/60209","DOIUrl":"10.2196/60209","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Physical activity has emerged as a modifiable behavioral factor to improve cognitive function. However, research on adherence to remote monitoring of physical activity in older adults is limited.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to assess adherence to remote monitoring of physical activity in older adults within a pilot cohort from objective user data, providing insights for the scalability of such monitoring approaches in larger, more comprehensive future studies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study included 22 participants from the Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Clinical Core. These participants opted into wearing the Verisense watch as part of their everyday routine during 14-day intervals every 3 months. Eighteen continuous physical activity measures were assessed. Adherence was quantified daily and cumulatively across the follow-up period. The coefficient of variation was used as a key metric to assess data consistency across participants over multiple days. Day-to-day variability was estimated by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients using a 2-way random-effects model for the baseline, second, and third days.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Adherence to the study on a daily basis outperformed cumulative adherence levels. The median proportion of adherence days (wearing time surpassed 90% of the day) stood at 92.1%, with an IQR spanning from 86.9% to 98.4%. However, at the cumulative level, 32% (7/22) of participants in this study exhibited lower adherence, with the device worn on fewer than 4 days within the requested initial 14-day period. Five physical activity measures have high variability for some participants. Consistent activity data for 4 physical activity measures might be attainable with just a 3-day period of device use.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study revealed that while older adults generally showed high daily adherence to the wearable device, consistent usage across consecutive days proved difficult. These findings underline the effectiveness of wearables in monitoring physical activity in older populations and emphasize the ongoing necessity to simplify usage protocols and enhance user engagement to guarantee the collection of precise and comprehensive data.</p>","PeriodicalId":36245,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Aging","volume":"7 ","pages":"e60209"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11530080/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142509605","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Digital Storytelling for People With Cognitive Impairment Using Available Mobile Apps: Systematic Search in App Stores and Content Analysis.","authors":"Di Zhu, Abdullah Al Mahmud, Wei Liu, Dahua Wang","doi":"10.2196/64525","DOIUrl":"10.2196/64525","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Growing evidence suggests cognitive and social health benefits can be derived from digital storytelling for older adults with cognitive impairment. Digital storytelling apps offer the potential to serve as an on-demand, easy-to-access platform for enhancing cognitive abilities and promoting social well-being. Yet, despite the increasing quantity of such apps being available on the market, there is a gap in research investigating their quality.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;This app review aims to assess the digital storytelling apps available in the Chinese market and evaluate them in accordance with the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS). The goal was to identify key features and evaluate the overall quality in the context of cognitively impaired users.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A systematic search was conducted in both the Google Play store (Google LLC) and iTunes store (Apple Inc), using English and Chinese keywords. Apps were chosen according to specific criteria that included features, including (but not limited to) memory capture, story saving, cue-based reminiscing, and the ability to share stories or memories with others. The MARS was used by 3 individual researchers to independently assess app quality across several domains, such as engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information quality, for both Android and iOS apps.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;From an initial screening of 297 apps, only 9 (3%) met the criteria for detailed evaluation using MARS. The reviewed apps featured capture memory, save, reminisce, and share functions, which are critical in supporting cognitive functions and enhancing user engagement. The analysis revealed patterns in platform diversity and geographical distribution of developers, with apps available on both iOS and Android. Memoirs of Life and Memorize: Diaries, Memories, Notes, Ideas, Timelines, Categories (Fair Apps Mobile) had the highest mean MARS scores of 3.35, indicating strong engagement, functionality, and information quality, while the lowest score was 2.33. The overall mean score across all apps was only 3.03 (SD 0.60), highlighting significant variation, particularly in information quality. User feedback also showed considerable variability, ranging from 0 comments for apps such as Grand Storyteller (VarIT Inc) and PWI Storyteller (Project World Impact, LLC) to as many as 5361 comments for FamilySearch, which received extensive positive reviews. This wide range of user feedback underscores the importance of continuous improvement and user-centered design, particularly in enhancing information quality and content accuracy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;The systematic search and evaluation highlight the diverse capabilities yet variable quality of digital storytelling apps available within the Chinese market, reflecting user experiences, satisfaction levels, and efficacy in supporting cognitively impaired users. While some apps excel in en","PeriodicalId":36245,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Aging","volume":"7 ","pages":"e64525"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11544346/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142509666","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Developing Independent Living Support for Older Adults Using Internet of Things and AI-Based Systems: Co-Design Study.","authors":"Claire M Timon, Emma Heffernan, Sophia Kilcullen, Louise Hopper, Hyowon Lee, Pamela Gallagher, Alan F Smeaton, Kieran Moran, Pamela Hussey, Catriona Murphy","doi":"10.2196/54210","DOIUrl":"10.2196/54210","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;The number of older people with unmet health care and support needs is increasing substantially due to the challenges facing health care systems worldwide. There are potentially great benefits to using the Internet of Things coupled with artificial intelligence to support independent living and the measurement of health risks, thus improving quality of life for the older adult population. Taking a co-design approach has the potential to ensure that these technological solutions are developed to address specific user needs and requirements.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;The aim of this study was to investigate stakeholders' perceptions of independent living and technology solutions, identify stakeholders' suggestions on how technology could assist older adults to live independently, and explore the acceptability and usefulness of a prototype Internet of Things solution called the NEX system to support independent living for an older adult population.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;The development of the NEX system was carried out in 3 key phases with a strong focus on diverse stakeholder involvement. The initial predesign exploratory phase recruited 17 stakeholders, including older adults and family caregivers, using fictitious personas and scenarios to explore initial perceptions of independent living and technology solutions. The subsequent co-design and testing phase expanded this to include a comprehensive web-based survey completed by 380 stakeholders, encompassing older adults, family caregivers, health care professionals, and home care support staff. This phase also included prototype testing at home by 7 older adults to assess technology needs, requirements, and the initial acceptability of the system. Finally, in the postdesign phase, workshops were held between academic and industry partners to analyze data collected from the earlier stages and to discuss recommendations for the future development of the system.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;The predesign phase revealed 3 broad themes: loneliness and technology, aging and technology, and adopting and using technology. The co-design phase highlighted key areas where technology could assist older adults to live independently: home security, falls and loneliness, remote monitoring by family members, and communication with clients. Prototype testing revealed that the acceptability aspects of the prototype varied across technology types. Ambient sensors and voice-activated assistants were described as the most acceptable technology by participants. Last, the postdesign analysis process highlighted that ambient sensors have the potential for automatic detection of activities of daily living, resulting in key recommendations for future developments and deployments in this area.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;This study demonstrates the significance of incorporating diverse stakeholder perspectives in developing solutions that support independent livin","PeriodicalId":36245,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Aging","volume":"7 ","pages":"e54210"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11527418/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142509665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of the Burdens and Attitudes Between Standard and Web-Based Remote Programming for Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson Disease: Survey Study.","authors":"Xiaonan Wan, Zhengyu Lin, Chengcheng Duan, Zhitong Zeng, Chencheng Zhang, Dianyou Li","doi":"10.2196/57503","DOIUrl":"10.2196/57503","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Remote programming enables physicians to adjust implantable pulse generators over the internet for patients with Parkinson disease who have undergone deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery. Despite these technological advances, the demand for and attitudes toward remote programming compared with standard programming among patients with Parkinson disease are still not well understood.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to investigate the preferences and perceptions associated with these 2 programming methods among patients with Parkinson disease through a web-based survey.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A web-based survey was administered to 463 patients with Parkinson disease who have undergone DBS surgery. The survey aimed to assess the burdens associated with postoperative programming and to compare patients' attitudes toward the 2 different programming methods.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 225 patients completed the survey, all of whom had undergone standard programming, while 132 patients had also experienced remote programming. Among those who received standard programming, 191 (85%) patients required the support of more than 1 caregiver, 129 (58%) patients experienced over 2 days of lost work time, 98 (42%) patients incurred expenses ranging from US $42 to US $146, and 14 (6%) patients spent over US $421. Of the 132 patients who had used remote programming, 81 (62%) patients indicated a preference for remote programming in the future. However, challenges with remote programming persisted, including difficulties in obtaining official prescriptions, a lack of medical insurance coverage, and limited medical resources.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Postoperative programming of DBS imposes significant burdens on patients and their caregivers during standard programming sessions-burdens that could be mitigated through remote programming. While patient satisfaction with remote programming is high, it is imperative for clinicians to develop personalized programming strategies tailored to the needs of different patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":36245,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Aging","volume":"7 ","pages":"e57503"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11523762/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142509664","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors Influencing Drug Prescribing for Patients with Hospitalization History in Circulatory Disease: Patient Severity, Composite Adherence, and Physician-Patient Relationship - A Retrospective Cohort Study.","authors":"Tomoyuki Takura, Hiroyoshi Yokoi, Asao Honda","doi":"10.2196/59234","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2196/59234","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;With countries promoting generic drug prescribing, their growth may plateau, warranting further investigation into the factors influencing this trend, including physician and patient perspectives. Additional strategies may be needed to maximize the switch to generic drugs while ensuring healthcare system sustainability, focusing on factors beyond mere low cost. Emphasizing affordability and clarifying other prescription considerations are essential.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;This study aimed to provide initial insights into how patient severity, composite adherence, and physician-patient relationships impact generic switching.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;This study utilized a long-term retrospective cohort design by analyzing data from a national healthcare database. The population included patients of all ages, primarily older adults, who required primary-to-tertiary preventive actions with a history of hospitalization for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision) during April 2014 to March 2018 (4 years). We focused on switching to generic drugs, with temporal variations in clinical parameters as independent variables. Lifestyle factors (smoking and drinking) were also considered. Adherence was measured as a composite score comprising 11 elements. The physician-patient relationship was established based on the interval between physician change and prescription. Logistic regression analysis and propensity score matching (PSM) were employed, along with complementary analysis of physician-patient relationships, proportion of days covered (PDC), and adherence for a subset of the population.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;The study included 48,456 patients with an average follow-up of 36.1±8.8 months. The mean age was 68.3 ± 9.9 years, body mass index was 23.4 ± 3.4 kg/m2, systolic blood pressure was 131.2 ± 15.0 mmHg, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was 116.6 ± 29.3 mg/dL, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was 5.9% ± 0.8%, and serum creatinine was 0.9 ± 0.8 mg/dL. Logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations between generic switching and systolic blood pressure (odds ratio [OR], 0.996, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.993-0.999), serum creatinine levels (OR, 0.837, 95% CI: 0.729-0.962), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase levels (OR, 0.994, 95% CI: 0.990-0.997), PDC score (OR, 0.959, 95% CI: 0.948-0.970), and adherence score (OR, 0.910, 95% CI: 0.875-0.947). Additionally, generic drug rates increased with improvements in the HbA1c level band and smoking level (P&lt;.01, P&lt;.001). The group with a superior physician-patient relationship after PSM had a significantly higher rate of generic drug prescribing (51.6±15.2%) than the inferior relationship group (47.7±17.7%) (P&lt;.001).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;Although physicians' understanding influences the choice of generic drugs, patient condition (severity) and adherence also impact this d","PeriodicalId":36245,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Aging","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142476666","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the Linkages Among Chronic Illness, Substance Use, and COVID-19 Infection in Adults Aged 50 Years and Older: Retrospective Cross-Sectional Analysis of National Representative Data.","authors":"Suebsarn Ruksakulpiwat, Atsadaporn Niyomyart, Chontira Riangkam, Lalipat Phianhasin, Chitchanok Benjasirisan, Jon Adams","doi":"10.2196/63024","DOIUrl":"10.2196/63024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The co-occurrence of chronic illnesses and substance use presents complex challenges for health care systems. Understanding the interplay between these factors, compounded by the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, is essential for effective intervention strategies.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to investigate the relationships among chronic illness, substance use, and COVID-19 infection in adults aged 50 years and older.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants were 1196 adults aged 50 years and older. Descriptive statistics were used to describe demographic information. Logistic regressions and multiple regression analyses were used to determine associations between chronic illnesses, substance use, and COVID-19 infection. Mediation analysis was used to determine the effect of chronic illness mediators in the association between COVID-19 concerns and substance use.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean age was 68 (SD 10.3) years, with 58.6% (701/1196) being women. Adjusted analysis revealed that age and sex (women) significantly predicted a lower level of substance use (P<.05). However, marital status (separated or widowed) and chronic illness significantly predicted a higher level of substance use (P<.05). Furthermore, having dementia, arthritis, and high cholesterol significantly predicted a higher level of concern about the COVID-19 pandemic (P<.05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that individuals with hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 1.91, 95% CI 1.37-2.66; P<.001), lung disease (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.23-4.75; P=.01), heart condition (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.28-3.10; P=.002), stroke (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.07-5.16; P=.03), and arthritis (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.25-2.37; P=.001) were more likely to have their work affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The mediation analysis showed a significant effect of COVID-19 concern on substance use through the mediation of chronic illness, with a 95% CI of -0.02 to -0.01 and an indirect effect of -0.01.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our study reveals complex associations among chronic illnesses, substance use, and COVID-19 infection among adults aged 50 years and older. It underscores the impact of demographics and specific chronic conditions on substance use behaviors and COVID-19 concerns. In addition, certain chronic illnesses were linked to heightened vulnerability in employment status during the pandemic. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions addressing physical health and substance use in this population during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>","PeriodicalId":36245,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Aging","volume":"7 ","pages":"e63024"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11522661/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142476665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How Time, Living Situation, and Stress Related to Technology Influence User Acceptance and Usability of a Socialization Service for Older Adults and Their Formal and Informal Caregivers: Six-Month Pilot Study.","authors":"Jasmine Pani, Letizia Lorusso, Lara Toccafondi, Grazia D'Onofrio, Filomena Ciccone, Sergio Russo, Francesco Giuliani, Daniele Sancarlo, Novella Calamida, Gianna Vignani, Tarmo Pihl, Erika Rovini, Filippo Cavallo, Laura Fiorini","doi":"10.2196/54736","DOIUrl":"10.2196/54736","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Considering the growing population of older adults, addressing the influence of loneliness among this demographic group has become imperative, especially due to the link between social isolation and deterioration of mental and physical well-being. Technology has the potential to be used to create innovative solutions to increase socialization and potentially promote healthy aging.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;This 6-month study examined the usability and acceptability of a technology-based socialization service and explored how stress and living situation affect older adults' and their ecosystem's perceptions of technology, investigating cross-sectional and longitudinal differences among and across user groups.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Participants were recruited in Tuscany and Apulia (Italy) through a network of social cooperatives and a research hospital, respectively. A total of 20 older adults were provided with the same technology installed on a tablet and on a smart television. The technology has three functionalities: video calling, playing games, and sharing news. Additionally, 20 informal caregivers (IC) and 13 formal caregivers (FC) connected to the older adults were included in the study. After both initial training in the use of the system (T0) and 6 months of using the system (T6), questionnaires on usability, acceptability, and technostress were filled in by older adults, IC, and FC. Nonparametric or parametric tests were conducted to investigate group differences at both time points and changes over time. Additional analyses on older adults were done to assess whether differences in usability and acceptability were related to living situation (ie, alone or with someone). Furthermore, correlation analyses were performed between usability, acceptability, and stress toward technology at T0 and T6.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;At both T0 and T6, older adults had lower usability scores than IC and FC and higher anxiety than IC. Over time, there was a significant decrease in older adults' attitudes toward technology score, depicting a negative attitude over time (T0 median 4.2, IQR 0.5; T6 median 3.7, IQR 0.8; Cohen d=0.7), while there was no change for IC and FC. At T0, those living alone had lower acceptability than those living with someone but this difference disappeared at T6. People or participants living with someone had a decline in anxiety, attitudes toward technology, enjoyment, and perceived usefulness. Stress toward technology affected usability and acceptability in the older adult group entering the study (ρ=-.85) but this was not observed after 6 months. In the IC group, stress affected trust at T0 (ρ=-.23) but not at T6.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;At the start of the study, older adults judged the system to be less usable and more stressful than did the caregivers. Indeed, at first, technostress was correlated with usability and acceptability; however, with repeated u","PeriodicalId":36245,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Aging","volume":"7 ","pages":"e54736"},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11560862/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142393973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determinants of Visual Impairment Among Chinese Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Risk Prediction Model Using Machine Learning Algorithms.","authors":"Lijun Mao, Zhen Yu, Luotao Lin, Manoj Sharma, Hualing Song, Hailei Zhao, Xianglong Xu","doi":"10.2196/59810","DOIUrl":"10.2196/59810","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Visual impairment (VI) is a prevalent global health issue, affecting over 2.2 billion people worldwide, with nearly half of the Chinese population aged 60 years and older being affected. Early detection of high-risk VI is essential for preventing irreversible vision loss among Chinese middle-aged and older adults. While machine learning (ML) algorithms exhibit significant predictive advantages, their application in predicting VI risk among the general middle-aged and older adult population in China remains limited.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to predict VI and identify its determinants using ML algorithms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used 19,047 participants from 4 waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) that were conducted between 2011 and 2018. To envisage the prevalence of VI, we generated a geographical distribution map. Additionally, we constructed a model using indicators of a self-reported questionnaire, a physical examination, and blood biomarkers as predictors. Multiple ML algorithms, including gradient boosting machine, distributed random forest, the generalized linear model, deep learning, and stacked ensemble, were used for prediction. We plotted receiver operating characteristic and calibration curves to assess the predictive performance. Variable importance analysis was used to identify key predictors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among all participants, 33.9% (6449/19,047) had VI. Qinghai, Chongqing, Anhui, and Sichuan showed the highest VI rates, while Beijing and Xinjiang had the lowest. The generalized linear model, gradient boosting machine, and stacked ensemble achieved acceptable area under curve values of 0.706, 0.710, and 0.715, respectively, with the stacked ensemble performing best. Key predictors included hearing impairment, self-expectation of health status, pain, age, hand grip strength, depression, night sleep duration, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and arthritis or rheumatism.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Nearly one-third of middle-aged and older adults in China had VI. The prevalence of VI shows regional variations, but there are no distinct east-west or north-south distribution differences. ML algorithms demonstrate accurate predictive capabilities for VI. The combination of prediction models and variable importance analysis provides valuable insights for the early identification and intervention of VI among Chinese middle-aged and older adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":36245,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Aging","volume":"7 ","pages":"e59810"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11481821/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142393972","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Internet-Based Supportive Interventions for Family Caregivers of People With Dementia: Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Yanhong Xie, Shanshan Shen, Caixia Liu, Hong Hong, Huilan Guan, Jingmei Zhang, Wanqi Yu","doi":"10.2196/50847","DOIUrl":"10.2196/50847","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;As dementia progresses, patients exhibit various psychological and behavioral symptoms, imposing a significant burden on families and society, including behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. However, caregivers lack professional care knowledge and skills, making it difficult for them to effectively cope with the diverse challenges of caregiving. Therefore, it is necessary to provide caregivers with professional knowledge and skills guidance.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;This study aimed to analyze the impact of internet-based training on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in patients, and explore how this training model affects the caregiving abilities and caregiving burden of the family caregivers of patients with dementia.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Using a consecutive enrollment method, the Department of Geriatrics at Zhejiang Hospital (Zhejiang, China) recruited 72 informal caregivers of patients with dementia. These caregivers were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group, with 36 participants in each group. The intervention group underwent caregiver skill training via a web-based platform, whereas the control group initially received face-to-face follow-up guidance and was subsequently offered web-based training after 6 months. To assess the effectiveness of the intervention program, we used the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q), the Chinese version of the Zarit Burden Interview (CZBI), and the Sense of Competence in Dementia Care Staff Scale (SCIDS) for evaluations conducted before the intervention, 3 months after the intervention, and 6 months after the intervention.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Between July 2019 and December 2020, a total of 66 patients successfully completed the intervention and follow-up. After 6 months of intervention, the NPI-Q score of the intervention group was 3.18 (SD 3.81), the CZBI score was 10.97 (SD 5.43), and the SCIDS score was 71.88 (SD 4.78). The NPI-Q score of the control group was 8.09 (SD 8.52), the CZBI score was 30.30 (SD 13.05), and the SCIDS score was 50.12 (SD 9.10). There were statistically significant differences in NPI-Q (P=.004), CZBI (P&lt;.001), and SCIDS scores (P&lt;.001) between the intervention group and the control group. Repeated measures analysis of variance showed that compared with before the intervention, there were statistically significant differences in CZBI (P&lt;.001) and SCIDS (P&lt;.001) scores 3 months after the intervention, while the difference in NPI-Q (P=.11) scores was not significant. The total scores of NPI-Q (P&lt;.001), CZBI (P&lt;.001), and SCIDS (P&lt;.001) were significantly improved 6 months after the intervention. In addition, the results of the covariance analysis showed that after excluding the time effect, the web-based training intervention significantly reduced the NPI-Q score (-2.79, 95% CI -4.38 to -1.19; P&lt;.001) of patients with dementia and the CZBI score (-13.52","PeriodicalId":36245,"journal":{"name":"JMIR Aging","volume":"7 ","pages":"e50847"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11469337/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142376139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}