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Changes in Everyday and Digital Health Technology Use Among Seniors in Declining Health
Levine DM, Lipsitz SR, Linder JA.. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2018-03-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background U.S. seniors' digital health and everyday technology use when their health declines are unknown. Methods Longitudinal cohort using the National Health and Aging Trends Study, a nationally representative, annually administered sample of community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries (n = 4,037). We used difference-in-differences to assess the adjusted difference (AD) in technology use from 2011 to 2014 between those with and without health declines. Health decline measures included new-onset dementia; new-onset depression; decreases in activities of daily living (ADLs), short physical performance battery (SPPB), grip strength, and self-reported health; relocation to nursing facility; increased hospitalizations; and new-onset comorbidity. Digital health included use of the Internet to research health conditions, contact clinicians, fill prescriptions, and address insurance matters. Results Between 2011 and 2014, seniors experiencing health decline used various digital health technologies at low absolute rates (range: 1%-20%). Between 2011 and 2014, use of everyday technology decreased significantly among seniors with new-onset dementia (from 73% to 51%; AD, -26%), decreased ADLs (from 76% to 67%; AD, -10%), decreased SPPB (from 88% to 86%; AD, -3%), and relocation to a nursing facility (from 49% to 22%; AD, -31%) compared to seniors without comparable decline (all p Conclusions The type of health decline a senior experiences predicts technology use, which may allow better targeting of digital health to specific seniors. Seniors with new dementia, relocation to a nursing home, and declining physical performance seem especially poor candidates for technology interventions.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Levine, D. M., Lipsitz, SR., & Linder, J. A. (2018). Changes in Everyday and Digital Health Technology Use Among Seniors in Declining Health. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glx116
Vancouver
Levine DM, Lipsitz SR, Linder JA. Changes in Everyday and Digital Health Technology Use Among Seniors in Declining Health. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences. 2018. doi:10.1093/gerona/glx116. PMID: 28605446.
BibTeX
@article{levine2018-28605446,
author = {Levine, D. M. and Lipsitz, SR. and Linder, J. A.},
title = {{Changes in Everyday and Digital Health Technology Use Among Seniors in Declining Health}},
journal = {The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.1093/gerona/glx116},
pmid = {28605446},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glx116}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Results Between 2011 and 2014, seniors experiencing health decline used various digital health technologies at low absolute rates (range: 1%-20%).
- Between 2011 and 2014, use of everyday technology decreased significantly among seniors with new-onset dementia (from 73% to 51%; AD, -26%), decreased ADLs (from 76% to 67%; AD, -10%), decreased SPPB (from 88% to 86%; AD, -3%), and relocation to a nursing facility (from 49% to 22%; AD, -31%) compared to seniors without comparable decline (all p < .05).
Why it matters
In this longitudinal cohort of 4,037 Medicare beneficiaries, seniors experiencing health decline used digital health technologies at low absolute rates of 1% to 20% between 2011 and 2014. Use of everyday technology decreased significantly among seniors with new-onset dementia, decreased activities of daily living, decreased short physical performance battery scores, and relocation to a nursing facility compared to seniors without comparable decline.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants4,037
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 59/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | The Journals of Gerontology Series A: journal h-index 274 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2018 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 4,037 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 69 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 6.9 citations a year over 10 year(s) since 2018 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 12.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 24 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Jeffrey A. Linder: h-index 54 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 28605446) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 59 / 100 | — |
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