RT Journal Article
T1 Attitudes and Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment or Early Stages of Dementia and Their Caregivers: Cross-Sectional Study.
A1 Guzman-Parra, Jose
A1 Barnestein-Fonseca, Pilar
A1 Guerrero-Pertiñez, Gloria
A1 Anderberg, Peter
A1 Jimenez-Fernandez, Luis
A1 Valero-Moreno, Esperanza
A1 Goodman-Casanova, Jessica Marian
A1 Cuesta-Vargas, Antonio
A1 Garolera, Maite
A1 Quintana, Maria
A1 Garcia-Betances, Rebeca I
A1 Lemmens, Evi
A1 Sanmartin-Berglund, Johan
A1 Mayoral-Cleries, Fermin
K1 Aging
K1 Dementia eHealth
K1 Information and communication technology
K1 Mild cognitive impairment
K1 Technophilia
AB Information and communication technologies are promising tools to increase the quality of life of people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment and that of their caregivers. However, there are barriers to their use associated with sociodemographic factors and negative attitudes, as well as inadequate knowledge about technologies. The aim of this study was to analyze technophilia (attitudes toward new technologies) and the use of smartphones and tablets along with associated factors in people with dementia/mild cognitive impairment and their caregivers. Data from the first visit of the Support Monitoring and Reminder for Mild Dementia (SMART4MD) randomized multicenter clinical trial were used for this analysis. Data were obtained from two European countries, Spain and Sweden, and from three centers: Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa (Catalonia, Spain), Servicio Andaluz de Salud (Andalusia, Spain), and the Blekinge Institute of Technology (Sweden). Participants with a score between 20 and 28 in the Mini Mental State Examination, with memory problems (for more than 6 months), and who were over the age of 55 years were included in the study, along with their caregivers. The bivariate Chi square and Mann-Whitney tests, and multivariate linear and logistic regression models were used for statistical analysis. A total of 1086 dyads were included (N=2172). Overall, 299 (27.53%) of people with dementia/mild cognitive impairment had a diagnosis of dementia. In addition, 588 (54.14%) of people with dementia/mild cognitive impairment reported using a smartphone almost every day, and 106 (9.76%) used specific apps or software to support their memory. Among the caregivers, 839 (77.26%) used smartphones and tablets almost every day, and 181 (16.67%) used specific apps or software to support their memory. The people with dementia/mild cognitive impairment showed a lower level of technophilia in comparison to that of their caregivers after adjusting for confounders (B=0.074, P=.02) with differences in technology enthusiasm (B=0.360, P Technophilia was associated with a better quality of life and sociodemographic variables in people with dementia/mild cognitive impairment and caregivers, suggesting potential barriers for technological interventions. People with dementia/mild cognitive impairment frequently use smartphones and tablets, but the use of specific apps or software to support memory is limited. Interventions using these technologies are needed to overcome barriers in this population related to sociodemographic characteristics and the lack of enthusiasm for new technologies. 
PB JMIR Publications
YR 2020
FD 2020-06-01
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/15617
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/15617
LA en
NO Guzman-Parra J, Barnestein-Fonseca P, Guerrero-Pertiñez G, Anderberg P, Jimenez-Fernandez L, Valero-Moreno E, et al. Attitudes and Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment or Early Stages of Dementia and Their Caregivers: Cross-Sectional Study. J Med Internet Res. 2020 Jun 1;22(6):e17253
DS RISalud
RD Apr 12, 2025