A Systematic Review on the Role of Digital Technology in Accessing Healthcare Services and Its Association with the Well-Being of Older Adults

Digital technologies can be innovative solutions for healthcare access for rapidly-increasing ageing populations. Older adults are increasingly adopting digital technology for benefits such as healthcare access and social-connectedness. However, they encounter barriers such as digital-literacy and user-friendly interfaces. The aim of this systematic review is to synthesize the current evidence on the impact of digital technology use on healthcare-services and utilization among older adults and to study the various barriers that affect the adoption of different digital technologies. An electronic literature search (Medline, PsychINFO, Scopus, Web-of-Science, and PubMed) was conducted to identify relevant studies published from January 2003 onwards. Studies examining the use of digital technologies (mobile-apps, wearable-devices, telemedicine) by older adults. We identified 1,356 potentially relevant studies and 22 publications met the inclusion criteria. Sixty-three percent explored telemedicine use, 28% focused on mobile-apps, and 27% looked into wearable-devices. Results shown that digital technologies, particularly health-apps and telemedicine, have improved healthcare access for older adults by providing timely consultations and better management of chronic conditions. However, use of these technologies varies, with older adults in urban areas showing greater proficiency. The review identified several barriers to adoption, with digital-literacy being the most frequently reported. A lack of user-friendly interfaces was found as a barrier in 31% studies followed by poor access to devices (27%). Studies also reported 42% of availability of digital-literacy training, social-support from family members (35%) and affordability of devices (37%) as adoption barriers. Study found that digital-platforms foster social-connectedness, reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation impacting on mental well-being. Study suggests that the successful integration of digital technologies into the lives of older adults requires a multifaceted approach that addresses both technological and socio-economic and cultural factors. Further research is needed to understand the long-term impacts of cost-effectiveness of digital technologies for healthcare system to support healthy-ageing.