Factors Influencing the Adoption of Mobile Health Monitoring and Care Systems by the Elderly Living at Home in South Africa

Technology can improve the health care outcomes of the elderly. However, there are many barriers to the adoption of mobile monitoring and care systems (MMCs) by the elderly reported in literature. The main purpose of this research was to investigate why elderly people do not adopt MMCs to improve the quality of their health care.

The study made use of semi-structured interviews to collect data in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa. The study sample consisted of 15 purposively chosen study participants, representing a diverse racial profile, in order to investigate the adoption of MMCs of the elderly in their home environment.  The interviews were analysed thematically.

The study found that social challenges like technology anxiety, the intrusive nature of the technology and attitude towards the technology will affect adoption of MMCs. Government need to address the standardisation, data governance and interoperability of the systems. The cost of MMCs were seen as an inhibitor, but could be off set against the perceived return on investment of health care. While the elderly acknowledged that MMCs can improve their independence, the design of the MMCs and training to use it was identified as barriers to the adoption.

The study, therefore, recommends collaborative engagements amongst government, business and the elderly to facilitate the adoption of MMCs in the elderly community to improve the quality of health care.