Ready for eHealth

The purpose of the study was to predict the usage of health related-ICT among older adults in Sweden. Method Psychosocial impact of Assistive Scale (PIADS) were used to measure expectations on health related ICT applications, illustrated in two scenarios. The illustrated scenarios was a description of a possible set of event that may reasonably take place when people used existing and future web based e-health services. The scenarios included an explanatory text how people were or will be able to use e-health services. The PIADS scale together with the scenarios was distributed as a questionnaire to a random selected Swedish population age 55-105. Respondents answered the questionnaire via a telephone interview or by post. Dimensions measured were psychosocial dimensions as; adaptability, competence and well-being. Results & Discussion Older Swedes have, from a psychosocial perspective, positive expectations regarding e-health services. Total PIADS score and the sub-scores were significantly higher for the future scenario than for the existing. The future scenario could be interpreted to suggest situations of sociability, independence, mobility and self-management. In this study the scale was used as a predictor for rejection or abandoned acceptance of health related ICT. In conclusion the PIADS is also usable as a predictor for acceptance of health related ICT.