Older adults’ experiences with mHealth for fall prevention exercise: usability and promotion of behavior change strategies

• Published in: Physiotherapy theory and practice Vol. 37; no. 12; pp. 1346 - 1352
• Main Authors: Arkkukangas, Marina, Cederbom, Sara, Tonkonogi, Michail, Umb Carlsson, Õie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis Ltd 02.12.2021
• Subjects: Aging; Application; Behavior change; Change agents; Content analysis; Exercise; Falls; Functional impairment; Health behavior; Health promotion; Injury prevention; Older people; Older women; Prevention; Telemedicine; exercise; application; behavior; Active aging
• ISSN: 0959-3985; 1532-5040; 1532-5040
• DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2020.1712753

: With the rapidly growing aging population, older adults need to stay healthy and active for a longer time. Mobile health (mHealth) solutions could help support, prevent, or delay functional decline and falls in old age. : The aim was to explore older persons' experiences of a mobile application for fall prevention exercise, and to identify what possible behavior change techniques to include in the further development of the application. : Two focus groups were conducted with 12 older adults (seven women and five men) 70 to 83 years of age. A qualitative content analysis was performed. : Two main results emerged: 1) external facilitators for using the application; and 2) internal facilitators for using the application and perceived gains, in addition 10 behavior change techniques were identified. : With support, an application could be adapted for older adults to manage, motivate, and adhere to fall prevention exercise. To achieve long-term adherence to health behavior changes, behavior change strategies and techniques are recommended to be included in further development of the fallprevention application.