The Impact of Computer Training on Confidence and Occupational Participation in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Background: It is fundamental to understand why older adults choose and use technology to fully understand how to meet the needs of an aging population in a technologically advanced society. This research aimed to design and implement a holistic technology training program for older adults that expl...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT) Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 1 - 10
Autores principales: Jones, Alicia, Scazzero, Joseph A., DiZazzo-Miller, Rosanne
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Open Journal of Occupational Therapy Summer2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:Background: It is fundamental to understand why older adults choose and use technology to fully understand how to meet the needs of an aging population in a technologically advanced society. This research aimed to design and implement a holistic technology training program for older adults that explores using a laptop beyond basic internet use. Method: A pre-post mixed-method survey study took place at a local senior center. A classroom-style program was designed to deliver information and instruction using a digital device. An 11-item survey on attitudes toward technology using a 7-point Likert scale with qualitative responses was used to collect data. Results: The class of fifty-nine community-based participants 58 to 84 years of age demonstrated a significant increase in excitement when using technology (p < .001) and participation in leisure activities that require technology (p < .01). Additional findings revealed increased confidence in using a phone for day-to-day tasks and using email to communicate. Conclusion: Increased excitement and confidence can encourage continued use and active engagement with other technology-based applications. Further, the results of this study can potentially negate the existing categorization that older adults lack the ability and motivation to involve themselves in an advancing technological society.