Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39778194›Full record

ArticleJMIR human factors2025

Exploring Older Adults' Needs for a Healthy Life and eHealth: Qualitative Interview Study.

Paula Valkonen, Sari Kujala, Kaisa Savolainen, Riina-Riitta Helminen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR human factors, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Paula ValkonenDepartment of Computer Science, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-4954-9585
Sari Kujala *Department of Computer Science, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland.ORCID 0000-0001-5586-3725
Kaisa Savolainen *Department of Computer Science, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland.ORCID 0000-0003-2907-6036
Riina-Riitta HelminenSuomen Terveystalo Oy, Suomen Terveystalo Oy, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-3234-6298

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAging brings physical and life changes that could benefit from eHealth services. eHealth holistically combines technology, tasks, individuals, and contexts, and all these intertwined elements should be considered in eHealth development. As users' needs change with life situations, including aging and retirement, it is important to identify these needs at different life stages to develop eHealth services for well-being and active, healthy lives.

objectiveThis study aimed to (1) understand older adults' everyday lives in terms of well-being and health, (2) investigate older adults' needs for eHealth services, and (3) create design recommendations based on the findings.

methodsA total of 20 older adults from 2 age groups (55 to 74 years: n=12, 60%; >75 years: n=8, 40%) participated in this qualitative interview study. The data were collected remotely using a cultural probes package that included diary-based tasks, sentence completion tasks, and 4 background questionnaires; we also performed remote, semistructured interviews. The data were gathered between the fall of 2020 and the spring of 2021 in Finland as a part of the Toward a Socially Inclusive Digital Society: Transforming Service Culture (DigiIN) project (2019 to 2025).

resultsIn the daily lives of older adults, home-based activities, such as exercising (72/622, 11.6% of mentions), sleeping (51/622, 8.2% of mentions), and dining and cooking (96/622, 15.4% of mentions), promoted well-being and health. When discussing their needs for eHealth services, participants highlighted a preference for a chat function. However, they frequently mentioned barriers and concerns such as the lack of human contact, inefficiency, and difficulties using eHealth systems. Older adults value flexibility; testing possibilities (eg, trial versions); support for digital services; and relevant, empathetically offered content with eHealth services on short-term and long-term bases in their changing life situations.

conclusionsMany older adults value healthy routines and time spent at home. The diversity of older adults' needs should be considered by making it possible for them to manage their health safely and flexibly on different devices and channels. eHealth services should adapt to older adults' life changes through motivation, personalized content, and appropriate functions. Importantly, older adults should still have the option to not use eHealth services.

Indexed as

Qualitative ResearchTelemedicineAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleFinlandHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedNeeds Assessmentcultural probeseHealthhuman-computer interactionneedsolder adultsretirementsentence completionwell-being

Identifiers

PMID39778194
PMCPMC11754987

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.