This research project examines the factors that influence older adults’ acceptance and use of digital technologies. The goal is to develop an empirically grounded model, based on interviews, for predicting technology use across different national and cultural contexts.
TAMAG in the academic discourse
Under the title “What Factors Influence Senior People’s Digital Health Technology Adoption Decisions in China and Thailand: A Qualitative Study,” the research team—consisting of Prof. Dr. Heiko Gewald, Assadaporn Sapsomboon (Chulalongkorn Business School, Bangkok, Thailand)—both participating virtually—and Haijing Hao (Bentley University)—discussed the study’s findings to date with researchers from the Asia Center at Harvard University.
Health Care Systems in Transition: Demographics and Family Care as Key Factors
This event focused on research findings from China and Thailand. There was an in-depth discussion of the influence of national health care systems, regional hospital coverage, and alternative health care structures.
Family cohesion is a key influencing factor. The contrast between Western and Asian structures is particularly pronounced here, as are the differences between China and Thailand. According to all projections, demographic structures will change worldwide in the coming decades. Declining population numbers and a disproportionately large elderly population will then also affect Asian countries. In this regard, it is important to gain a better understanding of how family structures influence the delivery of health care services in order to successfully address this demographic trend, as traditional family-based care will no longer be sustainable in the future.
Digital Inclusion in Old Age: Next Steps in the TAMAG Project
The event provided valuable insights into international research on digital inclusion among older adults and highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary and intercultural approaches. The comparative analysis of the collected data—particularly in light of the differences between Asian and European contexts—now constitutes the next step in the TAMAG research project.
