Colombian Elders and Their Use of Handheld Digital Devices

A financial inclusion app and USSD service for farmers in rural Colombia

This study reports the implementation of a financial inclusion app for farmers in rural Colombia. Stemming from the triple helix initiative, this study aims to make public financing instruments more readily available to farmers. Through a design science research approach, the app was collaboratively conceived, designed, implemented, and evaluated. We provide this reflective design as a case study of how a combination of triple helix collaboration, design science, and agile software development contributes toward the creation of context-oriented artefacts. The app could potentially benefit rural farmers to obtain information regarding the credit access, which is traditionally delivered in face-to-face meetings with bank staff. The findings provided evidence of the benefits and ease of use of the app, including certain affordances and constraints that are perceived by farmers. Moreover, factors such as technology literacy, experience using information and communication technologies (ICT), trust in technology, age of farmers, and mediation suggest that we should consider both material features of technology and social determinants for adoption in case of designing ICTs for rural communities.

Internet use for instrumental purposes in relation to the quality of life among elderly females and males in Poland - mediating effects of loneliness and social support

OBJECTIVES

The study explores the direct and indirect associations (i.e., through the extent of the level of loneliness and perceived social support) between internet use for instrumental purposes and the quality of life (QoL) among elderly females and males in Poland.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The analysis was based on 2001 face-to-face interviews performed among randomly selected individuals aged ≥65 years from the general population. The collected data was weighted to generalize the study sample for the reference population. The analysis was conducted using multiple linear regression models. The mediation effect was tested according to the Baron and Kenny approach.

RESULTS

The obtained results indicate that internet use for instrumental purposes is directly related to a better QoL of elderly Polish males. This positive effect among men also occurs indirectly, through the decrease in loneliness levels as well as the increase in social support scores. It has also been shown that among elderly females, the effect of internet use for instrumental purposes is not related to a better QoL, either directly or indirectly.

CONCLUSIONS

Internet use for instrumental purposes seems to be important in enhancing a successful life among elderly male adults. However, these technologies are not associated with better QoL among females. Practitioners should be aware of these gender differences. The study adds to the previous studies by demonstrating that the feeling of loneliness and social support mediates the relationship between internet use for instrumental purposes and QoL among elderly males, whereas among elderly females this effect does not occur. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2022;35(2):169-85.

Adaptation of a mobile phone health survey for risk factors for noncommunicable diseases in Colombia: a qualitative study

Background

Data collection on noncommunicable disease (NCD) behavioral risk factors has traditionally been carried out through face-to-face surveys. However, its high costs and logistical difficulties can lead to lack of timely statistics for planning, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Mobile phone surveys (MPS) have the potential to fill these gaps.

Objective

This study explores perceptions, feasibility and strategies to increase the acceptability and response rate of health surveys administered through MPS using interactive voice response in Colombia.

Method

A sequential multimodal exploratory design was used. We conducted key informant interviews (KII) with stakeholders from government and academia; focus group discussions (FGDs) and user-group tests (UGTs) with young adults and elderly people living in rural and urban settings (men and women). The KII and FGDs explored perceptions of using mobile phones for NCD surveys. In the UGTs, participants were administered an IVR survey, and they provided feedback on its usability and potential improvement.

Results

Between February and November 2017, we conducted 7 KII, 6 FGDs (n = 54) and 4 UGTs (n = 34). Most participants consider MPS is a novel way to explore risk factors in NCDs. They also recognize challenges for their implementation including security issues, technological literacy and telecommunications coverage, especially in rural areas. It was recommended to promote the survey using mass media before its deployment and stressing its objectives, responsible institution and data privacy safeguards. The preferences in the survey administration relate to factors such as skills in the use of mobile phones, age, availability of time and educational level. The participants recommend questionnaires shorter than 10 minutes.

Conclusions

The possibility of obtaining data through MPS at a population level represents an opportunity to improve the availability of risk-factor data. Steps towards increasing the acceptability and overcoming technological and methodological challenges need to be taken.