Digital inclusion and functional capacity of older adults living in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil (EpiFloripa 2009-2010)

Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia

Ramos, Luiz Roberto¹  d'Orsi, Eleonora⁴  Schneider, Ione Jayce Ceola⁴  Xavier, André Junqueira³  Sigulem, Daniel²  Medeiros, Felipe de Luca¹ 

[1] Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina;Universidade de São Paulo;Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina;Universidade Federal de São Paulo

关键词: Elderly;    Functional Capacity;    Communication;    Internet;    E-mail;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1415-790X2012000100010

学科分类：过敏症与临床免疫学

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between digital inclusion, represented by the exchange of online messages, and functional capacity of older adults living in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
METHODS: Data were from EpiFloripa Idoso, a cross-sectional household-based study conducted between 2009 and 2010 with older adults (60+ years). Functional capacity was represented by the inability/difficulty to perform basic/instrumental activities of daily living, and formed the outcome variable called functional dependence. The main independent variable was self-reported ability to send and receive online messages using the computer. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated with multivariable Poisson regression models.
RESULTS: The sample consisted of 1,656 older adults between 60 and 102 years with a mean age of 70.39 years (SD =7.79). Older adults who could send and receive online messages without difficulty demonstrated a significant lower prevalence of moderate/severe functional dependence (PR = 0.61; 95%CI: 0.40 - 0.94) after adjustment for demographic, socioeconomic, health and behavioral factors.
CONCLUSIONS: The exchange of online messages has a strong association with functional independence. The causality of this association cannot be determined. Studies support the hypothesis that the exchange of online messages and functional independence have a bidirectional, additive and synergistic association. Longitudinal studies could investigate the mechanisms involved in this association, in order to support digital inclusion policies for older adults, and to identify the profile of older adults who would benefit the most from this inclusion.

【 授权许可】

CC BY