Background: The increase in mobile phones usage among Indonesian elderly experienced the highest rate in the last 5 years. This percentage increased by 3.6% from 43.08% in 2019. Mobile phones bring benefits for elderly. We explored how mobile phone usage among Indonesian elderly and their obstacles.
Methods: Descriptive research design, fifty elderly in Bantul Yogyakarta and Sragen Central Java, Indonesia. Age ≥ 60 years, did not have severe visual impairment, hearing loss and cognitive impairment.
Results: The mean age was 68.92 ± 5.4 years. 52% were female and 48% were male. The majority were traders (48%), followed by retirees (40%). They were mostly senior high school graduates (48%). The most common reason was to communicate with family (80%). They use mobile phone mostly to access health information (50%), followed by preventing stress (38%). Preferred activities include telephone (46%), social media (30%), browsing the internet/youtube (18%) and video calls (6%). The most preferred social media was whatsapp (90%). They used almost every day (96%) and less than 30 minutes per session (54%). The obstacles was too complicated machines (48%), expensive prices (24%), unclear images (16%) and easily damaged (12%). They solved the problems by asking family members for help (44%), seeking information on their own (42%), and asking friends for help (14%).
Conclusion: Mobile phones provide benefits for the elderly, especially for communicating with family and accessing health information. Support and training can help them overcome obtacles to using mobile phones.

Authors:
Arfik Setyaningsih, Medical Faculty of Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia
Probosuseno, Medical Faculty of Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia
I Dewa Pramantara, Medical Faculty of Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia
Eko Aribowo, Medical Faculty of Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia

About the Presenter(s)
Arfik Setyaningsih, medical doctor is postgraduate student from Medical of Faculty, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia. She interest in Gerontology Society. Her research is about "Mobile Phone Usage Among Indonesian Elderly and Their Obstacles".

See this presentation on the full schedule – On Demand Schedule

Bookmark