Dec 19, 2014 06:36 PM EST By J Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

New research suggests that despite showing interest in web or mobile apps, only a small number of older adults use web or mobile apps to help manage their Type 2 diabetes.

Researchers from the University of Waterloo found that although more than 90 percent of research participants owned a computer or had daily Internet access, just 18 percent used applications on this technology to help manage their diabetes. While almost half owned smartphones, only 5 percent used them to manage their disease.

"There was a strong association between age and confidence -- confidence about technology use really dropped off in the oldest age groups," Peter Hall, senior author of the paper, said in a statement. "This drop in confidence was mirrored by a corresponding drop in intentions to use the technology in the near future."

Previous studies have shown that people who use smartphone and web apps to manage chronic disease chronic diseases follow their doctors' recommendations more closely and make positive changes in their health, at least among those already positively inclined toward such technology. In diabetes management, technology can provide platforms for glucose logs, dietary and physical activity journals, and create opportunities for scheduled prompting or interventions.

"It may be that older adults are unaware of apps available, they had low confidence about using them regularly, or both," Kathleen Dobson, lead author of the study, said in a statement.

Despite the low use of assistive technology among older adults, the majority of study participants felt that adopting Internet or smartphone applications to manage their diabetes was a good idea. More than two-thirds intended to adopt assistive technology moving forward.

"Successful diabetes management improves quality of life, reduces risk of complications and generally extends life expectancy," Hall said. "My hope is that we can find ways to encourage adoption of these new self-management tools, even among those older adults who don't consider themselves to be especially tech-savvy."

Researchers said the development of senior-friendly apps that are easier to see and use along with encouragement from health-care practitioners to use assistive technology could help increase the number of older adults who use their phones and computers as tools to better manage their diabetes. Raising awareness about existing applications and boosting confidence is also key in increasing the use of assistive technology among older adults.

A future phase of this research will involve seniors who aren't tech-savvy to determine their receptivity to different types of applications.

The findings are published in the online edition of the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology.

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