The acceptance of health information systems by senior citizens: A technology acceptance model (TAM)

The inclusion of developing technology in every aspect of our lives necessitates access to and use of technology. The use and acceptance of technologies, which are heavily involved in many fields from health to finance, by end users are essential in terms of the costs of investing in these technologies. The increasing rate of the elderly population in Turkey increases the investments to be made in health technologies, and the need to understand the determinants of technology use for older adults who need these technologies the most, how age-related changes affect interaction with technology, and determine how to introduce better technology products arises. The main purpose of this study is to examine the level of use and acceptance of Health Information Systems by senior citizens who can work or are active in working life in Turkey within the framework of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and make a comparison with middle-aged adults. Within the scope of the research, data was collected from 221 elderly participants in the first phase by face-to-face and online questionnaire methods. In the second phase, data were collected from 56 middle-aged and 50 elderly participants in order to compare the system acceptance and use of middle-aged and elderly individuals. To better comprehend the main drivers of health technology use and acceptance or rejection, the interview was conducted with 5 senior citizens. The research model was tested with the Structural Equation Model (SEM). As a result of the analysis, it has been revealed that the use and acceptance levels of middle-aged individuals and senior individuals in health information systems are almost at the same level. In addition, elderly users need additional support in learning how to use health information systems effectively. The need for elderly userfriendly interfaces emphasizes the importance of designing technology that is specifically tailored to the needs and capabilities of older adults. This includes features like larger fonts, higher contrast, and simpler navigation. With the improvements to be made in all these issues, future studies can see to what extent the use of the system can be changed with the help of these technologies.