Tenth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

The digital turn characterised by excessive use of IT technology in our everyday lives has changed the way people seek health information. Today, people retrieve information on health and diseases often from the online environment. Even though Estonia is known for its digital success, and its young people are eager to seek online health information, 40% of the sixty-five to seventy-four year old senior citizens do not use the Internet or smart devices at all. Even worse, the state does not even collect data on the use of ITC by people over seventy-four. At the same time, senior citizens are the ones who need information on health and diseases the most. The aim of this study is to explore health information seeking of Estonian seniors who either continue or have stopped working after retirement as compared to students from two universities. Thirty interviews with seniors and twenty with university students were conducted followed by a think aloud protocol. The results indicate that there are no major differences between working pensioners, who due to the nature of their work have regular access to computers, and students in this respect. Conversely, the fully retired seniors not using computers or other digital devices, cited lack of skills as the main reason for their inactivity. In order to successfully harness all the benefits of digital health solutions and applications, the economic situation and digital health literacy of the senior citizens in full-time retirement should be improved first.