Effects of a lifestyle App on the digital skills of older adults: a randomized clinical trial.

• Grant number: 23/16552-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Grace Angélica de Oliveira Gomes
• Grantee: Laura Thais Del Vecchio Sampaio
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Mobile technologies play an important role in improving the health and lifestyle of older people. However, little is known about how much application programs improve the digital skills of older people. Objective: To analyze the effect of a lifestyle change application on the digital skills of elderly people. Method: A randomized clinical study will be carried out with approximately 50 elderly participants who used the application for 14 weeks. The intervention will offer an initial meeting to show the application, its functionalities and answer possible handling questions. The researchers will have daily contact with the groups (intervention and control). In the first week of intervention, contact must be maintained to clarify doubts and encourage the use of the application. In the second week of intervention, contacts will be made every two days, and in the following weeks every fifteen days. Changes in participants' digital skills will be assessed through a questionnaire and observations. The instrument used will be a semi-structured questionnaire, based on the MCDMSênior. In addition, satisfaction with the application will be evaluated. Qualitative data will be analyzed using Bardin's (2016) analysis. Expected results: It is expected that the application will be able to increase the digital skills of elderly people, and the research results will contribute to the development of effective strategies for using applications to change lifestyle habits for elderly people.