ABSTRACT
Older adults or the elderly are part of the group of peeople that make up a majority of the health burdens in society, and the outbreak of coronavirus or COVID - 19 has further placed them in a risky position due to their age. Going by the latter statement, the research examines the impact of social media on this population's online health information-seeking behaviour in the face of the global coronavirus health crisis in Nigeria. The study employed Krejcie and Morgan's (1970) technique for ascertaining the sample size for a given population, and arrived at a sample of 384 quantitatively surveyed through a questionnaire. The study concluded that social media positively impacted the health behaviour of the research population, and the information sought on social media is reliable, and it also influenced their behaviour positively. However, the authors warn that online health information seekers, especially older adults, should always exercise caution as not all information obtained on social media on various health issues, including the coronavirus, is accurate. Besides, consumers of online health information should be thorough and active users of social media;they should use their human senses to discern between false and true health information. Further, they should also verify such information with health professionals if the need arises. Given the limitations enumerated in this study, the authors suggest that further studies are essential to validate the results of this research.
ABSTRACT
Telehealth holds much potential for supporting older adults' physical and social health. In particular, telewellness interventions to support the physical and social wellness of older adults are needed to overcome participation barriers with in-person programs. This paper presents guidelines for delivering telewellness interventions to older adults, which were informed by a human factors approach to developing a Tele Tai Chi intervention for older adults with mobility disabilities, including reviewing user needs literature and conducting user-centered needs assessment research. From these findings, we developed a protocol and support materials for delivering a telewellness intervention and conducted a feasibility study. We also established an adaptation committee to provide recommendations on the intervention. The outcome of our human factors approach was the establishment of research-driven design guidelines for delivering group exercise programs to older adults using videoconferencing. The guidelines provide direction for designing a telewellness protocol, supporting remote participation, and promoting socialization and engagement. These guidelines can be used to deliver interventions that increase access to socially-engaging, physical activity programs for older adults, which can ultimately help support their physical health, mental health, and quality of life.