Journal article
Perceived technology usefulness for caregiving among unpaid caregivers: a National Cross-Sectional Study
Frontiers in public health, v 13, 1578701
14 May 2025
PMID: 40438044
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
<p>Background Technological advancements have the potential to improve caregiving quality and alleviate caregiver burden by providing tools for real-time communication, monitoring, and care coordination. To assist with technology adoption among the 53 million unpaid caregivers nationwide, efforts are needed to better understand caregivers' perceptions about the usefulness of certain technologies for caregiving. Methods Data were analyzed from a national sample of 483 unpaid caregivers using an internet-delivered questionnaire. All unpaid caregivers were eligible if they provided at least 8 h of weekly care for a care recipient aged 50 years or older. The primary dependent variable was the Perceived Technology Usefulness for Caregiving (PTUC) Scale, which is a composite score of six items ranging from 0 to 100. PTUC item responses were summed and averaged, and the overall PTUC scores were transformed into statistical tertiles (higher scores indicating more perceived technology usefulness for caregiving). An ordinal regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with higher PTUC tertiles. Results Across tertiles, unpaid caregivers who were younger (Beta = -0.018, p = 0.030) and male (Beta = 0.422, p = 0.048) reported higher PTUC Scale scores. Compared to non-Hispanic white caregivers, Hispanic/Latino (Beta = 0.779, p = 0.010), African American (Beta = 1.064, p < 0.001), and Asian (Beta = 0.958, p = 0.010) caregivers reported higher PTUC Scale scores. Unpaid caregivers with lower financial insecurity (Beta = -0.010, p = 0.003), higher caregiver strain (Beta = 0.149, p < 0.001), and more satisfaction with the support they receive for caregiving (Beta = 0.009, p = 0.002) reported higher PTUC Scale scores. Unpaid caregivers whose care recipients had less cognitive impairment reported higher PTUC Scale scores (Beta = -0.245, p = 0.048). Conclusion Findings indicate caregiver characteristics, caregiving dynamics, and available resources (financial and caregiving support) are associated with perceptions about the usefulness of technology for caregiving. The utility of technology for caregiving may be higher among unpaid caregivers with more caregiver strain or positive experiences with caregiving support.</p>
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Details
- Title
- Perceived technology usefulness for caregiving among unpaid caregivers: a National Cross-Sectional Study
- Creators
- Matthew Lee SmithShinduk LeeMalinee NeelamegamDeborah Vollmer DahlkeJodi L. SoutherlandZachary G. BakerKris Pui Kwan MaDarina V. PetrovskyZahra RahemiJustine S. SefcikJuanita-Dawne R. BacsuChung Lin KewMarcia G. Ory
- Publication Details
- Frontiers in public health, v 13, 1578701
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media
- Number of pages
- 8
- Grant note
- Clemson University/Institute for Engaged AgingSouth Carolina Alzheimer's Disease Research Center's (ADRC) SPARK Grant Program, NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA): K01AG081485 Alzheimer's Association: 24AARG-D-1242910
We thank all caregivers who participated in the online survey and their contributions to the health and well-being of the aging population. We also thank Steven Popovich for contributing support this work, and Tiffany Shubert for helping conceptualize the survey used in this study. This work was generated as part of the Gerontological Society of America's (GSA) Advancing Gerontology through Exceptional Scholarship (AGES) Program. We thank the GSA for its commitment to mentorship and career growth for gerontologists through this program.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Doctoral Nursing
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001497546300001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105006768907
- Other Identifier
- 991022053940104721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health