Adoption of Digital Health Technologies in Supported Living Services.

Abstract

The adoption of digital health technologies in supported living services has shown great potential to revolutionise the quality of support offered to service users who are predominantly adults with learning disabilities and mental health conditions. Despite these potential benefits, the adoption of these technologies in supported living services remains at a low level. Therefore, this study aimed to address this gap by investigating the factors influencing the adoption of digital health technologies in supported living services. The research employed a mixed-method approach, conducting a case study in two local supported living services with a sample size of six participants, three from each service. Analysis of the collected data, utilizing both descriptive statistics and thematic approaches, revealed that 83.3% of participants acknowledged widespread acceptance of digital health technologies in the services. Notably, 66.7% highlighted the prevalence of health monitoring and assistive technology devices, including blood pressure monitors, blood glucose monitors, mobility scooters, and virtual assistants. Participants attributed the positive adoption environment to facilitation factors such as enhanced funding, training initiatives, and organizational support. Furthermore, most participants emphasized the essential need for a medication reminder app, expressing a preference for an easy-to-use and user-friendly design.