What were we trying to do?

During the pandemic there was a rapid shift to digital approaches (digitalisation) for delivering health information and daily exercise sessions, including strength and balance activities. When considering older people, there was emerging evidence that digital approaches could help motivate people to participate, but there was also evidence that digitalisation could lead to greater inequalities because of the digital divide – those people who did not use smart phones, tablets, computers or may not even have the ability to use them due to no connectivity to Wi-Fi.  Our recent research shows that older people, those from minority ethnic groups, those on low incomes or those living in rural areas are more likely to be digitally excluded and experiencing health inequalities as a result of this exclusion.

 

We know that digital health interventions that are culturally adapted and translated to the needs of specific groups are more likely to be accepted and used, but evidence to support the effectiveness of adapted, personalised health interventions is limited, especially amongst South Asian communities. We wanted to learn more about older adults perceptions of digital technologies for improving access to health information related to falls prevention, bone health and hydration.

 

Why was this important?

Building on previous work in health and digital inequalities, this research directly responded to the Industrial Strategy focus on the societal challenge of improving health inequalities and enabling generations to remain active, productive, independent and socially connected lives.  It also informed the NHS Long Term Plan that welcomes opportunities for ambitious action on health inequalities at a national and local level.  It was directly aligned to the Greater Manchester Independent Inequalities Commission Report, the Office of Health Disparities Wider Impacts of Covid-19 on Physical Activity, Deconditioning and Falls, the Health and Social Care White Paper.

 

How did we do it?

We undertook a rapid evidence scoping review to explore older South Asian adults perceptions of digital health technologies for exercise and falls prevention.  This was followed by a series of sessions with South Asian older adults to explore perceptions and preferences for health literacy and health interventions using a translated and culturally adapted version of the Keep On Keep Up digital application.  At the end of this work we prepared a final report, including recommendations for policy and practice related to health literacy amongst South Asian communities using digital health technologies. 

 

Who were we working with?

• University of Manchester Healthy Ageing Research Group (HARG)
• MICRA 
• Health Innovation Manchester (HInM)
• The Innovation Factory, UoM
• Reason Digital
• Carers Manchester / Trafford Learn, Motivate, Challenge, Prosper 

 

Downloadable resources

 

• Publications
  • Aldosari N, Ahmed S, McDermott J, Stanmore E. The use of digital health by South Asian communities: a scoping review. Journal of Medical Internet Research (2023)

 

More information

 

 

 

Programme Manager
Alison Littlewood
alison.j.littlewood@manchester.ac.uk