Digital Literacy and Associated Factors in Older Adults Living in Urban South Korea: A Qualitative Study

Jiwon Baek, Heejung Kim, Seongmi Choi, Soyun Hong, Yesol Kim, Eunkyung Kim, Taewha Lee, Sang Hui Chu, Jiyeon Choi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study aimed to explore digital literacy among community-dwelling older adults in urban South Korea. A semistructured interview guide was developed using the Digital Competence (2.0 framework, which emphasizes the competencies for full digital participation in five categories: information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, content creation, safety, and problem-solving. The data were analyzed using combined inductive and deductive content analysis. Inductive analysis identified three main categories: perceived ability to use digital technology, responses to digital technology, and contextual factors. In the results of deductive analysis, participants reported varying abilities in using digital technologies for information and data literacy, communication or collaboration, and problem-solving. However, their abilities were limited in handling the safety or security of digital technology and lacked in creating digital content. Responses to digital technology contain subcategories of perception (positive or negative) and behavior (trying or avoidance). Regarding contextual factors, aging-related physical and cognitive changes were identified as barriers to digital literacy. The influence of families or peers was viewed as both a facilitator and a barrier. Our participants recognized the importance of using digital devices to keep up with the trend of digitalization, but their digital literacy was mostly limited to relatively simple levels.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)226-239
Number of pages14
JournalCIN - Computers Informatics Nursing
Volume42
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024 Mar 1

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Health Informatics
  • Nursing (miscellaneous)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Digital Literacy and Associated Factors in Older Adults Living in Urban South Korea: A Qualitative Study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this