Is Technology-Based Fall Risk Assessment Associated with Technology Acceptance Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults? A Cross-Sectional Study

Compared to the general population, older adults experience more falls, negatively impacting their health and independence in the activities of daily living. They have many risks for falls, and there is a need to assess their risks using technology to determine appropriate interventions for them. The use of technology may lead to better outcomes in risk assessment and fall prevention. This study aimed to describe technology acceptance in community-dwelling older adults and examine the relationship between technology-based fall risk appraisal and senior technology acceptance. The study was conducted among community-dwelling older individuals in low-income settings in Central Florida. The Senior Technology Acceptance survey (n = 79) was used to obtain information about older adults’ technology acceptance. The Short Fall Efficacy Scale International which measures fear of falling, and the BTrackS Balance System, which assesses balance, were used for the fall risk appraisal. Participants were categorized into four fall risk appraisal groups based on their fear of falling and balance scores, including rational, irrational, congruent, and incongruent fall risk appraisal groups. A multiple linear regression adjusted for covariates was performed. Results found that the average senior technology acceptance score was at moderate acceptance; 41.8% of participants had excellent, 49.4% moderate, and 8.9% low senior technology acceptance. A total of 44.3% had rational, and 17.7% had congruent fall risk appraisal. We found no significant association between technology-based fall risk appraisal and senior technology acceptance. This study shows that many community-dwelling older adults accept the use of technology, and senior technology acceptance was not significantly associated with fall risk appraisal, which indicates the need to support their use of technology, including making it accessible and using it in fall risk assessment. Additionally, senior technology acceptance was not significantly associated with fall risk appraisal. This necessitates using technology to improve fall risk awareness and considering other factors affecting senior technology acceptance besides fall risk appraisal.