Illusory competence vs. real needs a cross-sectional study on the mismatch in Smart Senior Care (SSC) perceptions between nursing students and older adults

Background: Smart Senior Care (SSC) is vital for aging populations, yet its success depends on aligning end-users' (older adults) needs with future providers' (nursing students) perceptions. Limited research directly compares these groups to reveal supply-demand discrepancies. Objectives: To compare self-perceived SEC knowledge, privacy concerns, and service preferences between community-dwelling older adults and nursing students, and to identify supply-demand misalignments relevant to education and service design. Methods: = 171). A Delphi-validated questionnaire assessed perceived SEC knowledge, privacy concerns, and preferences across five SEC domains. Group differences were tested using Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests. Logistic regression examined predictors of students' intention to work in SEC. Economic pathways linking income, satisfaction, and willingness-to-pay among older adults were explored using Sankey analysis. Results: < 0.05). Lower service satisfaction was consistently associated with lower willingness-to-pay across income groups. Conclusion: Substantial perception gaps exist between future providers and older adults regarding SEC, particularly around privacy and non-medical needs. Integrating user-centered, community-based training and digital ethics into nursing curricula, while prioritizing service quality and trust-building in SEC design, may improve adoption and sustainability.