A review of older adults’ acceptance of health monitoring tools: application status, theoretical acceptance models, and user-related and context-level influencing factors
- 1School of Nursing, Henan University of Chinese Medicine
Abstract
Health monitoring tools enable real-time, accurate monitoring of physiological data in older adults, offering timely alerts and feedback that facilitate early detection of health problems and prompt intervention. However, adoption and use of these tools among older adults remains limited, significantly constraining their practical effectiveness. This narrative review examines the factors influencing older adults’ acceptance of health monitoring tools by synthesizing 49 studies, comprising 40 studies classified as core evidence and 9 as supplementary contextual evidence. Relevant literature was identified through a snowballing approach, beginning with key articles and tracing their reference lists and citing articles. Findings were synthesized through a thematic approach. Among the theoretical models identified in this review, the Technology Acceptance Model and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology are the most frequently applied, whereas the Senior Technology Acceptance Model, despite its specific relevance, has not been applied to health monitoring tool acceptance in any study included in this review. Key influencing factors can be grouped into two categories: user-related factors, such as demographic, health-related, and psychological characteristics; and tool- and context-level factors, such as privacy and security of monitoring data, interaction experience and ease of use, device appearance and invasiveness, and economic costs associated with pricing and technology access. Enhancing acceptance may require a comprehensive approach encompassing targeted health education and digital skills training, optimized user interfaces and privacy safeguards, multi-tiered financial subsidies, and the development of innovative theoretical models tailored to the older adult population.
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BibTeX
@article{zhang2026review,
title = {{A review of older adults’ acceptance of health monitoring tools: application status, theoretical acceptance models, and user-related and context-level influencing factors}},
author = {Qi Zhang and Yongqin Zhang},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1937187},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1937187/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A review of older adults’ acceptance of health monitoring tools: application status, theoretical acceptance models, and user-related and context-level influencing factors
AU - Qi Zhang
AU - Yongqin Zhang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/15
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1937187
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1937187/full
AB - Health monitoring tools enable real-time, accurate monitoring of physiological data in older adults, offering timely alerts and feedback that facilitate early detection of health problems and prompt intervention. However, adoption and use of these tools among older adults remains limited, significantly constraining their practical effectiveness. This narrative review examines the factors influencing older adults’ acceptance of health monitoring tools by synthesizing 49 studies, comprising 40 studies classified as core evidence and 9 as supplementary contextual evidence. Relevant literature was identified through a snowballing approach, beginning with key articles and tracing their reference lists and citing articles. Findings were synthesized through a thematic approach. Among the theoretical models identified in this review, the Technology Acceptance Model and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology are the most frequently applied, whereas the Senior Technology Acceptance Model, despite its specific relevance, has not been applied to health monitoring tool acceptance in any study included in this review. Key influencing factors can be grouped into two categories: user-related factors, such as demographic, health-related, and psychological characteristics; and tool- and context-level factors, such as privacy and security of monitoring data, interaction experience and ease of use, device appearance and invasiveness, and economic costs associated with pricing and technology access. Enhancing acceptance may require a comprehensive approach encompassing targeted health education and digital skills training, optimized user interfaces and privacy safeguards, multi-tiered financial subsidies, and the development of innovative theoretical models tailored to the older adult population.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -