Digital Social Prescribing Post-Digital Literacy Education Program: Quasi-experimental Study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization has suggested providing welfare services using digital devices to combat aging related issues, such as social isolation and depression in people aged 65 and above. Digital literacy education programs in South Korea, a nation with a substantial older population, are expected to help older people participate in online welfare services in order to increase their social support, self-esteem and well-being. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to 1) assess the effects of digital literacy education on digital device usage in people, aged 65 and above, living in rural areas in South Korea. 2) evaluate the positive effects of digital literacy education on depression, happiness, quality of life, self-efficacy, and cognitive function. 3) provide a basis for national policies on digital health care for the people over 65. METHODS we conducted a quasi-experimental design study amongst people aged 65 and above, living in Wonju-si, Gangwon-do, Korea. Participants: Experimental group: 62 people who volunteered to attend digital literacy program; Control group: 68 people who did not wish to receive digital literacy education and were part of the older adult center of Wonju-si. A digital literacy education program was conducted to evaluate smartphone use competency followed by a customized questionnaire survey to assess its effects based on: demographics, happiness, subjective health, depression, quality of life, self-efficacy and cognitive function. Chi-square test and paired t-test were conducted to analyze key indicators of pre- and post-education changes in the experimental group and difference-in-differences regression analysis was conducted to understand effects of key indicators. RESULTS The participants of the experimental group showed a significant increase in smartphone usage and video recording capacity than the control group. Happiness and cognitive function score for dementia screening increased significantly by a mean of 3.7 and 1.1 points respectively, after the digital literacy education. CONCLUSIONS Digital literacy education for older adults in rural areas greatly increased smartphone use, video recording capacity, happiness and cognitive function. Based on these findings, the government may implement digital literacy education for older adults in rural areas to increase their happiness and cognitive function.