The use of e-Health and digital technologies in the Italian geriatric practice: a survey of the Italian Geriatric Society (SIGOT)


https://doi.org/10.4081/gc.2021.10301
Vol. 7 No. 3 (2021)
Submitted: 25 November 2021
Accepted: 3 December 2021
Published: 21 December 2021
Elderly, gerontology, technology, tele-medicine, tele-assistance, survey.
Abstract Views: 1710
PDF: 283
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Authors

  • Alberto Cella
    alberto.cella@galliera.it
    Department Geriatric Care, Orthogeriatrics and Rehabilitation, E.O. Ospedali Galliera, Genova, Italy.
  • Erica Volta Department Geriatric Care, Orthogeriatrics and Rehabilitation, E.O. Ospedali Galliera, Genova, Italy.
  • Jacopo Demurtas Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena; Primary Care Department, USL Toscana Sud Est-Grosseto, Grosseto, Italy.
  • Renato Zaccaria Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and Systems engineering (DIBRIS), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
  • Moira Ceci Local Health Agency ULSS 18, Rovigo, Italy.
  • Andrea Pilotto Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
  • Virginia Boccardi Department of Medicine, Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
  • Alberto Castagna Center for Cognitive Disorders and Dementia, ASP Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
  • Carlo Custodero Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
  • Francesco Vetta Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Rome, Italy.
  • Marina Barbagelata Department Geriatric Care, Orthogeriatrics and Rehabilitation, E.O. Ospedali Galliera, Genova, Italy.
  • Nicola Veronese Geriatric Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
  • Alberto Pilotto Department Geriatric Care, Orthogeriatrics and Rehabilitation, E.O. Ospedali Galliera, Genova; Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.

e-Health technologies may potentially improve healthcare assistance for frail elderly subjects. However, despite the interest and potential benefits of the field, research highlighted that several challenges remain, such as scarce wide spreading of information and communication technology technologies among the elderly and infrastructural difficulties. The aim of this survey was to assess to what extent digital technologies are widespread and used among Italian geriatricians. We conducted an online survey addressed to geriatricians, from the SIGOT (The Italian Geriatric Society) website, collecting the 78 completed questionnaires. We then analyzed with descriptive statistics the data. Results showed a still scarce use of digital technologies in geriatric practice in Italy. However, more than 60% of the SIGOT geriatricians who participated in the survey responded that the use of digital technology had increased significantly due to COVID-19 pandemic and for 80% of the members, the priority areas for the use of technologies for the care and treatment of the elderly are the management of chronic diseases and the prevention of hospitalization.


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Cella, A., Volta, E., Demurtas, J., Zaccaria, R., Ceci, M., Pilotto, A., Boccardi, V., Castagna, A., Custodero, C., Vetta, F., Barbagelata, M., Veronese, N., & Pilotto, A. (2021). The use of e-Health and digital technologies in the Italian geriatric practice: a survey of the Italian Geriatric Society (SIGOT). Geriatric Care, 7(3). https://doi.org/10.4081/gc.2021.10301

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