A Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) approach to the qualitative analysis of older adults’ intentions to adopt assistive smart home technology
Sophia Kilcullen PhD*, Emma Heffernan PhD, Pamela Hussey PhD, Hyowon Lee PhD, Kieran Moran PhD, Catriona Murphy PhD, Alan Smeaton PhD, Claire Timon PhD, Pamela Gallagher PhD, Louise Hopper PhD
Full text PDF 
( Download count: 11105)
AbstractBackground: There is a need for a broader understanding of the psychological influences impacting healthy older adults’ intentions to use assistive smart home technologies if these technologies are to succeed in helping older adults to continue to live independently in their own homes.
Objective: This qualitative paper aimed to analyse healthy older adults’ intentions to adopt and use assistive smart home technologies using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), which synthesises a large number of theories of psychology and behaviour change.
Method: Using a focus group methodology, an in-person workshop presented fictitious personas representing end-user cases to participants, soliciting potential problems that may arise while living independently and solutions that might help. Online Zoom workshops facilitated discussions centred on participant opinions about how various forms of technology could support independent living for older adults. Comments were analysed using a TDF approach.
Results: Key domains identified as influencing intention to adopt and use assistive smart home technologies included Knowledge, Skills, Beliefs about Capabilities, Goals, Beliefs about Consequences, Social Influences, Emotions, and Environmental Context and Resources.
Conclusion: This paper has identified the eight most relevant TDF domains and mapped these to some of the theories and associated behaviour change strategies most suited to investigating and shaping intentions to use assistive smart home technology. The TDF-based analysis successfully elucidated a broad range of psychological influences driving intentions to adopt and use such technology. Knowledge of these influences can assist those involved in technology design, development, and marketing to ultimately increase the uptake of smart technology by older adults. Key advantages of the TDF include its comprehensive theoretical coverage contained within domains comprising mediators of behaviour change, and its capacity to elicit a wide range of influences with the potential to drive acceptance and adoption of smart technology among community-dwelling older adults.Keywords: assistive smart home technology, technology acceptance, technology adoption, older adults, Theoretical Domains Framework
Sophia Kilcullen PhD*, Emma Heffernan PhD, Pamela Hussey PhD, Hyowon Lee PhD, Kieran Moran PhD, Catriona Murphy PhD, Alan Smeaton PhD, Claire Timon PhD, Pamela Gallagher PhD, Louise Hopper PhD (2022). A Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) approach to the qualitative analysis of older adults’ intentions to adopt assistive smart home technology. Gerontechnology, 21(1), 1-14
https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2022.21.1.591.12