‘Having to learn this so late in our lives…’ Swedish elderly patients’ beliefs, experiences, attitudes and expectations of e-health in primary health care

AbstractObjective: The elderly are an increasing group and large consumers of care in Sweden. Development of mobile information technology shows promising results of interventions for prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. Exploring the elderly patients’ beliefs, attitudes, experiences and expectations of e-health services helps us understand the factors that influence adherence to such tools in primary care.Material and methods: We conducted focus group interviews with 15 patients from three primary health care centers (PHCCs) in Southern Sweden. Data were analysed with thematic content analysis with codes and categories emerged from data during analysis.Results: We found one comprehensive theme: ‘The elderly’s ambivalence towards e-health:  reluctant curiosity, a wish to join and need for information and learning support’. Eight categories emerged from the text during analysis: ‘E-health – a solution for a non-existing problem?’, ‘The elderly’s experiences of e-health’, ‘Lack of will, skills, sel...