A Model of Contextual Factors Affecting Older Adults’ Information-Sharing Decisions in the U.S.

Abstract

The sharing of information between older adults and their friends, families, caregivers, and doctors promotes a collaborative approach to managing their emotional, mental, and physical well-being and health, prolonging independent living, and improving care quality and quality of life in general. However, information flow in collaborative systems is complex, not always transparent to elderly users, and may raise privacy and security concerns. Because older adults’ decisions about whether to engage in information exchange affect interpersonal communications and delivery of care, it is important to understand the factors and context that influence those decisions. Our work contributes empirical evidence and suggests a systematic approach. In this article, we present the results of semi-structured interviews with 46 older adults aged 65+ about their views on information collection, transmission, and sharing. We develop a detailed model of the contextual factors that combine in complex ways to affect older adults’ decision making about information sharing. We discuss how our comprehensive model compares to existing frameworks for analyzing information-sharing expectations and preferences. Finally, we suggest directions for future research and describe the practical implications of our model for the design and evaluation of collaborative information-sharing systems, as well as for policy and consumer protection.