Table 1 Factors for acceptance and non-acceptance of HIT for older people

Health zone

• Health status - acute health issues i.e. feeling very ill.

• Acceptance of chronic nature of illness.

• Being chronically ill, but not seriously acutely ill at the time HIT was being introduced.

• Non-acceptance of illness or increased anxiety caused by dwelling on it.

• Reinforcement of ‘sick-role’.

• Fear of losing health professional input into on-going health care.

• Positive affirmation from both health professionals and close relatives.

• Perceived ambivalence particularly by health professionals.

• Use of Wi-fi or good internet SIM card connectivity.

• Prompt replacement of faulty equipment.

• Installation and follow-up support processes that create patient self-efficacy.

• HIT equipment design features suitable for older people which include interactive/feedback features so that patients have the option to use the data to self-manage.

• Support (practical/emotional) from patient’s partner/family.

• Perception that the data will useful for clinicians and in terms of outcomes (for example picking up on infections early).

• Personalised clinical alerts triggers and appropriate handling of clinical alerts.

• Lack of data transfer due to inadequate internet connectivity.

• Wide variations between HIT and health professionals’ own clinical devices.

• Unreliable equipment and lengthy delays in fixing faults.

• Design of HIT equipment not suitable for older people for example font colour and size, equipment and button size.

• Perceiving that health professionals were not utilising the data or that it was not useful in early detection of acute illness.

• Lack of HIT interactivity/feedback on results limiting ability to increase knowledge of own results and ability to self-manage condition.

• Inappropriate handling of clinical alerts in terms of lack of timeliness or relevancy in health terms.

• Lack of willingness to undertake daily monitoring.