Meeting on-line is effective for elderly despite the technical challenge

Elderly that use internet for interactive meetings become more self-confident and get a richer life. This is shown in a new Master of Public Health at Nordic School of Public Health NHV.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to deepen the understanding of the older participants' experiences of a feel good-television-project (MBT) that includes a method that was developed from 2007 until 2010 in the Åbo-archipelago, in northern Finland and Sweden.
– The essence of the MBT-project turns out to be just being together in the virtual meetings where the participants took university-courses. Getting, and giving, support through these interactive sessions, appeared as core values, says Bodil Julin.
A total of seven elderly people from this area that was using MBT have been interviewed. Data was analyzed according to Corbin and Strauss modified version of Grounded Theory.
– The participants felt that even though the technology could be a challenge, the project both broadened their horizons and increased their activity level and their self-confidence, says Bodil Julin.
But most important was the social contact, even though it takes place via computer.
– The study contributes to knowledge about how social support can be used in the development of healthcare for the elderly, says Julin.
She adds that more research is needed to develop a multi-professional resource reinforcing care work that can be realized virtually.
Read summary in English: www.nhv.se/master