Evaluating the psychosocial impacts of e-care use among older people receiving long-term care in Slovenia through the adapted PIADS-10 scale

Assistive technologies (ATs), including e-care, are increasingly vital in supporting the ageing population’s long-term care; however, there is a scarcity of studies analysing the psychosocial impacts of e-care use among older people. The goal of this paper is twofold: first, to understand the psychosocial impacts of e-care use among older people receiving long-term care, and second, to evaluate the measurement properties of an internationally recognised self-report questionnaire, the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS-10), specifically its multidimensionality and internal consistency of identified subscales. A one-group post-test-only quasi-experimental intervention design was employed. Psychosocial impacts of e-care use were examined through an intervention study involving 217 older people in Slovenia, who tested e-care over an average period of 310.2 days. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Findings revealed important enhancements in perceived security, sense of control, independence and overall quality of life among e-care users. Exploratory factor analysis of the PIADS-10 yielded two factors (psychological well-being and adaptability), supporting a reduced 8-item version (SI-PIADS-8), which was further supported through confirmatory factor analysis. These findings indicate that the PIADS-10 could be refined to an 8-item, two-factor version with improved relevance for assessing psychosocial impacts among older adults using e-care. Such insights can help stakeholders design and adapt ATs that better support ageing in place. The positive psychosocial impacts observed, including increased independence and a greater sense of control, underline the importance of integrating e-care services into long-term care plans for older people. This highlights the role of e-care in promoting autonomy and living at home, which can lead to a significant improvement in the quality of life of older people.The increased sense of security reported by e-care users indicates that security should be a key component in the evaluation of assistive technologies. Rehabilitation practice should incorporate measures that improve feelings of security, as this has been shown to contribute significantly to the overall well-being of older adults who use e-care services.Expanding research to test the adapted PIADS-8 (or PIADS-9 with the inclusion of security) in different countries and populations is critical. This would further validate the tool’s comprehensiveness and ensure its applicability in different e-care services, leading to more effective and personalised e-care interventions for older adults. The positive psychosocial impacts observed, including increased independence and a greater sense of control, underline the importance of integrating e-care services into long-term care plans for older people. This highlights the role of e-care in promoting autonomy and living at home, which can lead to a significant improvement in the quality of life of older people. The increased sense of security reported by e-care users indicates that security should be a key component in the evaluation of assistive technologies. Rehabilitation practice should incorporate measures that improve feelings of security, as this has been shown to contribute significantly to the overall well-being of older adults who use e-care services. Expanding research to test the adapted PIADS-8 (or PIADS-9 with the inclusion of security) in different countries and populations is critical. This would further validate the tool’s comprehensiveness and ensure its applicability in different e-care services, leading to more effective and personalised e-care interventions for older adults.