Analysis and Prioritization of the Factors Underlying the Acceptance of Technology by Healthy Iranian Elderly People

The present study, with an applied purpose, with a systematic descriptive-analytical approach and as a case study on the one hand and on the other hand using descriptive statistics methods, multi-criteria decision-making techniques using the Swara method and a five-point Likert scale for surveys, has analyzed and prioritized the factors affecting the acceptance of technology by healthy Iranian elderly people. Considering the increasing growth of the elderly population in Iran and the importance of new technologies in improving the quality of life of this group, it seems necessary to identify the key factors affecting the acceptance of technology. The results of this study, through data analysis and the use of statistical methods and multi-criteria decision-making, have been able to present a comprehensive picture of the factors that affect the acceptance of technology by Iranian elderly people. Based on the results of the opinions of the expert and elderly group, among the factors affecting the acceptance of technology by healthy Iranian elderly people, the individual factor with a weight of (17.10%) was ranked first. This factor includes components such as age, education, and physical condition of the elderly, which shows that individual circumstances play a fundamental role in technology acceptance. In second place is the technological factor with a weight (15.29%), which addresses features such as ease of use, perceived usefulness, and reliability of technologies and plays an important role in the elderly's decision to adopt technology. The psychological factor with a weight (15.23%) was identified as the third priority, which refers to the importance of attitude, technological anxiety, self-confidence, and motivation in using technology. The economic factor with a weight (13.60%) was ranked fourth and addresses factors such as the cost of purchasing, maintaining, and accessing technologies. Then, the sociocultural factor with a weight (13.46%) was ranked fifth, which refers to the role of social interactions, cultural norms, and the level of support from others in using technology. Then, the behavioral factor with a weight of (13.05%) and ranked sixth refers to the use history, previous experience, and behavioral habits of the elderly in dealing with technology. Finally, the environmental factor with a weight of (12.24%) ranked seventh, which is related to environmental conditions, physical access, and existing infrastructure for using technology. The results of this study are consistent with many previous studies. In international studies as well as in research conducted in Iran, emphasis on individual and psychological characteristics has been commonly observed as effective factors in the acceptance of technology by the elderly. Also, research has shown that the elderly, especially in Asian countries, pay more attention to the ease of use and perceived usefulness of technology, and these have also been identified as key factors in the acceptance of technology in various studies. This research has shown that the design of age-friendly technologies should be done considering the physical, psychological, economic, and social characteristics of the elderly. Designers and policymakers should exploit these findings to develop products that enable older adults to use technologies independently and effectively.