Combining Interpersonal and Mediated Health Information: What Makes Health Information Effective For Older Adult Patients?

• In Event: Unraveling the Active Ingredients of Effective Health Communication With Older Adult Patients

Abstract

To increase the likelihood that older patients process information optimally and improve health-related outcomes, it is critical to provide health information in a variety of ways. Health information is expected to be better processed by older patients when interpersonal information sources, such as information provided during interpersonal patient-provider communication, are combined with mediated information sources, such as the Internet (e.g., through eHealth applications). However, both interpersonal and mediated information can be provided in a variety of ways as well, and knowledge concerning which elements make health information especially effective for older patients is essential to design effective health information. We consider evidence of interpersonal and eHealth information that especially focus on the active ingredients of such health information. In other words: what makes health information effective for older patients? Studies on how interpersonal communication can be optimally provided to older patients will be discussed by highlighting the role of instrumental and affective interpersonal communication, barriers to older patients’ participation during consultation, and the influence of age-related factors, such as health literacy and frailty, on communication outcomes. In addition, we will present studies on how eHealth information can be optimally presented to older patients, including the role of cognitive and affective illustrations, videos, animations, and the underlying mechanisms of their effectiveness. We will present research relating to effective interpersonal and eHealth communication strategies for older adults. We will summarize the active ingredients of health information for older adults, and propose future research directions on how such active ingredients can be combined to reach synergistic effects that exceed the individual effects of interpersonal and eHealth information.

Authors

• Julia C.M. van Weert, ASCoR, U of Amsterdam

• Nadine Bol, ASCoR, U of Amsterdam

• Sifra Bolle, University of Amsterdam / ASCoR