Português
Time-to-Engage explores individual and contextual factors that interfere with the intention to use digital technologies in health by citizens in advanced age. It also aims at understanding how these factors are shaped by levels of digital competencies and engagement and by availability, accessibility, and affordability of digital equipment.
Rapid progress in digital technologies drives innovation in healthcare, bringing multiple benefits at the individual and organizational level. However, given the existence of access- and use-related digital gaps, these benefits do not reach everyone equally. In Portugal, among the citizens who have significant difficulties in keeping up with digital/technological progress, those of advanced age stand out. Since these citizens have a great need to resort to health services, which is due to age-related changes with impact on different areas of functioning, it is a matter of social responsibility to define solutions that foster their digital inclusion. Currently, efforts are being made to improve digital connectivity and infrastructure and to implement initiatives for digital empowerment in advanced age. Yet, little is known about the motivation of these citizens to accept and embrace digital innovation in healthcare.
Time-to-Engage will use an original survey, built upon the conceptual framework elaborated and validated upon older adults' views on the topic. In the construction process, the 10th European Social Survey findings on socio-cultural determinants of digital health behaviours will also be considered. Data collected will be used to inform an explanatory model.
By providing conditions for a more in-depth analysis of possible paths to digital inclusion, the project will contribute to the definition of evidence-based solutions for digital equity in health.
By approaching the digital transformation-related challenges in advanced age from a new angle, which recognizes the diversity of mobilized adaptative responses and explores the associated factors, Time-to-Engage allows a more in- depth analysis of possible paths to digital inclusion and, from there, a definition of evidence-based solutions for digital health equity.
| Research Centre | Research Group | Role in Project | Begin Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIS-Iscte | Health For All | Leader | 2023-10-23 | 2025-10-22 |
| CIES-Iscte | Gender, Life Course and Health | Partner | 2023-10-23 | 2025-10-22 |
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| Name | Affiliation | Role in Project | Begin Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elzbieta Bobrowicz-Campos | Associate Researcher (CIS-Iscte); | PI | 2023-10-23 | 2025-10-22 |
| Cristina Maria Lopes Camilo | Integrated Researcher (CIS-Iscte); | Co-PI | 2023-10-23 | 2025-10-22 |
| Elsa Pegado | Professora Auxiliar (DMPS); Integrated Researcher (CIES-Iscte); | Investigadora | 2023-10-23 | 2025-10-22 |
| Guilherme G. Pinheiro | PhD Scholar (CIS-Iscte); | Researcher | 2023-10-23 | 2025-10-22 |
| Ana Rita Medeiros | -- | Scholar | 2024-04-01 | 2025-09-30 |
| Cristofthe J Fernandes | -- | Scholar | 2024-04-01 | 2025-09-30 |
| Reference/Code | Funding DOI | Funding Type | Funding Program | Funding Amount (Global) | Funding Amount (Local) | Begin Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SR23-00290 | -- | Contract | Fundação "la Caixa" - 2023 Social Research - Portugal | 99976.65 | 99976.65 | 2023-10-23 | 2025-10-22 |
| Year | Publication Type | Full Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Scientific journal paper | Bobrowicz-Campos, E., Camilo, C. & Pinheiro, G. G. (2025). Protocol: Attitudinal factors related to the use of digital technologies in health by older adults: Protocol for an overview of reviews: A systematic review. Campbell Systematic Reviews. 21 (1) |
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| Year | Output Type | Name | Description | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Other Event | Digital Health Conversations III – Digital Health Services for all. Even those who don't use digital. How to get? | Activity included in the scope of Digital Health Conversations (3rd edition), with the participation of Luísa Lima, Sara Carrasqueiro, Maria João Vitorino and Elzbieta Bobrowicz-Campos, and moderated by the Director of the Applied Online Program in Digital Health, Henrique Martins. For more information, see: https://execed.iscte-iul.pt/conversas-de-saude-digital-servicos-de-saude-digital-para-todos | Elzbieta Bobrowicz-Campos |
| 2024 | Other Event | "Digital Technologies without Age: Paths to Digital Inclusion in Health" | Activity conducted within the context of European Researchers Night: Science for Global Challenges. It was dedicated to exploring the most common challenges associated with inadequate design of interfaces or functionalities of digital health technologies, discussing how these challenges impact access to health services and their quality, and creating practical solutions to overcome them. | Elzbieta Bobrowicz-Campos, Cristina Camilo, Elsa Pegado, Ana Rita Medeiros, Cristofthe J Fernandes |
| 2024 | Conference | Intentions and behaviours of using digital technology for health-related purposes by older adults: insights from the Time-to-Engage project | Poster presented at the 6th Congress of the Order of Portuguese Psychologists / XIII Ibero-American Congress of Psychology, September 2024 | Elzbieta Bobrowicz-Campos, Cristina Camilo, Elsa Pegado, Guilherme G. Pinheiro |
| 2024 | Conference | Digital Health Equity: Adressing the Challenges of the Digital Age for Older Adults in Portugal | Communication presented at International Congress on 21st Century Literacies, November 2024 | Elzbieta Bobrowicz-Campos, Cristina Camilo, Elsa Pegado, Ana Rita Medeiros, Cristofthe J Fernandes |
| 2024 | Other Event | Evidence-Based Solutions for Digital Health Equity: Project Presentation Video | Presentation of the Time-to-Engage project, funded under the Social Research Programme of the "la Caixa" Foundation in collaboration with FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology. | Elzbieta Bobrowicz-Campos |
| 2025 | Other Event | 90 seconds of science: Antena 1 Podcast | Presentation of the Time-to-Engage project, funded under the Social Research Programme of the "la Caixa" Foundation in collaboration with FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology. | Elzbieta Bobrowicz-Campos |
| 2025 | Conference | Management of Person-Centered Digital Care | Communication presented at the Conference Innovation and Sustainability: the Great Social Challenges, organized by SHINE 2Europe and the University of Porto and held on May 29, 2025. This conference aimed to share and discuss projects, approaches and good practices in response to the main social challenges we currently face – in Europe and worldwide. | Elzbieta Bobrowicz-Campos |
| File Type | Description | File Size |
|---|---|---|
| Data management plan | Data Management Plan_Time-to-Engage.pdf | 272 KB |
With the objective to increase the research activity directed towards the achievement of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, the possibility of associating scientific projects with the Sustainable Development Goals is now available in Ciência_Iscte. These are the Sustainable Development Goals identified for this project. For more detailed information on the Sustainable Development Goals, click here.
