What Factors Influence Senior People’s Digital Health Technology Adoption Decision in China and Thailand: A Qualitative Study

Panelists:
Haijing Hao, Associate Professor, Computer Information Systems, Bentley University; Associate, Harvard University Asia Center 

Heiko Gewald, Research Professor of Information Management, Neu-Ulm University, Neu-Ulm, Germany (joining virtually) 

Assadaporn Sapsomboon, Associate Professor of Information Technology, Department of Statistics, Chulalongkorn Business School, Bangkok, Thailand (joining virtually)

Registration appreciated for planning purpose. 

This panel discussion will cover the TAMAG project, a cross-cultural study examining how seniors in China, Thailand, and Germany navigate digital health technologies and the personal challenges of aging.

The TAMAG project (Technology Acceptance Model for the Ageing Generation) conducted field interviews with seniors ($65+$) in China, Thailand, and Germany during 2025/26. Participants were drawn from diverse backgrounds and varied geographical regions, including major cities and rural areas. The study focused on seniors’ daily use of digital technologies, such as smartphones and tablets, particularly for health-related purposes. Researchers also explored issues critical to older adults, including the ease of navigating healthcare systems, experiences with medical consultations, and personal perceptions of aging and loneliness. While the interviews highlighted the diverse cultural contexts within China and Thailand, the next phase of analysis will contrast these findings with the Western context, as represented by the German participants.