STERIANI ELAVSKY

Project: Unlocking the potential of mHealth technologies to promote behavioral health and active aging in Czech older adults.

Host Institution: Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University
Country of Origin: Czech Republic
Previous Workplace: USA

 

TOPIC OF MY RESEARCH:

The topic of my research is to investigate the utility of using mHealth technologies to promote behavioral health and active aging among Czech older adults. 

WHY I HAVE CHOSEN THE TOPIC:

I have studied aging and the impact of health behaviors such as physical activity on health and wellbeing in the process of aging for the past 15 years but mostly among American populations. There is a scarcity of research in the area of behavioral health and aging among Czech older adults, in spite of the growing numbers of the aging population in the Czech Republic. There are also notable cultural differences in both the attitude toward aging and the role that health behaviors play as determinants of health aging between Czech and American older adults. Similarly, the penetration of mobile technologies is lower among Czech older adults as compared to American older adults and it remains to be determined how useful these technologies can be for promoting health among Czech older adults. 

USE OF THE PROJECT RESULTS IN PRACTICE:

As part of this research we will collect data from seniors, their adult children and healthcare providers on the perceived utility and acceptability of different mHealth technologies to promote healthy behaviors (namely increasing physical activity, reducing sedentary behavior and improving sleep) and we will also test the feasibility of using mobile technology to monitor these behaviors among older adults. The results of the research will be used to inform the development of effective interventions to improve these health behaviors among Czech older adults.

WHY SOMOPRO:

The SoMoPro fellowship enables me to return to the Czech Republic and will facilitate the building of a new program of research in the area of active aging. It is also unique in that it encourages collaboration with industry which is a new domain for me and will allow me to pursue collaborations with industry partners to develop technologies that would suit the needs of Czech older adults, their caregivers, and healthcare providers. 

You can read more about the project HERE.