Call for papers - Challenges faced by older adults in accessing digital health services

Guest Editors

Jeffrey Jutai, PhD, University of Ottawa, Canada
Emma Stanmore, PhD, MRes, BNurs (Hons), University of Manchester, UK

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 19 December 2025

BMC Health Services Research is calling for submissions to our Collection on Challenges faced by older adults in accessing digital health services.

This Collection aims to explore the multifaceted challenges faced by older adults in accessing digital health services. We welcome submissions that investigate barriers to technology use, effective e-health solutions, and strategies to enhance digital health literacy among older populations. By focusing on the unique needs of older adults, this Collection seeks to inform the development of inclusive digital health services that improve health outcomes and promote equity in healthcare access.

New Content Item This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

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Meet the Guest Editors

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Jeffrey Jutai, PhD, University of Ottawa, Canada

Dr Jutai is past editor-in-chief of the journal Assistive Technology and is a member of the AGE-WELL research network (https://agewell-nce.ca/) and past member of the Research Management Committee of AGE-WELL. Dr Jutai has reviewed grant applications for agencies that include the CIHR and the NFRF in Canada and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) in the United States. Dr Jutai’s research program measures the impact of assistive technologies for persons who are aging and for persons who provide care to these individuals. Dr Jutai is co-author of the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS), which is available in over 25 international cultural and linguistic translations (www.piads.at).

Emma Stanmore, PhD, MRes, BNurs (Hons), University of Manchester, UK

Dr Stanmore has over 25 years combined experience in healthcare, research and teaching with a particular focus on the promotion of healthy ageing and use of innovation to prevent functional loss and falls in older adults with or without long term conditions. Dr Stanmore has been awarded grant funding as Principal Investigator from UKRI Innovate UK/Economic Social Research Council/SBRI/NHS England/Wellcome Trust and as Co-I from National Institute for Health Research/Medical Research Council/European Commission. Emma also has a track record of developing successful healthcare innovations in collaboration with software developers, clinicians and engineers including Exergames (over 10,000 users), Keep On Keep Up (KOKU™); RehabMat (iMagiMat technology) and also implementing change in the Health and Social Care (new hospital at home services and interdisciplinary rehab roles).

About the Collection

BMC Health Services Research is calling for submissions to our Collection on Challenges faced by older adults in accessing digital health services.

As digital health services continue to evolve, older adults face unique challenges that can hinder their access and engagement with e-health technologies. These challenges often stem from a combination of technological, cognitive, and socio-economic factors, including limited familiarity with digital platforms, age-related physical limitations, and varying levels of technological literacy. Understanding these barriers is crucial to ensuring that digital health services are inclusive and accessible to all segments of the population, particularly older adults who may benefit significantly from these advancements.

Addressing the challenges faced by older adults in accessing digital health services is essential for promoting health equity and improving health outcomes. Advances in technology, such as telemedicine, remote monitoring, and health applications, have the potential to greatly enhance the quality of care and support for older individuals. However, without targeted research and interventions, many older adults remain at risk of being left behind in the digital transformation of healthcare. By focusing on their specific needs and experiences, we can develop solutions that facilitate their engagement with digital health resources.

Continued research in this area may lead to new technologies and service models tailored to the unique needs of older adults. By fostering collaboration between researchers, healthcare providers, and technology developers, we can create more user-friendly digital health solutions that not only enhance accessibility but also improve health literacy among older populations. This could ultimately empower older adults to take greater control of their health and well-being through digital means.

We invite submissions on a range of topics, including but not limited to:

Barriers to technology access for older adults
Enhancing e-health services for older people
The role of assistive technologies in digital healthcare
Strategies for improving digital health literacy
The impact of social isolation on access to digital health services
Evaluating user experience and satisfaction with digital health tools among older adults
Policy implications for digital health accessibility for older persons
Case studies of successful digital health interventions for older populations
Implementation of digital health technologies in residential settings

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Challenges faced by older adults in accessing digital health services" from the dropdown menu.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.