Teva UK Study Reveals Generational 'Digital Divide' as UK Baby Boomers Fail to Embrace Benefits of 'Digital Healthcare'

CASTLEFORD, England, September 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

• Survey of 1000 UK residents shows over 55s take personal responsibility for health, but less likely to use digital technologies to manage health 
• Survey comes on heels of UK government report highlighting risk of new healthcare technologies failing to reach those with highest need 
• Teva UK - the 'Digital Zone' sponsor at NHS England's Health & Care Innovation Expo 2016 -calls for NHS-patient-industry collaboration in tackling healthcare generational "digital divide" 

Teva UK Ltd. today released results of a UK survey showing that people over the age of 55 feel in high control of their health^[1] and that over 55s are more likely than other age groups in the UK to feel it's their responsibility to influence their own health.^[2] The research, involving 1000 participants in the UK, also indicated UK baby boomers believe it's important to take care of one's own health to avoid major health-related expenses in the future.^[2]

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But the study also revealed a generational "digital divide" in attitudes toward managing one's health. Research found that people over 55 in the UK are least likely of any age group to seek advice on how to take better control of their health.^[3] They're also least likely to search for health information online, with only a third saying they find health information online dependable.^[4] The UK survey also found that less than half of over 55s surveyed said they actively seek new information about their health^[2] - despite over 80% saying it's their responsibility to influence their own health.^[2]

Teva UK has published these findings to coincide with the start of NHS England's Health & Care Innovation Expo 2016, which opens today in Manchester. Teva is serving as NHS England's Digital Zone partner at this year's Expo, with the aim of sharing experiences, examining best practices, and understanding drivers and barriers to adopting digital technology in healthcare.

The Teva UK study also showed that over 55s are the least likely of any UK age group to agree that technology makes their life easier.^[5] Research indicated UK baby boomers would be least likely to make use of health tests that - thanks partly to advances in digital technology - could predict or prevent certain health conditions: only 11% said they would seek out tests to predict or prevent conditions they might be prone to develop due to their genes or lifestyle.^[4] Over 55s were also sceptical of the potential health impact of wearable technologies and similar innovations, with only 1 in 5 (22%) believing these technologies could revolutionise healthcare.^[6] Baby boomers were also least likely to either own (4%) or consider owning (8%) a wearable tech device or health sensor.^[7]