Three out of every four (73%) tech-savvy seniors in Singapore are seeking digital options for managing their health services remotely, according to an Accenture online survey.
Accenture cites research that shows only half of Singapore healthcare providers currently offer such capabilities, although seniors want access to healthcare technology such as electronic reminders (80%) and online appointment scheduling (83%).
These findings are part of the results of a poll that covered 9,015 adults across nine countries -- Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Germany, Singapore, Spain and the United States. Respondents include 134 seniors (ages 65+) in Singapore.
The growing senior population in Singapore is increasingly active online, as documented by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore. One in every five seniors regularly use the internet.
Among the nine countries surveyed, Accenture’s research shows more senior citizens in Singapore (about two in every five) are actively self-tracking their health indicators (43%) such as weight and blood pressure, medical symptoms (42%), and personal health history (40%).
“Just as seniors are turning to the internet for banking, shopping, entertainment and communications, they also expect to virtually manage aspects of their healthcare services online,” said Corissa Leung, Accenture’s managing director for the ASEAN health industry.
“What this means is that health systems need to expand their digital options to help their patients track and manage their care outside their doctor’s office,” said Leung.
Also, about three-fourths of seniors (77%) surveyed say it’s important to have online access to their health information.