Latent profiles of digital health technophobia and associated factors among older adults with cancer.

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Background: As digital health technologies become increasingly embedded in oncology care, older adults with cancer are emerging as key users of these services. However, technophobia may hinder their engagement with digital health interventions and exacerbate digital disparities. Evidence regarding the heterogeneity of digital health–related technophobia and its determinants in this population remains limited. Methods: To identify distinct latent profiles of digital health technophobia among older adults with cancer and to examine factors associated with profile membership. Results: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2023 to July 2024 among 307 older adults with cancer recruited from a tertiary hospital in Shandong Province, China. Participants completed the Technophobia Scale, eHealth Literacy Scale, and General Self-Efficacy Scale. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed to identify subgroups based on technophobia patterns. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine factors associated with profile membership. Conclusions: Three distinct technophobia profiles were identified: Low Technophobia (50.2%), Moderate Technophobia with Predominant Techno-Anxiety (19.2%), and High Technophobia (30.6%). Higher general self-efficacy was associated with lower likelihood of membership in the moderate and high technophobia profiles. Smartphone use by patients and caregivers, online health information–seeking behaviors, and following the hospital’s official social media account were significantly associated with profile membership (all P < 0.05).