The Development of the Smartphone Proficiency Questionnaire for Chinese Older Adults (SPQ-COA)

Abstract

While mobile technology is rapidly evolving, it remains a challenge for some older adults to use smartphones worldwide. To address this issue through tailored skill training and product design, this study developed a questionnaire to assess the smartphone proficiency of older adults. The Smartphone Proficiency Questionnaire for Chinese Older Adults (SPQ-COA) assessed proficiency based on 30 up-to-date tasks (e.g., mobile payment), that covered common operations in daily life of Chinese older adults. The questionnaire was distributed to 452 older adults (age ≥60), as well as 100 young adults (age: 18–30) as a control group. The questionnaire performed well in terms of reliability, difficulty, and discrimination. Among older adults, higher scores were associated with lower age, longer daily use duration, more years of use, higher monthly income, and higher education level, further validating the questionnaire. Overall, the SPQ-COA is a valid tool for evaluating Chinese older adults’ smartphone usage skills.