This study examined whether a structured, classroom-based smartphone training programme can improve digital literacy and confidence in using a smartphone among adults aged 60 years and older enrolled in a lifelong-learning programme. The study used a non-randomised, wait-list-controlled design with two existing class cohorts: one cohort received the training first (intervention group), and the other continued with its usual programme activities and served as a comparison (wait-list control group). Digital literacy and smartphone self-efficacy were measured before the training, immediately after the training, and again three months later. The aim was to determine whether older adults who took part in the training showed greater improvement than those who did not.

The training programme consisted of 12 sessions delivered over 6 weeks (two sessions per week, each lasting 90 to 105 minutes). Content was mapped to the DigComp 2.2 digital competence framework and covered practical smartphone skills for everyday life. Sessions used participants' own Android smartphones together with a projector for demonstration, a class messaging group for support, and between-session practice tasks. The intervention arm comprised the advanced-level cohort of the Akdeniz University 60+ Refresher (Tazelenme) University, and the wait-list control arm comprised the second-year cohort of the same programme.

Two instruments were used. Digital literacy was assessed with the Digital Literacy Scale (score range 12 to 60), the primary outcome. Smartphone self-efficacy was assessed with the Smartphone Self-Efficacy Scale (score range 20 to 100), a secondary outcome. Both were administered at baseline (T1), immediately after the intervention (T2), and at three-month follow-up (T3). Programme satisfaction was assessed with a short questionnaire after the intervention.

The primary analysis used a baseline-adjusted linear mixed model on the full analysis set, including a group-by-baseline interaction and adjustment for age, sex, education, and marital status. Robustness was examined through several pre-specified sensitivity analyses, including per-protocol analysis, difference-in-differences, propensity-score overlap weighting, multiple imputation, and a conservative worst-case (missing-not-at-random) analysis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 60 years or older
• Enrolled in the Akdeniz University 60+ Refresher (Tazelenme) University programme
• Owns and regularly uses an smartphone
• Able to attend the scheduled training sessions
• Provides written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe cognitive, visual, or hearing impairment that would prevent participation in the training

De-identified individual participant data underlying the reported results are available from the corresponding author (B.K.) on reasonable request, subject to ethics and participant-confidentiality restrictions. The analysis code is likewise available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Available beginning after publication of the main results, with no fixed end date.

Requests are reviewed by the corresponding author (B.K.). De-identified data and analytic code will be shared with researchers who submit a methodologically sound proposal and sign a data-access and confidentiality agreement, subject to applicable ethics approvals and participant-confidentiality restrictions.