scholarly journals Prevalence and Predictors of Health-Related Internet and Digital Device Use in a Sample of South Asian Adults in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada: Results From a 2014 Community-Based Survey (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J Makowsky ◽  
Charlotte A Jones ◽  
Shahnaz Davachi
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Health Information ◽  
South Asian ◽  
High School Education ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
Medical Forms

BACKGROUND South Asian Canadians are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Consumer-oriented health information technology may help mitigate lifestyle risk factors and improve chronic disease self-management. OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore the prevalence, patterns, and predictors of the use of the internet, digital devices, and apps for health purposes as well as preferences for future use of eHealth support in South Asian Canadians. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional, mixed-mode survey in a convenience sample of 831 South Asian adults recruited at faith-based gathering places, health care settings, and community events in Edmonton, Alberta, in 2014. The 706 responders (mean age 47.1, SD 17.6 years; n=356, 50.4% female; n=509, 72.1% Sikh) who provided complete sociodemographic information were included in the analysis, and the denominators varied based on the completeness of responses to each question. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine sociodemographic and health status predictors of internet use, being a web-based health information seeker, smartphone or tablet ownership, health app use, and willingness to use various modes of eHealth support. RESULTS Of all respondents, 74.6% (527/706) were internet users and 47.8% (336/703) were web-based health information seekers. In addition, 74.9% (527/704) of respondents owned a smartphone or tablet and 30.7% (159/518) of these had a health and fitness app. Most internet users (441/527, 83.7%) expressed interest in using ≥1 mode of eHealth support. Older age, being female, having less than high school education, preferring written health information in languages other than English, and lacking confidence in completing medical forms predicted lack of internet use. Among internet users, factors that predicted web-based health information seeking were being female, use of the internet several times per day, being confident in completing medical forms, and preferring health information in English. Predictors of not owning a smartphone or tablet were being older, preferring health information in languages other than English, having less than high school education, living in Canada for <5 years, having a chronic health condition, and having diabetes. Increasing age was associated with lower odds of having a health app. Preferring health information in languages other than English consistently predicted lower interest in all modes of eHealth support. CONCLUSIONS eHealth-based chronic disease prevention and management interventions are feasible for South Asian adults, but digital divides exist according to language preference, education, age, sex, confidence in completing medical forms, and number of years lived in Canada. Community-based, culturally tailored strategies targeting these factors are required to address existing divides and increase the uptake of credible web-based and app-based resources for health purposes.

scholarly journals Prevalence and Predictors of Health-Related Internet and Digital Device Use in a Sample of South Asian Adults in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada: Results From a 2014 Community-Based Survey

10.2196/20671 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. e20671
Author(s):  
Mark J Makowsky ◽  
Charlotte A Jones ◽  
Shahnaz Davachi
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Health Information ◽  
South Asian ◽  
High School Education ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
Medical Forms

Background South Asian Canadians are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Consumer-oriented health information technology may help mitigate lifestyle risk factors and improve chronic disease self-management. Objective This study aims to explore the prevalence, patterns, and predictors of the use of the internet, digital devices, and apps for health purposes as well as preferences for future use of eHealth support in South Asian Canadians. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional, mixed-mode survey in a convenience sample of 831 South Asian adults recruited at faith-based gathering places, health care settings, and community events in Edmonton, Alberta, in 2014. The 706 responders (mean age 47.1, SD 17.6 years; n=356, 50.4% female; n=509, 72.1% Sikh) who provided complete sociodemographic information were included in the analysis, and the denominators varied based on the completeness of responses to each question. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine sociodemographic and health status predictors of internet use, being a web-based health information seeker, smartphone or tablet ownership, health app use, and willingness to use various modes of eHealth support. Results Of all respondents, 74.6% (527/706) were internet users and 47.8% (336/703) were web-based health information seekers. In addition, 74.9% (527/704) of respondents owned a smartphone or tablet and 30.7% (159/518) of these had a health and fitness app. Most internet users (441/527, 83.7%) expressed interest in using ≥1 mode of eHealth support. Older age, being female, having less than high school education, preferring written health information in languages other than English, and lacking confidence in completing medical forms predicted lack of internet use. Among internet users, factors that predicted web-based health information seeking were being female, use of the internet several times per day, being confident in completing medical forms, and preferring health information in English. Predictors of not owning a smartphone or tablet were being older, preferring health information in languages other than English, having less than high school education, living in Canada for <5 years, having a chronic health condition, and having diabetes. Increasing age was associated with lower odds of having a health app. Preferring health information in languages other than English consistently predicted lower interest in all modes of eHealth support. Conclusions eHealth-based chronic disease prevention and management interventions are feasible for South Asian adults, but digital divides exist according to language preference, education, age, sex, confidence in completing medical forms, and number of years lived in Canada. Community-based, culturally tailored strategies targeting these factors are required to address existing divides and increase the uptake of credible web-based and app-based resources for health purposes.

THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OF SHIELDS—NOAA'S SANCTUARIES HAZARDOUS INCIDENT EMERGENCY LOGISTICS DATABASE SYSTEM1

2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 (1) ◽  
pp. 415-419
Author(s):  
Jill L. Bodnar
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Information System ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Modeling Tools ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Critical Data ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Emergency Logistics ◽  
Response Information ◽  
Use Of The Internet

ABSTRACT The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Sanctuaries Hazardous Incident Emergency Logistics Database System (SHIELDS) is an Internet-based information system designed to improve access to critical data, plans, and tools for National Marine Sanctuary (NMS) personnel and their partners for contingency planning and response situations. At the core of the SHIELDS project is a website developed for each of the thirteen National Marine Sanctuaries and one coral reef ecosystem reserve in the sanctuary designation process. Each site hosts general planning and response information, such as policies and contingency plans. More so, SHIELDS takes advantage of leading information technology to improve the availability of vital response information and folds it into one comprehensive website. The use of Geographic Information System (GIS) data has expanded from static hardcopy maps to web-based interactive mapping, allowing Internet users to easily examine Sanctuary-specific geographic data from any location. SHIELDS offers NOAA modeling tools to analyze the fate of pollutants and live buoy data for real-time oceanographic conditions. Web-based databases within SHIELDS allow the user to enter or query information on personnel contact and location, potential Sanctuary threats, geographic response plans (GRPs) and Resources and UnderSea Threats (RUST) data, post updated incident text and documentation, or look up response glossary terms. Although SHIELDS relies extensively on the use of the Internet to distribute its information, it has also been designed to work as a stand-alone product for those inevitable circumstances when Internet access is not available during a response. The user can load the SHIELDS webpages and data onto their personal computer and carry it to any remote location to access the same data found on the Internet. SHIELDS provides the most comprehensive incident planning and response information for the National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP). This ensures that NOAA fulfills its role as stewards of Sanctuary resources and provides effective and timely response information about their trust resources.

scholarly journals The Health and Retirement Study: Analysis of Associations Between Use of the Internet for Health Information and Use of Health Services at Multiple Time Points (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyunju Shim ◽  
Jennifer Ailshire ◽  
Elizabeth Zelinski ◽  
Eileen Crimmins
Keyword(s):  
Health Service ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Chronic Health Conditions ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Chronic Health ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Doctor Visits ◽  
Use Of The Internet

BACKGROUND The use of the internet for health information among older people is receiving increasing attention, but how it is associated with chronic health conditions and health service use at concurrent and subsequent time points using nationally representative data is less known. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine whether the use of the internet for health information is associated with health service utilization and whether the association is affected by specific health conditions. METHODS The study used data collected in a technology module from a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling older Americans aged 52 years and above from the 2012 Health and Retirement Study (HRS; N=991). Negative binomial regressions were used to examine the association between use of Web-based health information and the reported health service uses in 2012 and 2014. Analyses included additional covariates adjusting for predisposing, enabling, and need factors. Interactions between the use of the internet for health information and chronic health conditions were also tested. RESULTS A total of 48.0% (476/991) of Americans aged 52 years and above reported using Web-based health information. The use of Web-based health information was positively associated with the concurrent reports of doctor visits, but not over 2 years. However, an interaction of using Web-based health information with diabetes showed that users had significantly fewer doctor visits compared with nonusers with diabetes at both times. CONCLUSIONS The use of the internet for health information was associated with higher health service use at the concurrent time, but not at the subsequent time. The interaction between the use of the internet for health information and diabetes was significant at both time points, which suggests that health-related internet use may be associated with fewer doctor visits for certain chronic health conditions. Results provide some insight into how Web-based health information may provide an alternative health care resource for managing chronic conditions.

scholarly journals Profiles of a Health Information–Seeking Population and the Current Digital Divide: Cross-Sectional Analysis of the 2015-2016 California Health Interview Survey (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hena Naz Din ◽  
Corinne McDaniels-Davidson ◽  
Jesse Nodora ◽  
Hala Madanat
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
California Health Interview Survey ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Interview Survey ◽  
Use Of The Internet

BACKGROUND Internet use for health information is important, given the rise of electronic health (eHealth) that integrates technology into health care. Despite the perceived widespread use of the internet, a persistent “digital divide” exists in which many individuals have ready access to the internet and others do not. To date, most published reports have compared characteristics of internet users seeking health information vs nonusers. However, there is little understanding of the differences between internet users seeking health information online and users who do not seek such information online. Understanding these differences could enable targeted outreach for health interventions and promotion of eHealth technologies. OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess population-level characteristics associated with different types of internet use, particularly for seeking online health information. METHODS The 2015-2016 California Health Interview Survey datasets were used for this study. Internet use was classified as never used the internet (Never use), ever used the internet but not to search for health information in the last 12 months (Use not for health), and ever used the internet and have used it to search for health information in the last 12 months (Use for health). Weighted multinomial logistic regression was used to assess sociodemographic and health characteristics associated with types of internet use. Findings are reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs. RESULTS Among 42,087 participants (weighted sample of 29,236,426), 19% reported Never Use of the internet, 27.9% reported Use not for health, and 53.1% reported Use for health. Compared to Never Use individuals, Use for health individuals were more likely to be younger (OR: 0.1, 95% CI 0.1-0.2 for ≥60 years vs <60 years), female (OR: 1.6, 95% CI 1.3-1.9 compared to males), and non-Hispanic white (OR: 0.54, 95% CI 0.4-0.7 for Latinos and OR: 0.2, 95% CI 0.2-0.4 for African Americans) and have a higher socioeconomic status (>400% of Federal Poverty Guidelines; OR: 1.3, 95% CI 1.4-2.4). Overall, characteristics for the Use not for health and Use for health groups were similar, except for those with lower levels of education and respondents not having visited a physician in the last year. For these two characteristics, the Use not for health group was more similar to the Never Use group. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that a digital divide characterized by sociodemographic and health information exists across three types of users. Our results are in line with those of previous studies on the divide, specifically with regard to disparities in use and access related to age, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Disparities in online health-seeking behavior may reflect existing disparities in health care access extending into a new era of health technology. These findings support the need for interventions to target internet access and health literacy among Never Use and Use not for health groups.

scholarly journals Health Information Accessed on the Internet: The Development in 5 European Countries

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Per Egil Kummervold ◽  
Rolf Wynn
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Major Part ◽  
Information Access ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Northern Europe ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Continuous Growth ◽  
Media Source ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
Near Future

The aim of this study was to summarize and analyse findings from four prior studies on the use of the Internet as a source of health information in five European countries (Norway, Denmark, Germany, Greece, and Portugal). A cross-study comparison of data was performed. All the studies included fit with a trend of a sharp and continuous growth in the use of the Internet for health information access in the major part of the last decade. Importantly, the Internet has become an important mass media source of health information in northern Europe. While the use of the Internet for health information is somewhat less common in the south European countries, its use is also clearly increasing there. We discuss the advantages of cross-study comparisons of data and methodological challenges. As the use of the Internet for health information is likely to peak in some countries in the near future, new population surveys on health information access should focus more on the details of information that is accessed and which sites that are most used and trusted.

scholarly journals Protocol paper for the ‘Harnessing resources from the internet to maximise outcomes from GP consultations (HaRI)’ study: a mixed qualitative methods study

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. e024188
Author(s):  
Maureen Seguin ◽  
Laura Hall ◽  
Helen Atherton ◽  
Rebecca Barnes ◽  
Geraldine Leydon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Patient Questionnaires ◽  
Ethical Approval ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
Questionnaire Studies

IntroductionMany patients now turn to the internet as a resource for healthcare information and advice. However, patients’ use of the internet to manage their health has been positioned as a potential source of strain on the doctor–patient relationship in primary care. The current evidence about what happens when internet-derived health information is introduced during consultations has relied on qualitative data derived from interview or questionnaire studies. The ‘Harnessing resources from the internet to maximise outcomes from GP consultations (HaRI)’ study combines questionnaire, interview and video-recorded consultation data to address this issue more fully.Methods and analysisThree data collection methods are employed: preconsultation patient questionnaires, video-recorded consultations between general practitioners (GP) and patients, and semistructured interviews with GPs and patients. We seek to recruit 10 GPs practising in Southeast England. We aim to collect up to 30 patient questionnaires and video-recorded consultations per GP, yielding up to 300. Up to 30 patients (approximately three per participating GP) will be selected for interviews sampled for a wide range of sociodemographic characteristics, and a variety of ways the use of, or information from, the internet was present or absent during their consultation. We will interview all 10 participating GPs about their views of online health information, reflecting on their own usage of online information during consultations and their patients’ references to online health information. Descriptive, conversation and thematic analysis will be used respectively for the patient questionnaires, video-recorded consultations and interviews.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been granted by the London–Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee. Alongside journal publications, dissemination activities include the creation of a toolkit to be shared with patients and doctors, to guide discussions of material from the internet in consultations.

Sex Differences in the Use of the Internet as a Source of Health Information Among Adolescents

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime Jiménez-Pernett ◽  
Antonio Olry de Labry-Lima ◽  
Jose Francisco García-Gutiérrez ◽  
Maria del Carmen Salcedo-Sánchez ◽  
Clara Bermúdez-Tamayo
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Health Information ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Use Of The Internet

scholarly journals Multidimensional Feature Classification of the Health Information Needs of Patients With Hypertension in an Online Health Community Through Analysis of 1000 Patient Question Records: Observational Study

10.2196/17349 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. e17349
Author(s):  
Aijing Luo ◽  
Zirui Xin ◽  
Yifeng Yuan ◽  
Tingxiao Wen ◽  
Wenzhao Xie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Classification System ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Good Doctor ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Symptoms And Signs

Background With the rapid development of online health communities, increasing numbers of patients and families are seeking health information on the internet. Objective This study aimed to discuss how to fully reveal the health information needs expressed by patients with hypertension in their questions in a web-based environment and how to use the internet to help patients with hypertension receive personalized health education. Methods This study randomly selected 1000 text records from the question data of patients with hypertension from 2008 to 2018 collected from Good Doctor Online and constructed a classification system through literature research and content analysis. This paper identified the background characteristics and questioning intention of each patient with hypertension based on the patient’s question and used co-occurrence network analysis and the k-means clustering method to explore the features of the health information needs of patients with hypertension. Results The classification system for the health information needs of patients with hypertension included the following nine dimensions: drugs (355 names), symptoms and signs (395 names), tests and examinations (545 names), demographic data (526 kinds), diseases (80 names), risk factors (37 names), emotions (43 kinds), lifestyles (6 kinds), and questions (49 kinds). There were several characteristics of the explored web-based health information needs of patients with hypertension. First, more than 49% of patients described features, such as drugs, symptoms and signs, tests and examinations, demographic data, and diseases. Second, patients with hypertension were most concerned about treatment (778/1000, 77.80%), followed by diagnosis (323/1000, 32.30%). Third, 65.80% (658/1000) of patients asked physicians several questions at the same time. Moreover, 28.30% (283/1000) of patients were very concerned about how to adjust the medication, and they asked other treatment-related questions at the same time, including drug side effects, whether to take the drugs, how to treat the disease, etc. Furthermore, 17.60% (176/1000) of patients consulted physicians about the causes of clinical findings, including the relationship between the clinical findings and a disease, the treatment of a disease, and medications and examinations. Fourth, by k-means clustering, the questioning intentions of patients with hypertension were classified into the following seven categories: “how to adjust medication,” “what to do,” “how to treat,” “phenomenon explanation,” “test and examination,” “disease diagnosis,” and “disease prognosis.” Conclusions In a web-based environment, the health information needs expressed by Chinese patients with hypertension to physicians are common and distinct, that is, patients with different background features ask relatively common questions to physicians. The classification system constructed in this study can provide guidance to health information service providers for the construction of web-based health resources, as well as guidance for patient education, which could help solve the problem of information asymmetry in communication between physicians and patients.

scholarly journals INDONESIAN WARSHIP HISTORY INFORMATION SYSTEM OF INDONESIAN FLEET BASED ON WEB

JOURNAL ASRO ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
Khairul Huda ◽  
Zaenal Syahlan ◽  
M Syaifi ◽  
Edy Widodo
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Information System ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Web Based ◽  
History Information ◽  
History Of ◽  
Access Information ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
The Web

The development of information technology also developed in line with thedevelopment of human civilization. The development of information technology is veryhelpful, one of which is the internet. The use of the internet has developed into anappropriate means to convey information that is fast, effective and accurate. Submissionof information is not limited to all soldiers and the general public by utilizing technologicalfacilities, namely websites. In conveying the history of Indonesia Warship Raden EddyMartadinata 331 and Indonesia Warship I Gusti Ngurah Rai 332 are still stored in the formof documents on a computer and are still printed in the form of sheets of paper. Inconveying the history of Indonesia Warship, it must be developed further to conveyinformation in the current era. Historical research that executive focuses on the past. Sofar, information on the Indonesia Warship Indonesia Warship's historical informationsystem Raden Eddy Martadinata - 331 and Indonesia Warship I Gusti Ngurah Rai - 332on the web-based Indonesian Armed Forces fleet are still in print. besides usinginformation books, then try to make other alternatives by creating a website, besides thatmembers are expected to access information easily and efficiently. With theineffectiveness in managing Indonesia Warship Indonesia Warship historical data RadenEddy Martadinata - 331 and Indonesia Warship I Gusti Ngurah Rai - 332, a design of theIndonesia Warship historical information system was built in the web-based IndonesianArmada fleet which aims to facilitate the process of Indonesia Warship history search.PHP as a programmer and MySQL as the database.Keywords: Website-Based Indonesia Warship History Information System. PHP MySQL.

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