scholarly journals Calling Doctor Google? Technology Adoption and Health Information Seeking among Low-income African-American Older Adults

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyunjin Seo ◽  
Joseph Erba ◽  
Mugur Geana ◽  
Crystal Lumpkins
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African American ◽  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Kansas City ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
African American Older Adults

We conducted focus groups with low-income African American older adults in Kansas City, MO, to examine how this underserved group adopts and uses technology and how technology adoption/use is associated with health information seeking behavior. Low-income African American older adults have been shown to lag behind in terms of their technology access and use. Our findings show that although low-income African American older adults perceive technology to be highly useful, they do not view it as easy to use, thus preventing them from further adopting or using relevant technologies. Consequently, there is skepticism with respect to using technology to search for health information. Our study advances research on underserved groups’ technology use and health information seeking by looking at the intersectionality of race/ethnicity, age, and income. 

Older adults and internet health information seeking

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamer El-Attar ◽  
Jarvis Gray ◽  
Sankaran N. Nair ◽  
Raymond Ownby ◽  
Sara J. Czaja
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Internet Health Information

scholarly journals Online Health Information Seeking Among African American and Hispanic Men Living with Chronic Conditions: A Cross-Sectional Survey (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ledric Sherman ◽  
Kirby Goidel ◽  
Caroline Bergeron ◽  
Matthew Lee Smith
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Hispanic Men ◽  
Online Health Information Seeking ◽  
Minority Men

BACKGROUND Previous research has identified disparities in seeking and using online health information to inform health-related behaviors. Relatively few studies, however, have examined the correlates of online health information seeking and use at the intersection of race, gender, age, and the presence of chronic health condition. OBJECTIVE In this study, we identify factors associated with seeking and using online health information among a uniquely vulnerable and intersectional population, middle-aged and older (40+) African-American and Hispanic men living with one or more chronic conditions. METHODS Survey responses were collected from a purposive sample of African-American and Hispanic men using Qualtrics online survey management software. To qualify for inclusion in the study, respondents had to identify as African-American or Hispanic men, report having at least one chronic condition, and aged 40 years and older. RESULTS Online health information seeking among minority men is function of education, the presence of multiple chronic conditions, frustrations with healthcare providers, internet use, and the perceived reliability of online health information. Use of online health information to inform interactions with healthcare providers is more common for minority men who rate their health as relatively good, perceive barriers to care, use technology regularly, and take more daily medications. CONCLUSIONS Understanding the factors that influence minority males to seek online health information may help to improve care and treatment of chronic conditions. Minority males seek online health information as a substitute for routine care, but also to inform their discussions with healthcare providers. CLINICALTRIAL N/A

scholarly journals Postpartum Health Information Seeking Using Mobile Phones: Experiences of Low-Income Mothers

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (S1) ◽  
pp. 13-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Guerra-Reyes ◽  
Vanessa M. Christie ◽  
Annu Prabhakar ◽  
Asia L. Harris ◽  
Katie A. Siek
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Postpartum Health ◽  
Low Income Mothers

scholarly journals Literacy, Numeracy, and Health Information Seeking Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in the United States

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 33-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Yamashita ◽  
Anthony R. Bardo ◽  
Darren Liu ◽  
Phyllis A. Cummins
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Nationally Representative

Objectives: Health literacy is often viewed as an essential skill set for successfully seeking health information to make health-related decisions. However, this general understanding has yet to be established with the use of nationally representative data. The objective of this study was to provide the first nationally representative empirical evidence that links health information seeking behaviors with health literacy among middle-age to older adults in the United States. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2012/2014 Program for the International Assessment of Adult Literacy (PIAAC). Our analytic sample is representative of adults age 45 to 74 years ( N = 2,989). Results: Distinct components of health literacy (i.e., literacy and numeracy) were uniquely associated with the use of different health information sources (e.g., health professionals, the Internet, television). Discussion: Findings should be useful for government agencies and health care providers interested in targeting health communications, as well as researchers who focus on health disparities.

scholarly journals “Let me know when I’m needed”: Exploring the gendered nature of digital technology use for health information seeking during the transition to parenting

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 205520762110486
Author(s):  
Bradley Hiebert ◽  
Jodi Hall ◽  
Lorie Donelle ◽  
Danica Facca ◽  
Kim Jackson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Transition To Parenthood ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Information Work ◽  
Transition To Parenting

This paper presents results of a qualitative descriptive study conducted to understand parents’ experiences with digital technologies during their transition to parenting (i.e. the period from pre-conception through postpartum). Individuals in southwest Ontario who had become a new parent within the previous 24 months were recruited to participate in a focus group or individual interview. Participants were asked to describe the type of technologies they/their partner used during their transition to parenthood, and how such technologies were used to support their own and their family's health. Focus group and interview transcripts were then subjected to thematic analysis using inductive coding. Ten focus groups and three individual interviews were conducted with 26 heterosexual female participants. Participants primarily used digital technologies to: (1) seek health information for a variety of reproductive health issues, and (2) establish social and emotional connections. The nature of such health information work was markedly gendered and was categorized by 2 dominant themes. First, “‘Let me know when I’m needed’”, characterizes fathers’ apparent avoidance of health information seeking and resultant creation of mothers as lay information mediaries. Second, “Information Curation”, captures participants’ belief that gender biases built-in to popular parenting apps and resources reified the gendered nature of health and health information work during the transition to parenting. Overall, findings indicate that digital technology tailored to new and expecting parents actively reinforced gender norms regarding health information seeking, which creates undue burden on new mothers to become the sole health information seeker and interpreter for their family.

scholarly journals I Wouldn’t Search That With My Mobile Phone: Credibility and Trust in OHIRs Among Lower-Income Black Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 509-509
Author(s):  
Christina Harrington ◽  
Amanda Woodward
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Smart Devices ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Lower Income ◽  
Web Searching ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Technology Proficiency

Abstract Online health information resources (OHIRs) such as conversational assistants and smart devices that provide access to consumer health information in the home are promoted as viable options for older adults to independently manage health. However, there is question as to how well these devices are perceived to meet the needs of marginalized populations such as lower-income Black older adults who often experience lower digital literacy or technology proficiency. We examined the experiences of 34 lower-income Black older adults aged 65-83 from Chicago and Detroit with various OHIRs and explored whether conversational resources were perceived to better support health information seeking compared to traditional online web searching. In a three-phase study, participants tracked their experiences with various OHIRs and documented health-related questions in a health diary. Participants were then interviewed about their diaries in focus groups and semi-structured interviews, followed by a technology critique and co-design session to re-envision a more usable and engaging conversational device. We present preliminary results of the themes that emerged from our analysis: cultural variables in health information seeking practices, perceptions of credibility, likelihood of use, and system accessibility. Participants indicated that their trust of different resources depended on the type of information sought, and that conversational assistants would be a useful resource that require less technology proficiency, even among those with lower e-health literacy. Although our findings indicate that familiarity and trust were salient constructs associated with perceptions of OHIRs, these devices may address digital literacy and technology familiarity with certain design considerations.

scholarly journals eHealth Literacy and Web 2.0 Health Information Seeking Behaviors Among Baby Boomers and Older Adults

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. e70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bethany Tennant ◽  
Michael Stellefson ◽  
Virginia Dodd ◽  
Beth Chaney ◽  
Don Chaney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Web 2.0 ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Baby Boomers ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Ehealth Literacy ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviors
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