133 DESCRIBING THE ‘DIGITAL DIVIDE': INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY USE IN PROSTATE CANCER PATIENTS WITH LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS

Abstract

You have accessJournal of UrologyGeneral & Epidemiological Trends & Socioeconomics: Practice Patterns, Cost Effectiveness (I)1 Apr 2013133 DESCRIBING THE ‘DIGITAL DIVIDE': INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY USE IN PROSTATE CANCER PATIENTS WITH LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS Mya Levy, Lorna Kwan, and Christopher Saigal Mya LevyMya Levy Los Angeles, CA More articles by this author , Lorna KwanLorna Kwan Los Angeles, CA More articles by this author , and Christopher SaigalChristopher Saigal Los Angeles, CA More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2013.02.1512AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Men with prostate cancer face a complex treatment choice. A plethora of resources are available to help them over the internet. Innovative approaches to improving the ability of these men to make good decisions, including desktop and smart phone applications, as well as emerging social media tools are proliferating. However, poor access to information technology may present barriers to accessing these applications for men with low socioeconomic status (SES) who have prostate cancer. Understanding this population's current technology usage will provide key insight into potential barriers as well as possible facilitators to these emerging innovations. The specific aim of this study was to characterize current technology usage amongst a low SES, urban male population of individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer. METHODS We surveyed men enrolled in California's IMPACT program, which provides support to underserved men with prostate cancer. Enrollees were 300% below the Federal poverty line. A telephone survey instrument was used to collect data on information technology use. Specific items inquired about were comfort with information technology as well as preferred or usual location of use. Chi-square analysis was conducted to look for demographic associations with technology usage among this population. RESULTS 1,212 men were enrolled in IMPACT from 2006-2012. Of those, 1,140 completed the survey instrument. 36% had access to the internet, 26% were comfortable browsing the internet, 21% used email. In comparison, 85% of all US adults age 50-64 report using the internet. Of subjects who accessed the internet, 81% did so at home, 12% did so at a friend or family members's home, and 7% did so at the library. The percentage of men that used the internet increased from 34% in 2006 to 47% in 2012. 20% of men felt comfortable browsing in 2006, compared with 35% in 2012. 17% used email in 2006, and 35% in 2012. Individuals who preferred to speak Spanish were less likely to use the internet (p<0.0001). Those who didn't use the internet were older, 60.8 vs. 58.8 years (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Information technology usage in prostate cancer patients with low SES was below national averages, but did increase over the study period. Implementation of technology-based health delivery innovations geared toward this population is not futile, given baseline information technology usage and trends over time. Further characterization of facilitators which increase comfort with internet use and culturally specific barriers to internet use are warranted. © 2013 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 189Issue 4SApril 2013Page: e54 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2013 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Mya Levy Los Angeles, CA More articles by this author Lorna Kwan Los Angeles, CA More articles by this author Christopher Saigal Los Angeles, CA More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...