Abstract A14: Digital health information access among Asian Americans

Abstract

Abstract Background Access to health information is essential to patient-centered healthcare. Healthy People 2020 recommended three key strategies for improving health outcomes and narrowing health disparities. One of the key strategies is to provide equitable access to health information. Digital technology holds great promise in helping to reduce health disparities. In fact, recent studies indicate that the “digital divide” is narrowing between racial/ethnic minorities and the general population. The question remains, however, on whether or not all groups have equal access to digital health information. Asian Americans (AAs) are the fastest growing minority group in the U.S. More than 65% of AAs are foreign-born, and greater than 30% have limited English proficiency. Non-English speaking AAs were not specifically targeted in previous digital technology ownership and usage surveys. However, such information is important to ensure equal access to digital cancer control information and other health information. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine (1) the most common channels that AA immigrants use to obtain health information, and (2) factors predicting the ownership and usage of computers, as well as the use of the Internet to obtain health information. Methods This study used a cross-sectional design and quota sampling. Participants were recruited through seven community-based organizations and from six Asian subgroups (Cambodian, Chinese, Filipinos, Korean, Laotian, South Asians and Vietnamese) . Participants were asked where they usually received helpful health information. They were also asked whether they had a computer at home and knew how to use it, as well as whether they used the Internet to obtain health information. Surveys were conducted in participants' native language. Only data from participants who were foreign-born were used in the statistical analysis. Results 403 participants completed the survey and 395 (98%) were foreign-born. 49% had family income <$20,000/year, 36% had <9 years of education, 45% reported less than average English proficiency. 26% were less than 50 years old (mean age = 56). 27% in the U.S. less than 10 years (mean years = 20). Overall, 78% of participants had a computer at home and 65% knew how to use it. However, only 14% of participants who did not have a computer at home knew how to use a computer. The most common channels to obtain helpful health information were: doctor (61%), family (38%), friends (37%), newspaper (32%), Internet (30%), ethnic television (29%), and community events (25%). However, there were significant differences across AA subgroups. 29% participants whose family income <$20,000/year did not have a computer at home, compared to 5% of participants whose family income >$20,000/year (p <.0005). Nearly half of the participants (47%) whose family income <$20,000 did not know how to use a computer, compared to only 14% participants whose family income >$20,000/year (p < .0005). Participants who did not have a computer at home were less likely to use the Internet for health information (OR = 0.14, 95%CI: .06-.33, p <.0005), so did participants who did not know how to use a computer (OR=.14, 95%CI: .08-.27, p <.0005). Participants who had less than average English proficiency were less likely to use the Internet to obtain health information (OR=.36, 95%CI: .23-.29, p <.0005), so did participant who had less than 12 years of education (OR=24, 95%CI: .11-.54, p =.001). Conclusion Despite a narrowing racial/ethnic “digital divide”, disparities still exist, particularly among Asian immigrants with low social economic status, less years of education and limited English proficiency. New interventions are needed to target underserved AA subpopulations and help them to gain access to digital health information and develop information seeking skills. Citation Format: Helen Lam, Michael Quinn, Edwin Chandrasekar, Karen Kim. Digital health information access among Asian Americans. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Ninth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2016 Sep 25-28; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2017;26(2 Suppl):Abstract nr A14.