La Plaza Telecommunity's Diabetes Wellness Connection (DWC), an internet based health promotion demonstration project in Taos, New Mexico, funded by the Department of Commerce, TIIAP developed a model for internet access, training, and internet based diabetes information for tri-cultural residents of a remote rural county in Northern New Mexico. The objectives of the DWC project were threefold: To provide 1) computers and internet access to 3 rural clinics, 2) internet training in accessing diabetes and health information for health care providers and consumers, and 3) regionally and culturally appropriate health information related to diabetes via La Plaza's website (www.laplaza.org). The 24-month project provided internet access via laptop computers for health care providers and via public access desktop computers placed in clinic lobbies for consumers. Internet training was provided for 27 health care providers and for 3 bilingual "Promotora" Community Outreach Trainers (COTs) who conducted 297 individual internet training sessions with consumers in clinic waiting rooms. Regionally and culturally appropriate diabetes information including the "Strong in Spirit" Native American Diabetes Project curriculum, "Meet the Montoya's" fotonovella and "Living Well with Diabetes" personal stories were provided on La Plaza's DWC Website (http://www.laplaza.org/health/dwc/). During the project, health care providers and COTs utilized 1830 hours of online time and La Plaza DWC website was accessed 23,350 times. "Lessons Learned" from the La Plaza Telecommunity DWC model are relevant for other internet health promotion projects. See www.laplaza.org
Learning Objectives: 1.Identify 3 variables affecting internet access in rural areas 2.Discuss 3 advantages of using a promotora, community outreach trainer, strategy for providing internet training among underserved populations 3.Describe 2 methods for providing efficient and low cost regionally and culturally appropriate internet health content
Keywords: Internet, Underserved Populations
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: La Plaza Telecommunity,
Department of Commerce Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program,
University of New Mexico Prevention Center,
New Mexico Department of Health,
Presbyterian Medical Services,
Health Centers of Norther
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employed as Internet Health Coordinator at La Plaza Telecommunity,
Funding provided by the Department of Commerce Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program, Fellowship in Applied Informatics, National Library of Medicine