 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Joann T. Richardson, PhD, School of Education, Virginia Commonwealth University, 817 W. Franklin Street, P.O.Box 842037, Richmond, VA 23284-2037, 804-828-1948, jtrichar@vcu.edu, Unyime O. Nseyo, MD, Department of Urology, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Virginia Commmonwealth University, West Hospital, 7th Floor, East Wing, Room 7-204, 1200 E. Broad Street, P.O. Box 980118, Richmond, VA 23298-0118, and Gwendolyn G. Parker, MS, FNP-C, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, 401 College Street, P.O. Box 980037, Richmond, VA 23298-0037.
Twenty first century health promotion is increasingly reliant on computer-based telecommunications and information technology, resulting in a formidable disparity (i.e., the digital divide) between those of means and those without. The digital divide is widening at lower income levels and for many racial minorities. African-Americans who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, medically underserved and disenfranchised from mainstream health promotion activities are the least likely to have access to new computer technology within or outside the home. Consequently, they are isolated from health promotion and disease prevention that advances the latest health information, education and early detection/treatment strategies that could attenuate some of the dire consequences of disease and reduce/eliminate health disparities. In few diseases is this more evident than in prostate cancer among African-American men, who have the highest prostate cancer rates in the world and mortality rates more than twice as high as the rates in white men. Prostate cancer affects the socioeconomically disadvantaged/medically underserved at disproportionately higher rates, indicated by a 3-fold risk of developing the disease. The combination of race and socioeconomic status (SES) places the low-income/ medically underserved, African-American man in double jeopardy for negative prostate cancer outcomes. Moreover, these men tend to be less knowledgeable about the disease. The first step in making a difference is increasing their knowledge as the basis for lifestyle changes. This study explores whether the target population is receptive to the use of e-health applications taking into account culturally-appropriate, -relevant and -acceptable informational content, computer modality and community site selection.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: African American, Underserved
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.