The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #66004

Lorna T Haughton, MPH¹, Jasmine Hall, MHA², Cheryl L. Holt, PhD¹, Matthew W. Kreuter, PhD, MPH¹, and Eric Wheetley¹. (1) Health Communication Research Laboratory, School of Public Health, Saint Louis University, 3545 Lafayette, Salus Center Suite 408, Saint Louis, MO 63104, 314-977-4045, haughton@slu.edu, (2) Missouri Foundation for Health, 1000 St. Louis Union Station, Grand Central Building Suite 400, Saint Louis, MO 63103

The use of information and communication technologies has rapidly grown over the last 10 years, yet there continues to be a gap between those with access and those without, the so-called “digital divide”. This study sought to determine whether lack of access to technology is associated with participation rates and outcomes in research studies. Data for the study were part of a National Cancer Institute-funded study of cancer communication among 1,227 African American women from 10 urban public health centers in St. Louis, MO. Preliminary results showed that only 9% (n=113) of the women reported having email addresses and 26% (n=320) reported having a cellular telephone or pager number. Women who reported an email address or cellular telephone/pager number were less likely to be lost to follow up at one and six-month data collection points, indicating a significant association between access to communication technology and study participation. Education and income were both positively associated with access whereas increasing age was negatively associated with access. In univariate analyses, both email and cellular phone/pager access were predictive of more accurate breast cancer screening knowledge, beliefs, and treatment. However after controlling for demographic variables and interaction effects, the relationship between access to technology and behavioral outcomes was no longer significant. Public health emphasis on increasing access to information and communication technologies is important. These results suggest that access may play a major role in the retention of participants to research studies.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this presentation, audience members will:
• Recognize the US disparity of access to technology.
• Understand the role of information and communication technologies in public health studies.

Keywords: Information Technology, Communication Technology

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.