161610 Perceptions about information technology (IT) among minority patients receiving care at safety net facilities in Los Angeles (LA)

Monday, November 5, 2007

Magda Shaheen, MD, PhD, MPH , Ophthalmology, Charles Drew University of Medicine & Science, Lynwood, CA
James Smith, MD , Charles R Drew University of Medicine & Science, Lynwood, CA
Elsa Garcia, MD , Charles R Drew University of Medicine & Science, Lynwood, CA
Richard Baker, MD , Ophthalmology, Charles R Drew University of Medicine & Science, Lynwood, CA
Background: Previous studies have documented demographic differences in access/use of computer/internet. Information is lacking on the perceptions about IT among patients using safety-net facilities.

Objective: To measure the knowledge, comfort, and perceived skills at finding and evaluating health resources available online among patients at safety-net clinics in LA.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey of patients at two safety-net clinics in LA using a questionnaire to interview a systematic sample of 200 patients.

Results: Of 200 patients; 15-75 years (mean=47, SD=12), 75% were female, 72% were Hispanics, 79% had income <$25,000, 86% had <high-school education. Home computer and internet use were 33% and 26% respectively. Of the internet users, 63% looked for health information online. Respondents felt the usefulness of the internet in making health care related decisions (87%), and the importance of online access to health resources (95%). Participants agreed or strongly agreed about the following 8-items related to the online resources; knew its availability (66%), knew where to find it (76%), knew how to find the helpful ones (79%), knew how to use the internet to answer health questions (82%), knew how to use it to help themselves (87%), had skills to evaluate it (74%), can tell its quality (66%), felt confident in using it to make health decisions (66%). The reliability of the 8-item scale was high (alpha=0.87). Factor analysis produced a single factor (% of variance=53%) that was associated with education level (r=0.34, p=0.01).

Conclusion: The percentage of patients using the internet to look for health information was low. Most patients who looked for health information believed the usefulness and importance of it, had the knowledge, comfort, and perceived skills at finding and evaluating health resources online. An educational intervention to enhance patients' access to online health resources may improve patient's awareness and ability to make health related decisions.

Learning Objectives:
1- Learn about the percentage of patients that are using the internet to look for health related information among those who are receiving health care at safety-net clinics. 2- Learn about knowledge, comfort, and perceived skills at finding and evaluating health resources online among minority underserved population attending the safety-net clinics in Los Angeles 3- Learn about the reliability of the 8-item scale and construction of a factor that is used to assess knowledge, comfort, and perceived skills at finding and evaluating health resources online among minority underserved population attending the safety-net clinics in Los Angeles

Keywords: Information Technology, Safety Net

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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