219557 Online health resource use in teens with chronic disease: Behaviors, barriers and benefits

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Deena Chisolm, PhD , Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH
Lauren Johnson , Center for Innovation in Pediatric Practice, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH
Ann Scheck McAlearney, PhD , Division of Health Services Management and Policy, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Background: Over 85% of teens use the Internet and 31% of youths search for health-related information. This study explores the relationship between health literacy and other patient characteristics and use of online health resources in teens with asthma and diabetes. It also measures overall satisfaction with use experiences and patient reported barriers and benefits. Methods: 180 participants aged 13-18 seen in asthma or diabetes specialty care clinics between 2008 and 2009 completed a health literacy assessment and a battery of questionnaires. They were then given a one-page resource sheet listing general and disease-specific health websites. We asked whether participants perceived the resource sheet sites to be useful and to be easy to use and we assessed their intention to use sites from the sheet in the next three months. On a three-month follow-up telephone call, we assessed use experiences using a combination of fixed-choice and open-ended questions. Results: To date, 126 have completed follow-up. 62% used at least one of the recommended websites. Intention to use the sites reported during the initial visit was strongly associated with subsequent use. Overall use was not associated with race, age, disease, or gender. Higher literacy youths trended toward higher use but this finding was not significant. Perceived usefulness was the strongest predictor of use. General health sites (39.7%) and teen health sites (38.9%) had the highest use rates. 32% used disease-specific information sites and 13.5% used disease management sites. Users were most satisfied with teen-specific general health sites and least satisfied with disease management sites. Verbatim responses highlighted a belief that sites were informative but noted concerns about cluttered layouts and confusing content. Conclusion: Most teens with chronic conditions will try online health resources but they must be convinced of the value of the application in order to engender committed use.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
List factors associated with teen use of online health resources Discuss how barriers to use of online health resources affect usefulness of online intervention Explain how barriers and promoters identified in this research can be used to improve website health website design

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Internet

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am PI on the grant funded to conduct this research. I lead the design, data collection, data analysis, and results reporting on this grant.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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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