Online Health Information Access Among Asian Americans

Background/Significance: Access to health information is essential to patient-centered healthcare. The question remains; however, whether all groups have equal access to the information. Since Asian Americans (AAs) have a well-described bimodal distribution of socioeconomic status, it is necessary to identify subpopulations, who may lack equal access due to their demographic makeup.

Objective/Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify subpopulations among AAs, who may lack access to digital information based on their annual family income, years of education and age.

Methods:  This study used a cross-sectional design and a convenience, quota sample. Participants were recruited through six community-based organizations and from five Asian subgroups. Participants were asked whether they had a computer at home and knew how to use it, as well as whether they used the Internet to obtain health information. Surveys were conducted in participants’ native language.

Results:  354 participants completed the survey. 46% had family income <$20,000/year, 36% had <9 years of education, and 74% were >50 years old. Overall, 77% had computer at home, 65% knew how to use it and 32% used the internet for health information.  Participants whose family income <$20,000/year were less likely to have a computer at home (OR = 0.211), know how to use a computer (OR = 0.154) and use the Internet for health information (OR = 0.374). Participants who were >50 years old were also less likely to have a computer at home (OR = 0.181), know how to use a computer (OR = 0.124) and use the Internet for health information (OR = 0.269), so as participants who had <9 years of education (OR =0.262, OR = 0.146 and OR = 0.228, respectively).

Discussion: New interventions are needed to target underserved AA subpopulations and help them to gain access to digital information and develop information seeking skills.