Abstract
Purpose: African Americans trail the national average in broadband access to the Internet. African Americans have higher cancer incidence and mortality rates than other groups. The lack of access to the scope of information available via the Internet may enhance these disparities. This descriptive study compares information seeking behaviors among Black Newspaper Readers (BNR) who have (n=455) or do not have (n=264) access to the Internet. Methods: A sampling frame was created that met two criteria: (1) presence of a Black weekly newspaper with a circulation +/- 5000; and (2) areas having an African-American population > 50,000. From this frame, three geographic regions that corresponded to divisions of the American Cancer Society (ACS) were selected to arrive at 36 randomly selected communities. Random digit dial techniques were used to identify participants and complete surveys. Data were collected using an investigator initiated survey that accessed communication strategies, knowledge, beliefs, and screening practices. Results: Black newspaper readers (BNR) without Internet access were older, had lower education, lower incomes, were more likely to be unemployed or retired, and watched more television than those with Internet access. Further, BNRs without the Internet turned to print materials, friends and family, and providers for cancer information. Conclusion: What was once a digital divide shaped by access to computers has now become a digital divide composed of an economic divide, a usability divide, and an empowerment divide. Caution must be exercised when directing the public to Internet-based resources without knowing whether these are viable options. It may be feasible to target messaging within commonly used social media outlets that could then direct the user to main websites for more detailed information. It is also important to ensure access to the same quality of information via non-technology based media that individuals identify as pertinent and relevant.
Sigma Membership
Gamma Iota
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
African Americans, Internet Use, Cancer Prevention and Early Detection
Recommended Citation
Powe, Barbara; Caburnay, Charlene; Cooper, Dexter; and Cameron, Glen, "Health information seeking behaviors among African Americans who have and do not have internet access" (2013). INRC (Congress). 36.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2013/presentations_2013/36
Conference Name
24th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Prague, Czech Republic
Conference Year
2013
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Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Health information seeking behaviors among African Americans who have and do not have internet access
Prague, Czech Republic
Purpose: African Americans trail the national average in broadband access to the Internet. African Americans have higher cancer incidence and mortality rates than other groups. The lack of access to the scope of information available via the Internet may enhance these disparities. This descriptive study compares information seeking behaviors among Black Newspaper Readers (BNR) who have (n=455) or do not have (n=264) access to the Internet. Methods: A sampling frame was created that met two criteria: (1) presence of a Black weekly newspaper with a circulation +/- 5000; and (2) areas having an African-American population > 50,000. From this frame, three geographic regions that corresponded to divisions of the American Cancer Society (ACS) were selected to arrive at 36 randomly selected communities. Random digit dial techniques were used to identify participants and complete surveys. Data were collected using an investigator initiated survey that accessed communication strategies, knowledge, beliefs, and screening practices. Results: Black newspaper readers (BNR) without Internet access were older, had lower education, lower incomes, were more likely to be unemployed or retired, and watched more television than those with Internet access. Further, BNRs without the Internet turned to print materials, friends and family, and providers for cancer information. Conclusion: What was once a digital divide shaped by access to computers has now become a digital divide composed of an economic divide, a usability divide, and an empowerment divide. Caution must be exercised when directing the public to Internet-based resources without knowing whether these are viable options. It may be feasible to target messaging within commonly used social media outlets that could then direct the user to main websites for more detailed information. It is also important to ensure access to the same quality of information via non-technology based media that individuals identify as pertinent and relevant.