Journal article
Towards Understanding Disparities in Using Technology to Access Health Care Information: African American Veterans' Sociocultural Perspectives on Using My HealtheVet for Diabetes Management
Health communication, Vol.38(11), pp.2399-2407
10/01/2023
DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2022.2071392
PMID: 35514118
Abstract
The digital divide, a racial disparity in computer and internet use, persists among Veterans. This study examined African American Veterans' experiences with and attitudes about using My HealtheVet (MHV), the online patient portal used in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 non-Hispanic African American Veterans about preferences for health information, use of web-enabled devices, and experiences with and preferences for using MHV. Twenty-nine men and 6 women, ranging 35 to 73 years old, participated in this study. About 75% (n = 26) had completed some college or more, and about 75% (n = 26) considered their families financially comfortable. Ninety-one percent (n = 32) of participants were aware of MHV, and 78% (n = 25) of those who were aware reported having enrolled for an account. Data revealed participants valued that MHV provided realistic solutions to cumbersome aspects (e.g., phone call hold-times) of receiving care at the VA. However, participants admitted to not using the patient portal at all or to its full potential for two reasons: a) preference for their pre-MHV routine, b) distrust in the institutional, technological, and organizational aspects surrounding MHV. By highlighting the sociocultural aspects of patient portal use, this study provides a meaningful explanation for barriers and facilitators of health information technology adoption, particularly for MHV among African American Veterans, and ways practitioners may influence uptake.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Towards Understanding Disparities in Using Technology to Access Health Care Information: African American Veterans' Sociocultural Perspectives on Using My HealtheVet for Diabetes Management
- Creators
- Nicole L. Johnson - Iowa City VA Hlth Care Syst, Ctr Access & Delivery Res & Evaluat, 601 Highway 6 West, Iowa City, IA 52246 USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Health communication, Vol.38(11), pp.2399-2407
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- DOI
- 10.1080/10410236.2022.2071392
- PMID
- 35514118
- ISSN
- 1041-0236
- eISSN
- 1532-7027
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- VHA Center for Health Information and Communication at Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center VHA National Center for Patient Safety
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 10/01/2023
- Academic Unit
- Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984627315202771
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