Rachel McCloud|Cassandra A. Okechukwu|Glorian Sorensen|Kasisomayajula Viswanath
Beyond access: barriers to internet health information seeking among the urban poor
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute|Harvard University|Dana-Farber Cancer Institute|Dana-Farber Cancer Institute|Harvard University
communication inequalities deepen health disparities even internet access achieved goal study understand range barriers may inhibit individuals low socioeconomic position sep engaging online health information even freely availabledetailed data collected 118 lowsep individuals randomized controlled trial providing internet access measures triangulated healthseeking experience internet use tracked realtime call log data selfreported barriers negative binomial regression models fitted technology perceived predictors outcome health information seeking stratified medical statusparticipants experienced median two computer issues median 6 days two internet issues median 65 days duration internet problems associated decrease rate internet health information seeking factor 0990 p 03 additional day participants medical problem frustrated search health information half rate health information seeking frustrated incidence rate ratio 0395 p 030despite support participants still experienced internet connectivity issues negatively impacted health information seeking frustration search find information may serve additional barrier medical issuesafter initial internet access secondlevel digital divide emerged due connectivity issues highlighting need understand complex network barriers experienced lowsep internet users