Sachiko M. Oshima|Sarah Tait|Samantha M. Thomas|Oluwadamilola M. Fayanju|Kearston L. Ingraham|Nadine J. Barrett|E. Shelley Hwang
Association of Smartphone Ownership and Internet Use With Markers of Health Literacy and Access: Cross-sectional Survey Study of Perspectives From Project PLACE (Population Level Approaches to Cancer Elimination)
Duke University|Duke University|Duke University|Duke University|Duke University|Duke University
background telehealth increasingly important component health care delivery response covid19 pandemic however welldocumented disparities persist use digital technologies objective study aims describe smartphone internet use within diverse sample assess association smartphone internet use markers health literacy health access identify mediating factors relationships methods surveys distributed targeted sample designed oversample historically underserved communities april 2017 december 2017 multivariate logistic regression used estimate association internet smartphone use outcomes describing health care access markers health literacy total cohort stratifying personal history cancer health care access captured using multiple variables including ability obtain medical care needed markers health literacy included selfreported confidence obtaining health information results 2149 participants 1319 6138 women 655 3048 nonhispanic white 666 3099 nonhispanic black median age 51 years iqr 3865 respondents reported using internet 19212149 8939 owning smartphone 18002149 8376 compared respondents smartphone internet access without smartphone internet access likely report doctor recent source health information 3441800 1911 vs 116349 332 smartphone 3801921 1978 vs 80228 351 internet respectively plt001 internet use associated looked information health topics source odds ratio 381 95 ci 253575 confidence obtaining health information needed 183 95 ci 100334 compared noninternet users smartphone owners lower odds unable obtain needed medical care 062 95 ci 040095 nonsmartphone owners among participants prior history cancer smartphone ownership significantly associated higher odds confidence ability obtain needed health information 563 95 ci 1053023 lower odds inability obtain needed medical care 017 95 ci 006047 although associations significant among participants without prior history cancer conclusions describe widespread use digital technologies communitybased cohort although disparities persist cohort smartphone ownership significantly associated ability obtain needed medical care suggesting use smartphone technology may play role increasing health care access similarly major illnesses cancer potential amplify health engagement finally special emphasis must placed reaching patient populations limited digital access patients disadvantaged new age telehealth