Namkee G. Choi|Diana M. DiNitto
The Digital Divide Among Low-Income Homebound Older Adults: Internet Use Patterns, eHealth Literacy, and Attitudes Toward Computer/Internet Use
The University of Texas at Austin
internet technology provide diverse array online resources lowincome disabled homebound older adults manage health mental health problems maintain social connections despite many previous studies older adults internet use none focused vulnerable older adultsthis study examined internet use patterns reasons discontinued use ehealth literacy attitudes toward computerinternet use among lowincome homebound individuals aged 60 older comparison younger counterpartshomebound adults age 60facetoface telephone surveys conducted 980 recipients homedelivered meals central texas 78 age 60 years older 22 age 60 ehealth literacy scale eheals efficacy interest subscales attitudes toward computerinternet questionnaire atciq used measure respective constructs age groups compared chisquare tests tests correlates internet use analyzed multinomial logistic regression correlates eheals atciq scores analyzed ols regression modelsonly 34 under60 group 17 60 years older group currently used internet 35 16 respective group members reported discontinuing internet use due cost disability addition older never users likely black 441 95 ci 282691 p001 hispanic 469 95 ci 261844 p001 lower incomes 036 95 ci 027049 p001 discontinued users also likely black hispanic lower incomes among age groups approximately threefourths current users used internet every day every days eheals scores negatively associated age positively associated frequency use among 60 older group depression diagnosis also negatively associated eheals scores atciq efficacy among never users ages among older adults positively associated living alone income number medical conditions inversely associated age hispanic ethnicity spanish primary language although atciq interest among older adults also inversely associated age associated hispanic ethnicity spanish primary languagethis study first describe detail lowincome disabled homebound adults older adults internet use shows low rates internet use compared us population either due lack exposure computerinternet technology lack financial resources obtain computers technology medical conditions disabilities associated pain restrict use recommendations reduce digital divide among individuals provided