Also, there are data in the health literacy report on the 2003 NAAL data
on the proportion of persons at each of the 4 performance levels who use
the Internet for health information. This is a different measure but
perhaps an even more useful one. Even if they do have access, only 15%
of people at the below basic and basic levels use the Internet to search
for health information.  

Cynthia Baur 

-----Original Message-----
From: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Seubert, Douglas
Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 12:43 PM
To: healthliteracy at nifl.gov
Subject: [HealthLiteracy 2199] Re: Web Access

According to Nielsen//NetRatings, nearly 75 percent or 204.3 million
Americans have access to the Internet from home (March 18, 2004)
http://www.nielsen-netratings.com/pr/pr_040318.pdf

According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project: "Surveys fielded
in 2006 show that internet penetration among adults in the U.S. has hit
an all-time high. While the percentage of Americans who say they use the
internet has continued to fluctuate slightly, our latest survey, fielded
February 15 - April 6, 2006 shows that fully 73% of respondents (about
147 million adults) are internet users, up from 66% (about 133 million
adults) in our January 2005 survey. And the share of Americans who have
broadband connections at home has now reached 42% (about 84 million), up
from 29% (about 59 million) in January 2005."
http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/182/report_display.asp

Another report by the Pew Internet & American Life Project looked at
Internet access and use among seniors: "The percent of seniors who go
online has jumped by 47% between 2000 and 2004. In a February 2004
survey, 22% of Americans age 65 or older reported having access to the
Internet, up from 15% in 2000. That translates to about 8 million
Americans age 65 or older who use the Internet. By contrast, 58% of
Americans age 50-64, 75% of 30-49 year-olds, and 77% of 18-29 year-olds
currently go online." And "66% of wired seniors had looked for health or
medical information online at some point in their online life by the end
of 2003. That is a 13-point jump since 2000, and a growth rate of 25%.
And online seniors are much more likely than other Internet users to
have logged on to get information about Medicare and Medicaid."
http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Seniors_Online_2004.pdf

According to a report sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation:
"Public libraries have made tremendous strides in giving people access
to technology. Yet, more than 40 percent of Americans still do not
regularly use the Internet, and many cite barriers to access or lack of
skills as the reason."
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/nr/Downloads/libraries/uslibraries/report
s/TowardEqualityofAccess.pdf

This last report raises a good point that has been confirmed by some
independent research I was recently involved in with Family Health
Center. Our mission is to improve access to primary care services for
the medically underserved. In a recent survey, one of the questions we
asked our members is "How often do you use the Internet?" So far, 1603
surveys have been returned. The breakdown is as follows:

How often do you use the Internet?
	Often - 239 (15%)
	Sometimes - 258 (16%)
	Rarely - 136 (9%)
	Not at All - 951 (60%)

Why so many of our members NEVER use the Internet? We didn't ask "why"
on the survey  (maybe we should have!) but I'm thinking it has less to
do with access and more to do with "barriers to access" (perhaps lack of
transportation to the nearest public library) or lack of skills (not
knowing how to use the Internet and/or not knowing where to get help).

Our member survey also asked about our newsletters and other printed
materials we mail out,  and 89% of responders said the health
information in our newsletters is "helpful" or "very helpful." Our
newsletters provide good health information, but we often included a
list of web links for more information. While Internet "access" may have
increased over the years, the majority of our members report that they
never use the Internet. To make sure we reach all of our members, we now
no longer provide just a list of Internet resources. For example, in a
recent article about diabetes foot care, we provided a link to the
National Diabetes Education Program Website where one can download a
free copy of their booklet "Take care of your Feet for Lifetime." We
also offered an option for those who do not have access to the Internet.
They can call our office (toll free) and we will print a copy here and
mail it to them. In other words, we use the Internet for them, and make
sure they have access to information that can help them improve and
maintain their health.


FOR MORE INFORMATION about Internet access and use, see...


FALLING THROUGH THE NET: TOWARD DIGITAL INCLUSION A Report on Americans'
Access to Technology Tools (October 2000)
http://search.ntia.doc.gov/pdf/fttn00.pdf


Computer and Internet Use in the United States: 2003 U.S. Department of
Commerce http://www.census.gov/prod/2005pubs/p23-208.pdf



>From Healthy People 2010


Objective 11-1. Increase the proportion of households with access to the
Internet at home.

Baseline: 26 percent of households had access to the Internet at home in
1998.

With communication technologies, the disparity in access to electronic
information resources is commonly referred to as the "digital
divide."[28] The digital divide becomes more critical as the amount and
variety of health resources available over the Internet increase and as
people need more sophisticated skills to use electronic resources.[29]
Equitably distributed health communication resources and skills, and a
robust communication infrastructure can contribute to the closing of the
digital divide and the overarching goal of Healthy People 2010 to
eliminate health disparities.

Although the proportion of people with access to the Internet has risen
dramatically since 1995, many segments of the population lack access,
such as low-income and rural households; persons with less education;
and certain racial and ethnic groups, such as African Americans and
Hispanics.[28] Internet access rates vary considerably according to
income. Only 11 percent of households earning $24,999 or less have
access, whereas 19 percent are connected among those earning $25,000 to
$34,999; 30 percent have access among those earning $35,000 to $49,999;
and 52 percent of households with $50,000 or greater in income have an
Internet connection.[28] Barriers to Internet access include cost, lack
of services in certain communities, limited literacy, lack of
familiarity with different technologies, and, especially for people with
disabilities, inaccessible formats that limit appropriate and effective
technology use. Initiatives to promote universal access to the Internet
will involve public and private sector stakeholders, particularly
government agencies and technology corporations.

[28] U.S. Department of Commerce. Falling Through the Net: Defining the
Digital Divide. Washington, DC: National Telecommunications and
Information Administration, 1999. 
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/digitaldivide/  July 29, 1999.

[29] Eng, T.R.; Maxfield, A.; Patrick, K.; et al. Access to health
information and support: A public highway or a private road? Journal of
the American Medical Association 280(15):1371-1375, 1998. PubMed; PMID
9794322




Doug Seubert
Quality Improvement & Care Management
Family Health Center/Community Heath Access

Marshfield Clinic
1000 N Oak Avenue
Marshfield, WI 54449
www.marshfieldclinic.org/quality

(715) 387-5096 (1-800-782-8581 ext. 75096)
seubert.douglas at marshfieldclinic.org



------Original Message------
From:	"Rogers, Jaclyn" <jacrogers at state.pa.us>
Date:	Wed Jul 30, 2008 -- 10:30:59 AM
To:	healthliteracy at nifl.gov
Subject:	[HealthLiteracy 2196]  Web Access

 Does anyone know of any resources, or a location that I can obtain
information that demonstrates how many persons with low health literacy
and/or low literacy skills have Internet Access?


Jacki Rogers| Public Health Program Administrator Bureau of Health
Promotion & Risk Reduction Pennsylvania Department of Health 7th &
Forster Streets | Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 717.787.6214 | Fax: 717.783.5498
www.health.state.pa.us


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