I think newer data is available from the Center for Studying Health System Chang Tracking Report No. 20 August 2008 by Ha T. Tu, Genna Cohen

 

"In 2007, 56 percent of American adults-more than 122 million people-sought information about a personal health concern, up from 38 percent in 2001, according to a new national study by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC). Use of all information sources rose substantially, with the Internet leading the way: Internet information seeking doubled to 32 percent during the six-year period. Consumers across all categories of age, education, income, race/ethnicity and health status increased their information seeking significantly, but education level remained the key factor in explaining how likely people are to seek health information. Although elderly Americans-65 and older-sharply increased their information seeking, they still trail younger Americans by a substantial margin, especially in using Internet information sources. Consumers who actively researched health concerns widely reported positive impacts: More than half said the information changed their overall approach to maintaining their health, and four in five said that the information helped them to better understand how to treat an illness or condition. 

More at  http://www.hschange.org/CONTENT/1006/ 

 

See also (about the above report)  "More Americans Seeking Health Information, Especially on the Internet: Education level remains key in likelihood of seeking health information.  Robert Wood Johnson Foundation press release at

 http://www.rwjf.org/newsroom/product.jsp?id=33852http://www.rwjf.org/newsroom/product.jsp?id=33852

 

Marcia

 

Marcia Zorn, MA, MLS

National Library of Medicine, NIH

 

From: Emily Z. Kontos [mailto:emilyzkontos at gmail.com] 
Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2008 8:51 PM
To: The Health and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [HealthLiteracy 2334] Re: Wednesday Question: How We Reach People

 

A couple of additional comments on this issue...

 

I would have to say that there really is not adequate empirical data on this topic. The NAALS data is a bit dated and we need to question who is included in the PEW RDD surveys given the increase of cell phone as a primary phone for lower SES individuals. Because of these facts, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is actually invovled in the first 5 year RCT collecting data on how low literacy adults (recruited from adult ed programs throughout MA) use the Internet for health. The study is in its 3rd year so stay tunned for more information on this. The JMIR article that was shared is merely a qualitative paper reporting on the pilot study that served as the foundation for the lR01.

 

-Emily Kontos 

On Thu, Sep 25, 2008 at 2:22 PM, Jan Potter <jpotter at gha.org> wrote:

Is that based upon 2003 data?  I would think that would make a difference.  I've read the JMIR study and it only had 12 people.  I'm not sure we have a good idea about this topic at this point.  Aren't there some computer/health kiosk folks on this listserv?  I'd be curious to see what their ideas were about internet use in this demographic.  How about adult literacy instructors?  Are there some of you conducting classes using computers and the internet?  I suspect the best group of people to answer this question might be public librarians.  If we make an assumption that lower socioeconomic folks would be less likely to have computers in their home (which may or may not be true), then where would they use a computer?

 

Jan Potter, MSTC

Communications Specialist

Partnership for Health and Accountability

770-249-4549

www.gha.org/pha <http://www.gha.org/pha>  

 

"Homework: Find the value of n such that n plus everything else in your life makes you feel all right. What would n equal? Solve for n."
 
Peter Cameron

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Emily Z. Kontos
Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2008 11:17 AM
To: The Health and Literacy Discussion List


Subject: [HealthLiteracy 2328] Re: Wednesday Question: How We Reach People

 

	The NAALS Health LIteracy report published figures on this and indeed low literacy adults do NOT use the Internet to seek out health information. Note that this does not mean they do not USE the Internet at all but I think the focus of this discussion is on their health seeking behaviors. This is actually my area of research. Here is the data from the Health Literacy Report and I have also attached a url to a paper that relates to the subject.

	 

	80% of "below basic" literacy adults do NOT use the Internet to seek out health information

	58% of "basic"

	33% of "intermediate"

	15% of "proficient

 

Barriers and Facilitators to Home Computer and Internet Use Among Urban Novice Computer Users of Low Socioeconomic Position

http://www.jmir.org/2007/4/e31

	 

	Thanks,

	Emily 

	 

	 

	Emily Z. Kontos, ScM 
	Doctoral Student 
	Dept. of Society, Human Development and Health 
	Harvard University, School of Public Health 

	Research Assistant 
	Center for Community-Based Research 
	Dana-Farber Cancer Institute 
	44 Binney Street (LW627A) 
	Boston, MA 02115 
	TEL: 617.582.8191 
	FAX: 617.632.5690 

	 

	On Wed, Sep 24, 2008 at 1:03 PM, Laurie Cozzolino <cozzolino at pacbell.net> wrote:

	Hello and thanks for this important question
	
	How about the Internet?  I think many of us might assume that low-literacy
	adults and older adults don't use the Internet for information.  I wonder if
	that is really true?  We might all be surprised at the numbers.  I don't
	have the data at hand, but from my experience in adult ESL in California, I
	think that it can be a useful tool, at home, at school and in other
	settings.  The problem becomes which materials are people looking at, are
	they accessible and are they valid and accurate?
	
	The second question in my mind is always the fact that information alone is
	not enough - people often need to change their behaviors, and which of any
	method helps bring about real change?  That may be another discussion!
	
	Laurie Cozzolino
	cozzolino at pacbell.net
	Eating Well, Living Well
	San Diego Community College District

	
	----- Original Message -----
	From: "Julie McKinney" <julie_mcKinney at worlded.org>
	To: <healthliteracy at nifl.gov>
	Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 9:13 AM
	Subject: [HealthLiteracy 2325] Wednesday Question: How We Reach People
	
	
	> Hi Everyone,
	>
	> My question this week comes from the Webcast and Doug's response. It is
	> about the model of how we reach people (the patients or consumers) for
	> health literacy education.
	>
	> We saw that Dr. Ian Bennett's study found that a home-based model of
	> education worked better than the classroom model. Of course, that is
	> coming from a Health Center-initiated program, where forming into
	> classes is not expected from patients. Dr. Susan Levy's study, which was
	> done in adult literacy programs, did have success with the classroom
	> model. However, we see that a relatively low percentage of adults with
	> literacy challenges are actually enrolled in these kinds of programs, so
	> we do need to find other ways. Dr. Bennett emphasized that new models
	> need to be explored.
	>
	> So let's exlpore some! What other ways can we reach people to help them
	> learn about basic health, health literacy, health care access, finding
	> and using health info, etc?
	>
	> What are our options?
	>
	> So far:
	>
	> classroom setting in adult education program (adult literacy or English
	> classes)
	> patient waiting room of clinic, hospital or community health center
	> media (TV, radio, bulletin boards in libraries, hosptials, school)
	> K-12 health education
	> people lucky enough to participate in a research study
	>
	> What other options are there?
	> What are the pros and cons of groups vs. individual?
	>
	> Please share your thoughts and experience on this!
	>
	> All the best,
	> Julie
	>
	> Julie McKinney
	> Health Literacy List Moderator
	> World Education
	> jmckinney at worlded.org
	> ----------------------------------------------------
	> National Institute for Literacy
	> Health and Literacy mailing list
	> HealthLiteracy at nifl.gov
	> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to
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	> Email delivered to cozzolino at pacbell.net

	
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