The Internet is a global technology that both exacerbates and alleviates disparities in access to health information and resources. The demographic pattern of internet use and access is not yet well understood. Around the globe, access to and dissemination of reproductive health information is an endeavor that is particularly fraught with sensitivity and privacy issues. This study aims to improve health promotion via an Internet web-site in the following ways. First, these elements are assessed among the Planned Parenthood clinic and internet population: descriptive demographics of each community's internet access, the contexts and capacities in which the beneficiary populations are able to utilize the internet, the resources and services related to reproductive health that each beneficiary population desires from the internet. Next, this study seeks to synchronize each community's input with the health promotion objectives of Planned Parenthood of Connecticut (PPCT). Results of this study have implications for web site development across health care settings where improved access to health information and services is the goal and where exploratory assessments of need and technology use have not been determined. See www.ppct.org
Learning Objectives: By attending this poster session the participant will be able to: 1. Articulate the benefits and structure of four different assessment techniques for determining a particular population's technology access and health information needs and expectations. 2. Construct similar qualitative assessment tools for a health information needs assessment. 3. Apply technological and ethnographic tools to developing material for a web site for a variety of health institutions based on the evaluation of the needs, purposes and access issues of both the health workers and patients.
Keywords: Communication Technology, Community Health Centers
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Planned Parenthood of Connecticut
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.