Online Program

278849
Describing the "digital divide": Information technology use in prostate cancer patients with lower socioeconomic status


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Mya Levy, MD, Urology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Lorna Kwan, MPH, Urology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Christopher Saigal, MD, MPH, Department of Urology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Men with prostate cancer face a complex treatment choice. Innovative approaches to improving the ability of these men to make good decisions, including desktop and smart phone applications, as well as emerging social media tools are proliferating. However, poor access to information technology (IT) may present barriers to accessing these applications for men with low socioeconomic status (SES) who have prostate cancer. Understanding this population's current IT usage will provide key insight into potential barriers as well as possible facilitators to these emerging innovations. The specific aim of this study was to characterize current IT usage amongst a low SES, male population of individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer. We surveyed men from California's IMPACT program, the Greater West Los Angeles VA Hospital, and Olive View-UCLA Medical Center. A telephone survey was used to collect data on information technology use. Specific items inquired about comfort with information technology as well as preferred or usual location of use. Chi-square analysis was conducted to look for demographic associations with technology usage among this population. Preliminary results show that information technology usage in prostate cancer patients with low SES was below national averages, but did increase over the study period (2006-2013). Implementation of technology-based health delivery innovations geared toward this population is not futile, given baseline information technology usage and trends over time. Further characterization of facilitators which increase comfort with internet use and culturally specific barriers to internet use are warranted.

Learning Areas:

Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe potential barriers and facilitators to use of desktop and smart phone applications and social media tools to promote decision-making in low socio-economic men with prostate cancer. Describe potential facilitators to use of desktop and smart phone applications and social media tools to promote decision-making in low socio-economic men with prostate cancer. Discuss growth of the use of desktop and smart phone applications and social media tools to promote decision-making in low socio-economic men with prostate cancer and future uses of these technologies.

Keyword(s): Cancer, Decision-Making

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: This is my original concept for research, am a resident with the UCLA Department of Urology, and am completing a health services research fellowship.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.