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

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.