Electronic Communication Channel Use and Health Information Source Preferences Among Latinos in Northern Manhattan

Abstract

Understanding key health concepts is crucial to participation in Precision Medicine initiatives. In order to assess methods to develop and disseminate a curriculum to educate community members in Northern Manhattan about Precision Medicine, clients from a local community-based organization were interviewed during 2014–2015. Health literacy, acculturation, use of Internet, email, and text messaging, and health information sources were assessed. Associations between age and outcomes were evaluated; multivariable analysis used to examine the relationship between participant characteristics and sources of health information. Of 497 interviewed, 29.4% had inadequate health literacy and 53.6% had access to the Internet, 43.9% to email, and 45.3% to text messaging. Having adequate health literacy was associated with seeking information from a healthcare professional (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.54–4.35) and from the Internet (OR 3.15, 95% CI 1.97–5.04); having ≤ grade school education (OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.32–5.17) also preferred information from their provider; persons >45 years (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.18–0.47) were less likely to use the Internet for health information and preferred printed media (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.07–2.50). Overall, electronic communication channel use was low and varied significantly by age with those ≤45 years more likely to utilize electronic channels. Preferred sources of health information also varied by age as well as by health literacy and educational level. This study demonstrates that to effectively communicate key Precision Medicine concepts, curriculum development for Latino community members of Northern Manhattan will require attention to health literacy, language preference and acculturation and incorporate more traditional communication channels for older community members.

Immigrants’ Use of eHealth Services in the United States, National Health Interview Survey, 2011-2015

“…11 Research examining the associations of demographic characteristics and socioeconomic status in the use of eHealth services found that people who were younger or had higher education levels were more likely than people who were older or had lower education levels to communicate with providers through electronic patient portals or emails. 7,[12][13][14][15][16][17] They were also more likely to acquire and track health information (eg, physician ratings and personal health records) on the internet. 13 Only a few studies examined racial/ethnic differences in the use of eHealth services, and the results were mixed.…”

Exploring how Brazilian immigrant mothers living in the USA obtain information about physical activity and screen time for their preschool-aged children: a qualitative study

“…Previous research with other Latino population groups suggests that acculturation level is an important influence on health information-seeking behaviour and preferred sources of health information. 63 64 More-acculturated individuals are more likely to seek health information and more likely to use electronic channels than less-acculturated individuals who are more likely to rely on social networks of friends for obtaining health information. 63 64 Our finding regarding Brazilian immigrant mothers’ low acculturation levels, combined with results of previous research suggests that successful interventions targeting Brazilian immigrant parents will require consideration of the target population’s acculturation levels.…”

Community education to enhance the more equitable use of precision medicine in Northern Manhattan

“…Our initial steps included strategic partnering with a local non‐profit community‐based organization, the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation (NMIC) that serves the Washington Heights and Inwood communities of Upper Manhattan to first explore community constituent health concerns overall and specifically related to cancer, a topic previously found to be of concern to the community (Sepulveda‐Pacsi & Bakken, 2017). As our second step, we conducted an assessment of educational needs and learning preferences via quantitative surveys and focus groups among 497 adult community members (18+ years) accessing the services of NMIC, our community‐based organization partner (Hillyer et al, 2017). Of those who participated, 84.5% were foreign born, nearly 30% had inadequate health literacy, and 83.5% completed the survey in Spanish.…”

“…As our second step, we conducted an assessment of educational needs and learning preferences via quantitative surveys and focus groups among 497 adult community members (18+ years) accessing the services of NMIC, our community-based organization partner (Hillyer et al, 2017). Of those who participated, 84.5% were foreign born, nearly 30% had inadequate health literacy, and 83.5% completed the survey in Spanish.…”

“…60% ≥45 years), and gender (32% male versus. 68% female) (Hillyer et al, 2016). In total, 26 NMIC community clients recruited from NMIC waiting rooms and adult classes participated in eight focus groups led by an experienced, bilingual group moderator.…”