Informal caregivers' use of internet-based health resources: An analysis of the health information national trends survey Journal Article


Authors: Shaffer, K. M.; Chow, P. I.; Cohn, W. F.; Ingersoll, K. S.; Ritterband, L. M.
Article Title: Informal caregivers' use of internet-based health resources: An analysis of the health information national trends survey
Abstract: Background: Informal caregivers express strong interest in technology innovations to help them in their caregiving role; however, divides across sociodemographic characteristics in internet and technology access may preclude the most vulnerable caregivers from accessing such resources. Objective: This study aims to examine caregivers' internet use, both generally and for seeking health-related information, and whether usage differs as a function of caregivers' characteristics. Methods: Data were analyzed from the Health Information National Trends Survey 5 Cycle 1. Participants were included in analyses if they self-identified as providing uncompensated care to a close individual. Caregivers reported internet use factors, age, education, rurality, general health, distress, and objective caregiving burden. We used chi-square tests of independence with jackknife variance estimation to compare whether internet use factors differed by caregivers' characteristics. Results: A total of 77.5% (303/391) caregivers surveyed reported ever using the internet. Of internet users, 88.1% (267/303) accessed from a home computer and 83.2% (252/303) from a mobile device. Most caregivers accessed health information for themselves (286/391, 73.1%) or others (264/391, 67.5%); fewer communicated with a doctor over the Web (148/391, 37.9%) or had a wellness app (171/391, 43.7%). Caregivers reporting younger age, more education, and good health were more likely to endorse any of these activities. Furthermore, two-thirds of caregivers (258/391, 66.0%) endorsed trust in health information from the internet. Conclusions: Computers and mobile devices are practical platforms for disseminating caregiving-related information and supportive services to informal caregivers; these modalities may, however, have a more limited reach to caregivers who are older, have less education, and are in poorer health. © 2020 JMIR Publications. All rights reserved.
Keywords: internet; information dissemination; health education; caregivers; mobile phone; uncompensated care
Journal Title: JMIR Aging
Volume: 1
Issue: 2
ISSN: 2561-7605
Publisher: JMIR Publications, Inc.  
Date Published: 2018-07-01
Start Page: 11051
Language: English
DOI: 10.2196/11051
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC6715019
PUBMED: 31518244
DOI/URL:
Notes: The MSK Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) is acknowledge in the PDF -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Kelly M Shaffer
    23 Shaffer