Disparities in access to mobile devices and e-health literacy among breast cancer survivors

Zoe Moon; Mira Zuchowski; Rona Moss-Morris; Myra S. Hunter; Sam Norton; Lyndsay D. Hughes

doi:10.1007/s00520-021-06407-2

Disparities in access to mobile devices and e-health literacy among breast cancer survivors

Zoe Moon, Mira Zuchowski, Rona Moss-Morris, Myra S. Hunter, Sam Norton, Lyndsay D. Hughes^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

GSTT Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

39 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: The number of e-health interventions developed for breast cancer survivors continues to increase. However, issues with engagement and retention are common. This study aimed to explore e-health literacy rates and access to smartphones and tablets in a large sample of breast cancer survivors. Methods: In study 1, women were recruited from outpatient breast clinics across England and Wales. Eligible women were asked to complete a questionnaire pack to assess their access to devices and their e-health literacy. Multiple regression analyses were run to assess the relationship between technology access and e-health literacy with sociodemographic variables such as age, social deprivation, and education. Study 2 presents a smaller sample recruited through social media who answered a questionnaire relating to use of mobile devices and e-health, and apps. Results: Two thousand nine women participated in the study. Seventy-one percent had access to a smartphone, 54% had access to a tablet, and 20% did not have access to either device. Multiple logistic regressions showed that women who were younger, had higher levels of education, and who were from less deprived areas were more likely to have access to either device. Poorer e-health literacy was associated with being older, having less education, and not having access to a mobile device. Conclusions: Whilst the results show relatively widespread access to mobile devices, there is evidence of a digital divide across some groups. Online interventions should be developed with consideration of individuals who are less e-health-literate and less technologically adept in order to increase the likelihood of engagement.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	117-126
Number of pages	10
Journal	Supportive Care in Cancer
Volume	30
Issue number	1
Early online date	8 Jul 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06407-2
Publication status	Published - Jan 2022

Keywords

Apps
Breast cancer
e-Health
Inequalities
m-Health
Survivorship

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1007/s00520-021-06407-2

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title = "Disparities in access to mobile devices and e-health literacy among breast cancer survivors",

abstract = "Background: The number of e-health interventions developed for breast cancer survivors continues to increase. However, issues with engagement and retention are common. This study aimed to explore e-health literacy rates and access to smartphones and tablets in a large sample of breast cancer survivors. Methods: In study 1, women were recruited from outpatient breast clinics across England and Wales. Eligible women were asked to complete a questionnaire pack to assess their access to devices and their e-health literacy. Multiple regression analyses were run to assess the relationship between technology access and e-health literacy with sociodemographic variables such as age, social deprivation, and education. Study 2 presents a smaller sample recruited through social media who answered a questionnaire relating to use of mobile devices and e-health, and apps. Results: Two thousand nine women participated in the study. Seventy-one percent had access to a smartphone, 54% had access to a tablet, and 20% did not have access to either device. Multiple logistic regressions showed that women who were younger, had higher levels of education, and who were from less deprived areas were more likely to have access to either device. Poorer e-health literacy was associated with being older, having less education, and not having access to a mobile device. Conclusions: Whilst the results show relatively widespread access to mobile devices, there is evidence of a digital divide across some groups. Online interventions should be developed with consideration of individuals who are less e-health-literate and less technologically adept in order to increase the likelihood of engagement.",

keywords = "Apps, Breast cancer, e-Health, Inequalities, m-Health, Survivorship",

author = "Zoe Moon and Mira Zuchowski and Rona Moss-Morris and Hunter, {Myra S.} and Sam Norton and Hughes, {Lyndsay D.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors acknowledge the support of the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network (NIHR CRN). Funding Information: This study was funded by Breast Cancer Now, grant number: 2017MayPR881. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021, The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

year = "2022",

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doi = "10.1007/s00520-021-06407-2",

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AU - Norton, Sam

AU - Hughes, Lyndsay D.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors acknowledge the support of the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network (NIHR CRN). Funding Information: This study was funded by Breast Cancer Now, grant number: 2017MayPR881. Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2022/1

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N2 - Background: The number of e-health interventions developed for breast cancer survivors continues to increase. However, issues with engagement and retention are common. This study aimed to explore e-health literacy rates and access to smartphones and tablets in a large sample of breast cancer survivors. Methods: In study 1, women were recruited from outpatient breast clinics across England and Wales. Eligible women were asked to complete a questionnaire pack to assess their access to devices and their e-health literacy. Multiple regression analyses were run to assess the relationship between technology access and e-health literacy with sociodemographic variables such as age, social deprivation, and education. Study 2 presents a smaller sample recruited through social media who answered a questionnaire relating to use of mobile devices and e-health, and apps. Results: Two thousand nine women participated in the study. Seventy-one percent had access to a smartphone, 54% had access to a tablet, and 20% did not have access to either device. Multiple logistic regressions showed that women who were younger, had higher levels of education, and who were from less deprived areas were more likely to have access to either device. Poorer e-health literacy was associated with being older, having less education, and not having access to a mobile device. Conclusions: Whilst the results show relatively widespread access to mobile devices, there is evidence of a digital divide across some groups. Online interventions should be developed with consideration of individuals who are less e-health-literate and less technologically adept in order to increase the likelihood of engagement.

AB - Background: The number of e-health interventions developed for breast cancer survivors continues to increase. However, issues with engagement and retention are common. This study aimed to explore e-health literacy rates and access to smartphones and tablets in a large sample of breast cancer survivors. Methods: In study 1, women were recruited from outpatient breast clinics across England and Wales. Eligible women were asked to complete a questionnaire pack to assess their access to devices and their e-health literacy. Multiple regression analyses were run to assess the relationship between technology access and e-health literacy with sociodemographic variables such as age, social deprivation, and education. Study 2 presents a smaller sample recruited through social media who answered a questionnaire relating to use of mobile devices and e-health, and apps. Results: Two thousand nine women participated in the study. Seventy-one percent had access to a smartphone, 54% had access to a tablet, and 20% did not have access to either device. Multiple logistic regressions showed that women who were younger, had higher levels of education, and who were from less deprived areas were more likely to have access to either device. Poorer e-health literacy was associated with being older, having less education, and not having access to a mobile device. Conclusions: Whilst the results show relatively widespread access to mobile devices, there is evidence of a digital divide across some groups. Online interventions should be developed with consideration of individuals who are less e-health-literate and less technologically adept in order to increase the likelihood of engagement.

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Disparities in access to mobile devices and e-health literacy among breast cancer survivors

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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