Randolph SD
The use of technology for patient health information and education in health care is expanding with text messaging, cell phones, social media, and the computer and internet being used for patients to communicate with their health care providers. Additionally, these technologies are used for health interventions and tools for patients to research health information as consumers. Although studies have examined the use of technology among African Americans for health information, there is little research that specifically examines the use of technology for African American men and preferences in how technology could be used to address their health outcomes. African-American males, compared to other races, have higher rates of chronic illness and diseases including cancer, heart disease, prostate cancer, diabetes and HIV. Focusing on this population and their use of technology is important for health care providers and researchers to know which technologies are the most effective means of communicating with African American men. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to describe the African American males’ perspectives of technology use in their daily life. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 28 African American men from a large metropolitan city in North Carolina, as a part of a larger study. We provide the results of a questionnaire given to participants about their use of technology for health information. This has implications for health care providers, researchers and those developing health information technology so that programs, resources and interventions that are developed using technology will be effectively used by African American men.
