Going beyond affordability for digital equity: Closing the "Digital Divide" through outreach and training programs for older adults.
Going beyond affordability for digital equity: Closing the "Digital Divide" through outreach and training programs for older adults.
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DOI：
10.1111/jgs.17511
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发表时间：
2022-01
影响因子：
6.3
通讯作者：
Suen JJ
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Gleason K;Suen JJ
随着疫情期间突然转向虚拟医疗业务，缺乏数字访问可能会加剧一些已经面临严重不平等的患者在获得医疗服务方面的差距。数字接入已成为日常生活的重要组成部分，许多重要的服务也可以通过互联网轻松获取。低收入患者与数字素养低、使用电脑和互联网的机会有限的患者之间存在很大的重叠；例如，美国约有30%的家庭没有宽带接入；然而，在家庭收入低于2万美元的家庭中，有59%的家庭没有接入网络。2许多州和联邦政府的计划都是为了满足数字接入的需求，包括紧急宽带福利计划，3提供资金的一个关键组成部分是开发支持技术技能教学所需的人力资源。政府资助的项目增加了，为有需要的人群提供基本的互联网接入和平板电脑等设备。然而，解决数字鸿沟不应仅仅是确保支付能力。此外，还需要解决数字扫盲问题，并为老年人等关键群体提供培训和支持。否则，这些项目可能既无法有效地提供帮助，也无法持续下去。在这篇评论中，我们讨论了考虑将支持性培训与任何向之前使用数字技术经验有限的社区成员提供互联网接入和设备的项目结合起来的必要性，我们在实施一个改善社区数字接入的项目时亲眼看到了这一点。最后，我们分享了一些重要的注意事项，以瞄准开始缩小数字鸿沟的关键障碍（图1）。
With the sudden shift to virtual healthcare operations that occurred during the pandemic, the lack of digital access potentially worsened disparities in healthcare access for some patients already facing severe inequities. 1 Digital access has become a vital component of day-today living with many vital services also becoming easily accessible through the internet. There is a large overlap between patients who have low income and those who have low digital literacy and limited access to computers and Internet; for example, about 30% of all households in the United States lack broadband access; however 59% of homes with household income less than $20,000 lack access. 2 Many state and federal government programs exist to address the need for digital access, including the Emergency Broadband Benefits program, 3 and a critical component of providing funds is developing the human resources needed to support teaching technology skills. The availability of government-funded programs increased to provide basic Internet access and devices such as tablets for populations in need. However, tackling the Digital Divide should go beyond ensuring affordability. There is also a foundational need for addressing digital literacy and providing training and support for key groups like older adults. Otherwise, these programs risk neither helping effectively nor sustainably. In this commentary, we discuss the need to consider supportive training in tandem with any program that delivers Internet access and devices to community members with limited prior experience using digital technology, which we saw firsthand while implementing a program to improve digital access in the community. Finally, we share some important considerations for targeting key barriers to begin closing the Digital Divide (Figure 1).
影响因子：
5.8
作者：
Lai, John;Widmar, Nicole O.
通讯作者：
Widmar, Nicole O.