Developing and Evaluating Online Education to Improve Older Adults' Health Inform

描述（由申请人提供）：2009年，超过60%的老年人积极使用网络，大多数人每天至少上网一次。随着人口老龄化，这种使用将显著增加。在目前的老年用户中，约66%的人上网获取健康信息。老年人最迫切需要有效的健康信息，但网站质量参差不齐，找到准确的信息可能令人生畏。最近的一项研究发现，老年人更依赖搜索引擎，而不是那些已知能提供高质量健康信息的网站。这是有问题的，因为搜索引擎通常包含误导性和昂贵的健康相关促销链接。研究表明，四分之三的求医者没有定期检查在线健康信息的来源和日期。本研究的目的是发展和评估一个基于理论的在线教育计划，以教老年人提高他们在识别高质量健康网站方面的知识和技能，以及他们与医生沟通的自我效能。该计划将针对55岁及以上的当前互联网用户设计，以抓住婴儿潮一代的“银色海啸”，他们的互联网使用与30多岁的人相似。根据AHRQ的说法，“满足患者和护理人员对健康信息日益增长的需求，可能会改善医疗保健提供者、患者及其护理人员之间的沟通”，“增强患者自我管理慢性病的能力，并增强他们遵循治疗、药物治疗和监测方案的能力。”这项研究旨在满足老年人的需求，其中一半以上的老年人可能患有或患上高血压、糖尿病或抑郁症等慢性疾病。这与AHRQ的研究领域是一致的：利用卫生信息技术来改进决策。这是一个小型的、试验性的医疗信息技术研究项目。具体来说，这项研究旨在：1)召集焦点小组，确定老年人对在线学习健康知识的偏好。焦点小组将从明智与健康老龄化（Wise & Healthy Aging）中招募，这是一个为洛杉矶县低收入老年人提供多种服务的非营利组织。以健康信念模型为框架，这些小组将回答有关他们“对信息的感知需求”、学习和使用高质量网站的“潜在障碍”以及在与医生沟通时使用互联网提高“自我效能”的问题。2)开发一个互动式在线教育计划，教老年人提高他们识别高质量健康网站的知识和技能，以及他们与医生有效沟通的能力。该方案将纳入健康和信息的需求和偏好确定的焦点小组，并将接地理论的健康行为和成人教育。它将是互动的和自定节奏的。3)以高年级学生为样本进行试点，测试项目的可行性。4)与可比较的替代方案相比，评估新方案的结果。研究结果包括识别高质量健康网站的知识和技能以及与医生沟通的自我效能感。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In 2009, over 60% of all seniors actively used the web, with the majority going online at least once a day. As the population ages, this use will increase markedly. Of current older users, about 66% go online for health information. The elderly need valid health information most urgently, but websites vary in quality, and finding accurate information can be daunting. A recent study found that older adults rely on search engines rather than on sites known to provide quality health information. This is problematic because search engines often contain links to misleading and costly health-related promotions. Research shows that three-quarters of health seekers do not consistently check the source and date of online health information. The goal of this study is to develop and evaluate a theory-based online educational program to teach older adults to improve their knowledge of and skills in identifying high quality health websites and their self-efficacy for communicating with their physicians. The program will be designed for current internet users who are 55 years of age and older in order to capture the "silver tsunami" of boomers whose internet use resembles that of people in their 30's. According to the AHRQ, "meeting patients' and caregivers' increased need for health information may improve communication between health care providers, patients, and their caregivers" and "enhance patients' abilities to self-manage chronic conditions and enhance their ability to follow treatment, medication, and monitoring regimens." This study aims to meet the needs of older adults, more than half of whom are likely to have or develop chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, or depression. It is consistent with the AHRQ's research area: to use health IT to improve decision making. It is intended to be a small, pilot health IT research project. Specifically, the study aims to: 1) Convene focus groups to identify older adults' preferences for online learning about health. Focus groups will be recruited from Wise & Healthy Aging, a multi-service, non-profit organization serving low-income seniors throughout L.A. County. Using the Health Belief Model as a framework, the groups will answer questions about their "perceived need for information," "potential barriers" to learning about and use of high quality sites and for using the internet to improve "self- efficacy" when communicating with physicians. 2) Develop an interactive online educational program to teach older adults to improve their knowledge and skills in identifying high quality health websites and their ability to communicate efficaciously with their physicians. The program will incorporate the health and information needs and preferences identified by the focus groups and will be grounded theories of health behavior and adult education. It will be interactive and self-paced. 3) Pilot tests the feasibility of the program with a sample of seniors. 4) Evaluate the outcomes of the new program compared to a comparable alternative. The outcomes to be studied include knowledge of and skill in identifying high quality health websites and self-efficacy in communicating with physicians. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This study aims to develop and evaluate a theory-based online educational program to teach older adults to improve their knowledge of and skills in identifying high quality health websites and their self-efficacy for communicating with their physicians.