Spanish Language Older Adult eHealth Learning

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PROJECT SUMMARY The proposed research and training in this K01 Mentored Research Scientist Development Award application are intended to help the PI, Dr. Christian Vazquez Ph.D., become a prolific NIA-funded researcher that works with underserved aging Latino communities to improve their health by maximizing their use of eHealth and increasing eHealth literacy. The proposed work responds to NIA’s Health Disparities Research Framework to focus on strategies to increase the inclusion of underrepresented populations in aging research. Candidate: The PI is an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) School of Social Work. The PI’s research is focused on the intersection of aging, Latinos, and eHealth. This area is timely given the racial/ethnic inequities highlighted during COVID as the use of technology in health became ubiquitous. The PI’s long-term goal is to become a leader in the development and implementation of eHealth interventions with Spanish-speaking Latinos in the US, via consistent funding from NIA. Environment: UTA provides all the resources commonly found at Research 1 universities to aid in the completion of the proposed studies. UTA also provides a rich environment for formal and informal training in career development. Research: The proposed research covers three aims. In aim 1, the PI will identify barriers between Spanish-preferred older adults and use of eHealth by carrying out: 1a) a systematic literature review on the topic of eHealth interventions with US-based Spanish-speaking Latinos and 1b) a qualitative study using Photovoice method, in which participants will take photos to answer: What are examples of successful health information communication? Spanish-preferred older adult Latinos will take photos of health information they see on TV, online, in a doctor’s office, etc. to provide their perspective on what health information communication patterns may be useful in eHealth training. Aim 2 includes culturally and linguistically adapting an evidence-based English-language intervention to increase older adults’ eHealth literacy. The adaptation will focus on cultural factors such as religion, family, forms of respect, and Latino diversity (e.g., country of origin, length of time in the US). In aim 3, The PI will assess the feasibility and acceptability of the adapted intervention with Spanish- preferred older adult Latinos. Career Development: This award will support the PI’s career development by building on his existing training in Latino health disparities and quantitative methods. The career development plan includes mentored training, didactic coursework, and other career development opportunities guided by three training goals: a) understand barriers to Spanish-speaking older adults’ engagement in eHealth and eHealth interventions, b) learn how to culturally adapt an English-language intervention for Spanish-preferred older adults, and c) learn to implement and assess feasibility and acceptability of an adapted intervention. Combined with a rigorous training plan, working with top experts in the fields of aging, Latino/a health, implementation science, and technology-based intervention development, this proposal will generate novel data to justify a future R01 proposal to advance aging research with underrepresented populations and assess the efficacy of the intervention with a larger sample.