"Partnering with Seniors for Better Health": computer use and Internet health information retrieval among older adults in a low socioeconomic community.
OBJECTIVE
This health communication project measured the psychosocial influences of computer anxiety, computer confidence, and computer self-efficacy in older adults at six meal congregate sites. The adults completed a five-week education intervention, based on Bandura's self-efficacy model, designed to assist older adults in retrieving and evaluating health information resources on the Internet.


METHODS
One hundred thirty-seven participants, ages sixty-five and older, were randomized in a controlled, two-group, pre-post, repeated measures design. Participants in the intervention group received a two-hour training session, once a week for five weeks. The Computer Confidence Subscale and Computer Anxiety Subscale of the Computer Attitude Scale and the Computer Self-Efficacy Measure were administered to both groups at three time intervals: at baseline, completion of the five-week intervention, and six weeks after completion of the intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance.


RESULTS
Findings showed a reduction in computer anxiety and increases in computer confidence and computer self-efficacy in retrieving and evaluating online health information (P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The study suggests an array of possibilities to engage older adults in the use of Internet health information resources to better contribute to their health, independence, safety, and wellness.
Chu
Adeline
A
College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, Institute of Health Sciences-Houston Center, 6700 Fannin, Houston, TX 77030, USA. adeln@twu.edu
Huber
Jeffrey
J
Mastel-Smith
Beth
B
Cesario
Sandra
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003200:Computer User Training / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States