title: Online access and literacy in Maori New Zealanders with diabetes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Online web-based interventions can be effective ancillary tools for managing diabetes. There is a high prevalence of diabetes in New Zealand Maori, and yet this group has generally been a low priority for web-based interventions due to perceptions of low Internet access and Internet literacy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess Internet access and literacy in New Zealanders with diabetes, especially high-risk Maori.
  
  
  METHODS
  A telephone survey of all patients with diabetes in an urban general practice. Internet access is assessed by Internet presence in the home, and Internet literacy by the ability to use email and the World Wide Web.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred percent response rate with 68 participants, including 38% Maori. Internet access for Maori was 70% and Internet literacy 41%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Internet access and literacy for Maori with diabetes may be higher than previously thought. Health policies may wish to focus effective and cost-efficient web-based interventions on this high diabetes risk group.
authors: Division of Clinical Informatics, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. sreti@post.harvard.edu
authors: Shane R
authors: SR
authors: Reti
authors: Henry J
authors: HJ
authors: Feldman
authors: Charles
authors: C
authors: Safran
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003197:Computer Literacy; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods