title: Digital technology use among disadvantaged Australians: implications for equitable consumer participation in digitally-mediated communication and information exchange with health services.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present research findings on access to, and use of, digital information and communication technologies (ICTs) by Australians from lower income and disadvantaged backgrounds to determine implications for equitable consumer access to digitally-mediated health services and information.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus groups were held in 2008-09 with 80 residents from lower income and disadvantaged backgrounds in South Australia, predominantly of working- and family-formation age (25 to 55 years). Qualitative analysis was conducted on a-priori and emergent themes to describe dominant categories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Access to, and use of, computers, the Internet and mobile phones varied considerably in extent, frequency and quality within and across groups due to differences in abilities, resources and life experience. Barriers and facilitators included English literacy (including for native speakers), technological literacy, education, income, housing situation, social connection, health status, employment status, and trust. Many people gained ICT skills by trial and error or help from friends, and only a few from formal programs, resulting in varied skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The considerable variation in ICT access and use within lower income and disadvantaged groups must be acknowledged and accommodated by health initiatives and services when delivering digitally-mediated consumer-provider interaction, online health information, or online self-management of health conditions. If services require consumers to participate in a digitally-mediated communication exchange, then we suggest they might support skills and technology acquisition, or provide non-ICT alternatives, in order to avoid exacerbating health inequities.
authors.affiliation: Southgate Institute for Health Society & Equity, Level 2, Health Sciences Building, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia. lareen.newman@flinders.edu.au
authors.forename: Lareen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Biedrzycki
authors.forename: Fran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003197:Computer Literacy; D003201:Computers / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013021:South Australia; D013685:Telecommunications / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends