title: Digital divide and information needs for improving family support among the poor and underserved.
abstract: Despite of its emotional benefits, communication with family members who live abroad can present a large financial burden for low-income foreign-born individuals. The aims of this study were (1) to explore the current technologies available for low-cost communication with family living abroad and (2) to assess the level of awareness and use of low-cost technologies for family communication as well as related information needs among low-income foreign-born individuals. This mixed-methods study included an environmental scan, survey, and focus groups with low-income foreign-born individuals living in East Harlem in New York City. Low-income individuals who have family members living abroad face financial stress with complicated technology choices for communication with family living abroad and they have many information needs. They would welcome interactive and convenient educational tools that (1) build skills for utilization of various technologies and (2) provide decision support to simplify choosing among the vast array of available communication options.
authors.affiliation: Partners HealthCare, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.affiliation: sy2102@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Sunmoo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, USA.
authors.forename: Maxine L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rockoff
authors.affiliation: Union Settlement Association, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nocenti
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, USA.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bakken
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D066310:Digital Divide / Q000639:trends*; D005190:Family; D017144:Focus Groups; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D009519:New York City; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: assistive technologies; consumer health information; ehealth; mobile health; pervasive technologies