title: Understanding Digital Technology Access and Use Among New York State Residents to Enhance Dissemination of Health Information.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many state and local health departments, as well as community organizations, have been using new technologies to disseminate health information to targeted populations. Yet little data exist that show access and use patterns, as well as preferences for receiving health information, at the state level.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to obtain information about media and technology use, and health information seeking patterns, from a sample of New York State (NYS) residents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional telephone survey (with mobile phones and landlines) was developed to assess media and technology access, use patterns, and preferences for receiving health information among a sample of 1350 residents in NYS. The survey used random digit dialing methodology. A weighted analysis was conducted utilizing Stata/SE software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data suggest that NYS residents have a high level of computer and Internet use; 82% have at least one working computer at home, and 85% use the Internet at least sometimes. Mobile phone use is also high; 90% indicated having a mobile phone, and of those 63% have a smartphone. When asked about preferences for receiving health information from an organization, many people preferred websites (49%); preferences for other sources varied by demographic characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that the Internet and other technologies are viable ways to reach NYS residents, but agencies and organizations should still consider using traditional methods of communication in some cases, and determine appropriate channels based on the population of interest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy, Management, and Behavior School of Public Health University at Albany Rensselaer, NY United States.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4132-7283
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Manganello
authors.affiliation: New York State Department of Health Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities Prevention Albany, NY United States.
authors.forename: Gena
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6374-2357
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerstner
authors.affiliation: New York State Department of Health Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities Prevention Albany, NY United States.
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9110-3045
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pergolino
authors.affiliation: New York State Department of Health Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities Prevention Albany, NY United States.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3266-6419
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and BiostatisticsSchool of Public HealthUniversity at AlbanyRensselaer, NYUnited States; Director, Center for Rural Community HealthBassett Research InstituteCooperstown, NYUnited States.
authors.forename: David
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5805-6280
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Strogatz
keywords: Internet; New York; eHealth; health information; media