Luger TM, Hogan TP, Richardson LM, Cioffari-Bailiff L, Harvey K, Houston TK. (2016). Older veteran digital disparities: Examining the potential for solutions within social networks. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 18(11): e296. PMCID: 5143468
Researchers mailed surveys assessing technology ownership and use, health, and social ties of veterans who were 65 years or older and had received outpatient care from a VHA facility at least twice in the past 10 months. Researchers analyzed 266 completed surveys. Forty-four percent of participants reported not having internet access. Participants who reported not having internet access were less healthy, less confident using the internet, and less confident in filling out medical forms themselves. Thirty-five participants (13.2%) used a family member’s computer to access the internet. Participants reported having eight social connections with internet access, three connections who would allow them to use the internet for health management, and were comfortable asking four for help using the internet for health management. Participants without internet access reported having five social ties with internet access, one social tie who would allow them use the internet for health management, two social ties that would use the internet to manage their health for them, and feeling comfortable asking two social connections for help with using the internet for health management. Though many older veterans may not have internet access, this research suggests that they have social connections that have home internet access and may be comfortable asking these social connections for help with using the internet for health management.