JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Canadian South Asians are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Consumer-oriented health information technology may help mitigate lifestyle risk factors and improve chronic disease self-management.

Objective:

To explore the prevalence, patterns, and predictors of use of the Internet, digital devices, and apps for health purposes as well as preferences for future use of eHealth support in South Asian Canadians.

Methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional, mixed-mode survey in a convenience sample of 831 South Asian adults recruited at faith-based gathering places, healthcare settings, and community events in the Edmonton, Alberta area in 2014. The 706 responders who provided complete sociodemographic information were included in the analysis and the denominators vary based on the completeness of responses to each question. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine sociodemographic and health status predictors of Internet use, being an online health information seeker, smartphone or tablet ownership, health app use, and willingness to use various modes of eHealth support.

Results:

Of all respondents, 74.6% (527/706) were Internet users and 47.8% (336/703) were online health information seekers. Three quarters (74.9%; 527/704) of respondents owned a smartphone/tablet and 30.7% of these (159/518) had a health/fitness app. The majority of Internet users (83.7%; 441/527) expressed interest in using ≥1 mode of eHealth support. Older age, being female, less than high school education, preferring written health information in languages other than English, and lacking confidence in completing medical forms predicted of lack of Internet use. Among Internet users, the factors that predicted online health information seeking were being female, use of the Internet several times per day, being confident completing medical forms, and preferring health information in English. Being older, preferring health information in languages other than English, less than high school education, living in Canada for <5 years, having a chronic health condition, and having diabetes predicted lack of smartphone/tablet ownership. Increasing age was associated with lower odds of having a health app. Preferring health information in languages other than English consistently predicted lower interest in all modes of eHealth support.

Conclusions:

eHealth-based chronic disease prevention and management interventions are feasible for South Asian adults, but digital divides exist according to language preference, education, age, sex, confidence in completing medical forms, and number of years lived in Canada. Community-based, culturally tailored strategies targeting these factors are required to address existing divides and increase the uptake of credible online and app-based resources for health purposes. Clinical Trial: Not Applicable.