Gitonga Isaiah, Desmond Deirdre, Maguire Rebecca
Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland.
Assisting Living and Learning Institute, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland.
J Cancer Surviv. 2024 May 14. doi: 10.1007/s11764-024-01615-1.
As the number of people living with and beyond cancer increases, connected health technologies offer promise to enhance access to care and support, while reducing costs. However, uptake of connected health technologies may vary depending on sociodemographic and health-related variables. This study aimed to investigate demographic and health predictors of connected health technology use among people living with and beyond cancer.
Cross-sectional data from the US Health Information National Trends Survey Version 5 Cycle 4 (H5c4) was used. Regression analysis was used to examine associations between sociodemographic factors and the use of connected health technologies. The sample was restricted to individuals who self-reported a cancer diagnosis or history of cancer.
In this cycle, 626 respondents self-reported a cancer diagnosis, with 41.1% using connected health technologies (health and wellness apps and/or wearable devices). Most were female (58.9%) and white (82.5%); 43.4% had graduated college or higher education. One third (33.6%) had a household income of $75,000 or more. Respondents who were younger, have higher education, were living as married, had higher incomes, had higher self-rated health and had higher health-related self-efficacy were significantly more likely to use connected health technologies. There were no significant associations between gender, race, stratum, time since diagnosis, history of anxiety or depression, and use of connected health technologies among people living with and beyond cancer.
Connected health technology use among people living with and beyond cancer is associated with sociodemographic factors. Future research should examine these demographic disparities as the use of connected health technologies in healthcare continues to gather momentum.
The study underscores a disparity in connected heath technology usage among people living with and beyond cancer. There is a pressing need for research into adoption barriers and interventions to ensure equitable digital healthcare integration among this population, especially with the heightened adoption of technology post COVID-19 pandemic.
随着癌症患者及癌症康复者数量的增加，互联健康技术有望在降低成本的同时，提高医疗服务和支持的可及性。然而，互联健康技术的采用情况可能因社会人口统计学和健康相关变量而有所不同。本研究旨在调查癌症患者及癌症康复者使用互联健康技术的人口统计学和健康预测因素。
使用来自美国健康信息国家趋势调查第5版第4轮（H5c4）的横断面数据。采用回归分析来检验社会人口统计学因素与互联健康技术使用之间的关联。样本仅限于自我报告有癌症诊断或癌症病史的个体。
在本调查周期中，626名受访者自我报告有癌症诊断，其中41.1%使用互联健康技术（健康与健身应用程序和/或可穿戴设备）。大多数为女性（58.9%）和白人（82.5%）；43.4%拥有大学或更高学历。三分之一（33.6%）的家庭收入为75,000美元或以上。年龄较小、学历较高、已婚、收入较高、自我健康评分较高以及健康相关自我效能较高的受访者使用互联健康技术可能性显著更高。在癌症患者及癌症康复者中，性别、种族、阶层、确诊时间、焦虑或抑郁病史与互联健康技术的使用之间无显著关联。
癌症患者及癌症康复者使用互联健康技术与社会人口统计学因素有关。随着互联健康技术在医疗保健中的使用持续发展，未来研究应审视这些人口统计学差异。
该研究强调了癌症患者及癌症康复者在使用互联健康技术方面的差异。迫切需要研究采用障碍及干预措施，以确保这一人群能公平地融入数字医疗保健体系，尤其是在新冠疫情后技术采用率提高的情况下。
