Research Information System
7th European Conference on Information Literacy (ECIL), ELECTR NETWORK, 20 - 23 September 2021, pp.75-86, (Full Text)
In the U.S., individuals of low-socioeconomic status (low-SES) are more likely to be chronically ill. Low-SES patients are less likely to use e-health resources and engage in doctor-patient communication or decision-making. In other words, despite increased rates of illness, lower-SES individuals typically have very little agency in determining the quality of their health and healthcare. Given this, we argue that data on this topic sometimes undervalues the physical and psychological benefits of e-Health resources for low-income people. Interviews with 25 low-income HIV+ patients reveal that patients use e-health resources when available, and that these resources are influential in shaping doctor-patient interactions, informing treatment options, and enhancing patients' self-efficacy and empowerment. Findings point to opportunities for improving health for chronically ill individuals with e-Health. If it is going to serve those most in need, public health practitioners must grapple with the experiences of chronically ill users living in poverty and factor these experiences to formulate appropriate policies and health literacy strategies.