| Learning Objective #1: recognize the role of consumer health information in promoting positive beliefs, attitudes and lifestyles of older adults. | |||
| Learning Objective #2: design appropriate intervention for health communication to narrow the gap of digital divide in older adults. |
To test a causal model that hypothesizes a structured computer training that incorporates Bandura’s major components of self- efficacy expectations that will positively influence computer confidence, lower computer anxiety and increase computer self-efficacy towards computer and Internet use among community-dwelling older adults, ages 65 and above (N= 12).
Goals:
To examine effectiveness of a training program and changes of psychosocial outcomes as measured by the computer confidence subscale and the computer anxiety subscale of the computer attitude scale (CAS), and the computer self-efficacy measure (SEM) over three time intervals: baseline, completion of training and 6 weeks after completion of training.
Background:
Psychosocial benefits of computer training have been examined. The role of computer anxiety, computer confidence and computer self-efficacy on Internet health information retrieval and evaluation with computer training has yet to be determined.
Methodology:
Randomized, controlled, 2-groups, pre-post, repeated measure design. Participants in the study group were given a 2-hour computer session, once a week for 5 weeks. Control group received no training. The computer confidence and computer anxiety subscale of the CAS and the computer self-efficacy measure (SEM) were administered to both groups and data analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA.
Results:
Significant findings were noted within groups at baseline and at completion of training session, anxiety (p = 0.003), confidence (p = .02) and self-efficacy (p = .01). Although no statistical differences were observed at the end of training and at 6 weeks after completion of training, significant differences were seen across the three time intervals for computer anxiety (p = .02) and computer self-efficacy (p = .001). No statistical significance was noted in-between groups.
Significance to nursing:
With the rising numbers of older Americans using computers and the Internet in recent years, nurses have the capability to deliver effective and efficient health education to the community.