Publication year
2015
Citation Title
Personal technology use by the U.S. Military service members and veterans: An update
Journal Name
Telemedicine and E-Health
Journal Volume
21
Issue Number
4
Page Numbers
245-258
DOI
10.1089/tmj.2014.0100
Summary
Personal technology use is common. The researchers examined the technology habits of the military community through an online survey, and compared the results with a survey conducted two years ago. Findings revealed similar technology use habits in the military and civilian communities. The most salient change over the two surveys was the dramatic increase of mobile phone use at home.
Key Findings
The Service members and Veterans in the study had similar personal technology habits as civilians.
Compared to the survey in 2012, the most dramatic change in the current survey was the great increase in mobile phone use at home.
During deployment participants reported moderate non-work use of computers and tablet, but little mobile phone use due to military restrictions.
Implications for Program Leaders
Collaborate with telehealth providers to offer health-related resources for Service members
Teach Service members how to use the Internet to learn knowledge and strategies to improve their family well-being
Educate military families, especially children, on the safe and proper use of personal technology
Implications for Policy Makers
Encourage using personal technologies as an accessible and portable media for Service members to receive useful information
Recommend professional development courses for community providers regarding the importance of personal technologies for Service members, and how to use the technologies to serve the Service members better
Offer personal technology handbooks to promote safe and effective usage of the technologies
Methods
The participants were recruited through a large military installation, social media, and the Army Knowledge Online website.
The survey used in the present study was an update of a previous survey which was developed in 2012.
The survey collected the following information: types of technologies used, purpose of technology use, smartphone app downloading, and uses of gaming devices.
Participants
The sample included 239 participants, consisting of 151 Active Duty Service members, 29 Reserve and National Guard Service members, and 59 Veterans. The majority of the participants were in the Army (92%), followed by Air Force (3%), Navy (3%) and Marine (2%).
The participants were White (63%), Black (13%), Hispanic (8%), Asian (3%), American Indian or Alaska Native (2%), and others (11%); most of the participants were male (87%).
The average age of the participants was not reported in the article.
Limitations
Sample size was relatively modest for the purpose of the study, which makes it difficult to generalize the findings.
Data were aggregated broadly across gender, age, military branches and other characteristics, therefore the potential effect of these demographic factors may be overlooked.
Caution must be taken regarding the accuracy of the results because some of the data were collected anonymously online.
Avenues for Future Research
Examine the potential effects of demographic factors (e.g., age, gender, marriage status) on Service members’ and Veterans’ personal technology use
Recruit a larger number of civilian and military participants to allow comparison between the two groups in more details
Include both objective and subjective measures of participants’ personal technology use
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Although personal electronic devices, such as mobile phones, computers, and tablets, increasingly are being leveraged as vehicles for health in the civilian world, almost nothing is known about personal technology use in the U.S. military. In 2012 we conducted a unique survey of personal technologies used by U.S. military service members. However, with the rapidly growing sophistication of personal technology and changes in consumer habits, that knowledge must be continuously updated to be useful. Accordingly, we recently surveyed new samples of active duty service members, National Guard and Reserve, and veterans. Materials and Methods: We collected data by online surveys in 2013 from 239 active, inactive, and former service members. Online surveys were completed in-person via laptop computers at a large military installation and remotely via Web-based surveys posted on the Army Knowledge Online Web site and on a Defense Center Facebook social media channel. Results and Conclusions: We measured high rates of personal technology use by service members at home across popular electronic media. The most dramatic change since our earlier survey was the tremendous increase in mobile phone use at home for a wide variety of purposes. Participants also reported moderate non-work uses of computers and tablets while on recent deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan, but almost no mobile phone use, ostensibly because of military restrictions in the war zone. These latest results will enable researchers and technology developers target their efforts on the most promising and popular technologies for psychological health in the military.
Abstract Document
Attach