Publication year
2011
Citation Title
Attitudes and awareness of web-based self-care resources in the military: A preliminary survey study.
Journal Name
Telemedicine and e-Health
Journal Volume
17
Issue Number
7
Page Numbers
580-583
DOI
10.1089/tmj.2011.0006
Summary
Several self-care web-based resources are available online, and patients may find these resources useful as a quick source of information or as a supplement to an appointment with a physician. Service members and health providers were surveyed regarding their use of self-care websites and their attitudes toward using these resources. A majority of providers and sizable minority of Service members use web-based self-care resources and feel they are valuable.
Key Findings
Most Service members had home internet access (96%), and many reported using web-based content to learn about physical (44%) and mental (21%) health concerns.
The majority of providers reporting using self-care websites as part of patients' physical (85%) and mental (56%) health care.
WebMD.com, MilitaryOneSource.com, and VA.gov were the websites providers most commonly used and recommended.
Service members reported using self-care websites for gaining instant access to information and for making decisions about seeing a provider for physical or mental concerns, but they reported feeling face-to-face provider information was more credible than web-based information.
Implications for Program Leaders
Provide workshops to Service members and their families to teach self-care practices and provide demonstrations
Disseminate a list of evidence-based self-care websites for distribution to Service members and their families and teach military families how to find credible web-based health information
Educate Service members and their families regarding where free public internet access is available (e.g.,libraries, community centers)
Implications for Policy Makers
Collaborate with creators of self-care websites to include information about self-care specifically for military families
Encourage military programs to supplement self-care courses with additional information and resources for military families from recommended self-care websites
Recommend professional development for providers working with military families about how to responsibly integrate self-care websites into their practice
Methods
Service members were recruited at a personnel administrative center at a large military installation.
Providers were sent surveys via interoffice mail with a 26% survey response rate.
Associations between participants' self-reported internet usage, attitudes about web-based resources, and comfort or willingness to use web-based self-care resources were examined.
Participants
Participants included 48 Service members (83% male) with an average age of 30.50 years (SD = 8.20); the majority were Active Duty (94%) and enlisted (83%) personnel.
Service members identified as White (60%), Latino (19%), Black (13%), Asian American (4%), and Native American (2%).
The 27 providers who participated included medical doctors (48%), nurse practitioners or physician assistants (22%), psychologists (22%), social workers (4%), and counselors (4%).
Limitations
The response rate of providers was only 26%, and those that participated may differ from those that did not.
The survey measures had not been previously validated and may have resulted in inaccurate findings.
Other variables may have impacted use of health-care websites, such as providers' years of practice or Service members' access to private internet use time.
Avenues for Future Research
Investigate the effectiveness of integrating web-based self-care information into military education programs for families
Compare use of self-care websites via computer and cell phone
Examine patients' awareness of self-care websites and which websites are most frequently used
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Web-based self-care resources have a number of potential benefits for military service members (SMs) and their families such as convenience, anonymity, and immediate 24/7 access to useful information. There is limited data available, however, regarding SM and military healthcare provider use of online self-care resources. Our goal with this study was to conduct a preliminary survey assessment of self-care Web site awareness, general attitudes about use, and usage behaviors of Web-based self-care resources among SMs and military healthcare providers. Results show that the majority of SMs and providers use the Internet often, use Internet self-care resources, and are willing to use additional Web-based resources and capabilities. SMs and providers also indicated a preference for Web-based self-care resources as adjunct tools to face-to-face/in-person care. Data from this preliminary study are useful for informing additional research and best practices for integrating Web-based self-care for the military community.
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