Research Brief: Technology and Health Education: An Exploratory Study of Older Chinese Immigrants

Authors

Jenny H. Tsai, University of WashingtonFollow
Vicky Taylor, University of WashingtonFollow
Shin-Ping Tu, University of WashingtonFollow

Keywords

Chinese Americans; Chinese immigrants; Computer technology; Focus groups; Health education; Information behavior; Internet research; Language and medicine

Disciplines

Community-Based Research | Medicine and Health | Public Health | Race and Ethnicity

Abstract

Technology advances, especially in the Internet, provide new tools to deliver health education to limited English proficient immigrants. This paper presents the findings of a qualitative descriptive study of older limited English proficient Chinese immigrants’ perspectives regarding computer-based health education. The sample consisted of 33 foreign-born Chinese recruited in Seattle, Washington. Data were generated through six focus groups and an 18-item demographic questionnaire. The analyses revealed that the majority was not skillful in computer use and Internet browsing, and the Internet was not a common health information source. Nevertheless, participants were supportive of having computer-based health information designed for Chinese immigrants. Interface designs, interface features, and content for the computer-based health education were discussed. The results support developing more computer-based programs requiring minimal computer, English language, and health literacy for immigrants, as well as investigations of cultural influence on the suitability and cost-effectiveness of computer-based health education for Chinese immigrants.

Recommended Citation

Tsai, Jenny H.; Taylor, Vicky; and Tu, Shin-Ping (2009) "Research Brief: Technology and Health Education: An Exploratory Study of Older Chinese Immigrants," Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice: Vol. 3: Iss. 3, Article 9.
Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/jhdrp/vol3/iss3/9