| Due to the phenomenal growth of the Internet and its related technology advances, all business strategies must consider the extent to which the business will use the Internet in its overall strategy. Web-based applications have become powerful technological enablers when incorporated into an integrated overall strategy. Internet-based infrastructure alliances between healthcare and public health systems would be cost effective in reducing the redundant processes in both systems. For example, health promotion and preventive health strategies that decrease the demand for higher-cost healthcare services by keeping older populations healthy could prove valuable for the United States. By the year 2030, 70 million or 20% of the population will be 65 years and older. The idea of seniors using the Internet to assist in their own health is relatively a new concept and the focus of this exploratory diffusion study. The study's purpose was to explore the impact of a community based initiative designed to assist older adults in retrieving credible preventive health information from the Internet. A survey mailed to 1,080 local community seniors established the first phase of the research project and served to recruit potential participants for the second phase of the study. A proactive approach in assessing interest levels, besides Internet usage, demonstrated that about half of this senior population was interested in using the Internet as a tool to find credible health information. Using a quasi-experimental design to study the process of change in adopting a new idea, the second phase of the study also yielded new knowledge. The community-based trial showed promise of diminishing the older adults' unique digital divide. The simplicity of the easy-to-use instruments allowed the health consumer to assess his or her progress and provided valuable feedback to the health professional facilitating the community intervention. Further research with cumulative measurements could support an evidence-base to policy makers for funding similar community interventions.; Abstract Note regarding Title of the Dissertation: Based on the study's findings, the community-based learning venue involved 60+ year-old adults rather than the 50+ year-old adults as originally indicated in the title. |
