Nimmons D, Armstrong M, Pigott J, Walters K, Schrag A, Ogunleye D, Dowridge W, Read J, Davies N. Exploring the experiences of people and family carers from under-represented groups in self-managing Parkinson's disease and their use of digital health to do this.
Digit Health 2022;
8:20552076221102261. [PMID:
35651731 PMCID:
PMC9149607 DOI:
10.1177/20552076221102261]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction
Digital health is thought to enable people to better manage chronic
conditions, such as Parkinson's. However, little is known about how people
from under-represented groups with chronic conditions use digital health to
self-manage.
Objective
The objective of our study was to explore the experiences of people and
family carers from under-represented groups in self-managing Parkinson's,
including their use of digital health to do this.
Methods
Semi-structured interviews (n = 18, including four dyadic) were conducted
remotely, with 16 people with Parkinson's and six family carers in
2020–2021. Participants were purposively sampled from under-represented
groups: belong to an ethnic minority, or having significant physical or
sensory impairment. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed
using thematic analysis.
Results
Three main themes of importance were developed: ‘self-management support’,
‘digital health use to support self-management’ and ‘identity, attitudes and
characteristics’. Participants received medical, psychological, social and
practical self-management support. Some participants used digital health
resources, e.g., Parkinson's UK website. Digital literacy was the biggest
barrier to using digital health, regardless of background, often dependant
on previous occupation and confidence. Few ethnic minority participants
thought race or culture alters self-management ability and most believed
there was no need for digital health interventions to be tailored to an
individual's race or culture. Some felt inclusivity was important in terms
of diverse images of people. A range of considerations were identified to
optimise digital health, such as assistive equipment for people with sensory
impairment.
Conclusions
Barriers to using digital health for self-management were primarily dependent
on personal factors including digital literacy and attitudes but rarely race
or culture. We recommend the optimisation of digital health interventions by
providing assistive technology at low cost, and visual inclusiveness should
be promoted by including images of people from diverse backgrounds.
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