Journal
JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY HEALTH
Volume 37, Issue 6, Pages 1253-1263Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s10900-012-9564-x
Keywords
AIAN; American Indians; Midwest US; Health disparities; Health information; Medical encounter
Funding
- NIMHD NIH HHS [L60 MD001231, R24 MD002773, P20 MD004805] Funding Source: Medline
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American Indians and Alaska Natives suffer significant health disparities for many infectious and chronic diseases as compared to the general population. Providing accurate and culturally tailored health information to underserved groups has been shown to influence health behaviors and health outcomes. Little prior research has explored American Indians health information use and preferences. National representative sample surveys such as the Health Information National Trends Survey provide some data on minority groups but are underpowered to provide useful information on American Indians. The present study analyzes data from a survey of over 900 American Indians from the Midwest United States and explores their sources of health information, their preferences for information presentation, and their use of health information prior to and during medical encounters. We conclude that campaigns targeting Natives should be narrowly focused and be community driven or employing community resources. American Indians use a diversity of media sources to obtain health information, with the Internet being underutilized compared to the general population. Partnership with Indian Health Service providers and pharmacists, as well as traditional healers, in the development and dissemination of new health information for Natives may provide the expert tone needed to promote health improvements in American Indians.
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