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“Mum Helps Me When the Internet Messes Up…” : Accessibility of eHealth Services for People with Intellectual Disability

Normand, Claude L. ; Gustavsson, Catharina ; Alfredsson Ågren, Kristin ; Heitplatz, Vanessa N. ; Chadwick, Darren D. and Johansson, Stefan LU (2024) 18th International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction, UAHCI 2024, Held as Part of the 26th HCI International Conference, HCII 2024 In Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics) 14697 LNCS. p.213-230
Abstract

Many services have become digitized in society, including health services. Although there are many advantages to eHealth services, some segments of the population cannot reap those benefits. Objectives: This study aimed to: 1- describe how people with intellectual disability use the internet in Sweden; and 2- understand the nature of the contextual and personal barriers these users face when trying to access eHealth services in particular. Methods: Data from the nationwide survey “Swedes with Impairment and the Internet 2021” (SMFOI-21) were extracted for a subsample of 154 people with self-declared intellectual disability. Results: Findings reveal that people with intellectual disability used the internet predominantly for... (More)

Many services have become digitized in society, including health services. Although there are many advantages to eHealth services, some segments of the population cannot reap those benefits. Objectives: This study aimed to: 1- describe how people with intellectual disability use the internet in Sweden; and 2- understand the nature of the contextual and personal barriers these users face when trying to access eHealth services in particular. Methods: Data from the nationwide survey “Swedes with Impairment and the Internet 2021” (SMFOI-21) were extracted for a subsample of 154 people with self-declared intellectual disability. Results: Findings reveal that people with intellectual disability used the internet predominantly for entertainment purposes. Challenges arose in more complex online activities, like internet searches, logging into eHealth services, booking medical appointments, and financial transactions. Participants relied on support from family, guardians or staff to read, write, create and memorise passwords, understand content, or solve technical problems encountered. They expressed a desire to engage more independently in the digital society but faced barriers due to the cognitive requirements of using apps and the internet as designed by computer scientists, difficulties in navigating complex online processes, such as eHealth services, and a lack of accessible infrastructure. Conclusion: This research underscores the importance of improved accessibility, simplified interfaces, clearer instructions, and a supportive ecosystem to enhance their digital inclusion. It is a matter of people with intellectual disability being afforded equal rights to access health services.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Digital Inclusion, eHealth, Health Literacy, Impairments, Intellectual Disabilities
host publication
Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction - 18th International Conference, UAHCI 2024, Held as Part of the 26th HCI International Conference, HCII 2024, Proceedings
series title
Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
editor
Antona, Margherita and Stephanidis, Constantine
volume
14697 LNCS
pages
18 pages
publisher
Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
conference name
18th International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction, UAHCI 2024, Held as Part of the 26th HCI International Conference, HCII 2024
conference location
Washington, United States
conference dates
2024-06-29 - 2024-07-04
external identifiers
  • scopus:85196113889
ISSN
1611-3349
0302-9743
ISBN
9783031608803
DOI
10.1007/978-3-031-60881-0_14
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ac01977a-7e87-4efa-a82c-4cf944fd98c8
date added to LUP
2024-09-11 16:03:03
date last changed
2024-09-11 16:04:22
@inproceedings{ac01977a-7e87-4efa-a82c-4cf944fd98c8,
  abstract     = {{<p>Many services have become digitized in society, including health services. Although there are many advantages to eHealth services, some segments of the population cannot reap those benefits. Objectives: This study aimed to: 1- describe how people with intellectual disability use the internet in Sweden; and 2- understand the nature of the contextual and personal barriers these users face when trying to access eHealth services in particular. Methods: Data from the nationwide survey “Swedes with Impairment and the Internet 2021” (SMFOI-21) were extracted for a subsample of 154 people with self-declared intellectual disability. Results: Findings reveal that people with intellectual disability used the internet predominantly for entertainment purposes. Challenges arose in more complex online activities, like internet searches, logging into eHealth services, booking medical appointments, and financial transactions. Participants relied on support from family, guardians or staff to read, write, create and memorise passwords, understand content, or solve technical problems encountered. They expressed a desire to engage more independently in the digital society but faced barriers due to the cognitive requirements of using apps and the internet as designed by computer scientists, difficulties in navigating complex online processes, such as eHealth services, and a lack of accessible infrastructure. Conclusion: This research underscores the importance of improved accessibility, simplified interfaces, clearer instructions, and a supportive ecosystem to enhance their digital inclusion. It is a matter of people with intellectual disability being afforded equal rights to access health services.</p>}},
  author       = {{Normand, Claude L. and Gustavsson, Catharina and Alfredsson Ågren, Kristin and Heitplatz, Vanessa N. and Chadwick, Darren D. and Johansson, Stefan}},
  booktitle    = {{Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction - 18th International Conference, UAHCI 2024, Held as Part of the 26th HCI International Conference, HCII 2024, Proceedings}},
  editor       = {{Antona, Margherita and Stephanidis, Constantine}},
  isbn         = {{9783031608803}},
  issn         = {{1611-3349}},
  keywords     = {{Digital Inclusion; eHealth; Health Literacy; Impairments; Intellectual Disabilities}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{213--230}},
  publisher    = {{Springer Science and Business Media B.V.}},
  series       = {{Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)}},
  title        = {{“Mum Helps Me When the Internet Messes Up…” : Accessibility of eHealth Services for People with Intellectual Disability}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-60881-0_14}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/978-3-031-60881-0_14}},
  volume       = {{14697 LNCS}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}