Support in digital health skill development for vulnerable groups in a public library setting: perspectives of trainers
IntroductionThe digitalization of healthcare poses a risk of exacerbating health inequalities. Dutch public libraries offer freely accessible e-health courses given by trainers. However, there is limited knowledge on whether these libraries successfully reach and support those in need. This study ai...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Digital Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2024.1519964/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1841543734432366592 |
|---|---|
| author | Lucille M. B. Standaar Lucille M. B. Standaar Lucille M. B. Standaar Adriana M. C. Israel Rosalie van der Vaart Brigitta Keij Roland D. Friele Roland D. Friele Mariëlle A. Beenackers L. H. D. van Tuyl |
| author_facet | Lucille M. B. Standaar Lucille M. B. Standaar Lucille M. B. Standaar Adriana M. C. Israel Rosalie van der Vaart Brigitta Keij Roland D. Friele Roland D. Friele Mariëlle A. Beenackers L. H. D. van Tuyl |
| author_sort | Lucille M. B. Standaar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe digitalization of healthcare poses a risk of exacerbating health inequalities. Dutch public libraries offer freely accessible e-health courses given by trainers. However, there is limited knowledge on whether these libraries successfully reach and support those in need. This study aimed to explore trainers’ perspectives on the challenges, successes, and potential improvements in digital health skill education in a library setting.Materials and methodsTrainers of the e-health course were interviewed. Topics included: the role of the library in digital health skills education, the successes and challenges in reaching groups with a low socioeconomic position, the perceived impact of the digital health skills education, and strategies for future improvement in digital health skills education. A deductive analysis based upon the interview guide topics was performed. A second inductive analysis was applied to identify underlying patterns. Coding was done independently and cross-checked. Codebooks and themes were determined in discussion with authors.ResultsThree themes emerged. 1) Trainers’ services, skills and expertise: Trainers identified older adults, youth, people with low (digital) literacy, the unemployed, and people from non-native cultural backgrounds as the groups most in need of support. Trainers felt equipped to address these groups’ needs. 2) The libraries’ reach: improving engagement, perceived accessibility, and clients’ barriers: Despite trainers’ efforts to adjust the course to the target groups’ level of commitment, digital and literacy levels, and logistics, the digital health course predominantly engages older adults. Experienced barriers in reach: limited perceived accessibility of the public library and clients’ personal barriers. 3) Collaborations with healthcare, welfare and community organizations: Trainers emphasized that collaborations could enhance the diversity and number of participants. Current partnerships provided: reach to target groups, teaching locations, and referral of clients.DiscussionTrainers in public libraries recognize a various target groups that need support in digital health skill development. The study identified three challenges: accessibility of the digital health course, reach of the public library, and clients’ personal barriers. Public libraries have potential to support their target groups but need strategies to improve their engagement and reach. Collaborations with healthcare, welfare, and community organizations are essential to improve their reach to those most in need of support. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-088887b6c8ef4c64a93977ab6458e6ff |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-253X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Digital Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-088887b6c8ef4c64a93977ab6458e6ff2025-01-13T06:10:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Digital Health2673-253X2025-01-01610.3389/fdgth.2024.15199641519964Support in digital health skill development for vulnerable groups in a public library setting: perspectives of trainersLucille M. B. Standaar0Lucille M. B. Standaar1Lucille M. B. Standaar2Adriana M. C. Israel3Rosalie van der Vaart4Brigitta Keij5Roland D. Friele6Roland D. Friele7Mariëlle A. Beenackers8L. H. D. van Tuyl9Department of Population Health and Health Services Research, Centre for Public Health, Healthcare and Society, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, NetherlandsDepartment Organisation and Quality of Care, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Utrecht, NetherlandsDepartment of Tranzo, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, NetherlandsDepartment of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, NetherlandsResearch Group Technology for Healthcare, Centre of Expertise Health Innovation, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, The Hague, NetherlandsDepartment of Population Health and Health Services Research, Centre for Public Health, Healthcare and Society, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, NetherlandsDepartment Organisation and Quality of Care, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Utrecht, NetherlandsDepartment of Tranzo, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, NetherlandsDepartment of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, NetherlandsDepartment Organisation and Quality of Care, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Utrecht, NetherlandsIntroductionThe digitalization of healthcare poses a risk of exacerbating health inequalities. Dutch public libraries offer freely accessible e-health courses given by trainers. However, there is limited knowledge on whether these libraries successfully reach and support those in need. This study aimed to explore trainers’ perspectives on the challenges, successes, and potential improvements in digital health skill education in a library setting.Materials and methodsTrainers of the e-health course were interviewed. Topics included: the role of the library in digital health skills education, the successes and challenges in reaching groups with a low socioeconomic position, the perceived impact of the digital health skills education, and strategies for future improvement in digital health skills education. A deductive analysis based upon the interview guide topics was performed. A second inductive analysis was applied to identify underlying patterns. Coding was done independently and cross-checked. Codebooks and themes were determined in discussion with authors.ResultsThree themes emerged. 1) Trainers’ services, skills and expertise: Trainers identified older adults, youth, people with low (digital) literacy, the unemployed, and people from non-native cultural backgrounds as the groups most in need of support. Trainers felt equipped to address these groups’ needs. 2) The libraries’ reach: improving engagement, perceived accessibility, and clients’ barriers: Despite trainers’ efforts to adjust the course to the target groups’ level of commitment, digital and literacy levels, and logistics, the digital health course predominantly engages older adults. Experienced barriers in reach: limited perceived accessibility of the public library and clients’ personal barriers. 3) Collaborations with healthcare, welfare and community organizations: Trainers emphasized that collaborations could enhance the diversity and number of participants. Current partnerships provided: reach to target groups, teaching locations, and referral of clients.DiscussionTrainers in public libraries recognize a various target groups that need support in digital health skill development. The study identified three challenges: accessibility of the digital health course, reach of the public library, and clients’ personal barriers. Public libraries have potential to support their target groups but need strategies to improve their engagement and reach. Collaborations with healthcare, welfare, and community organizations are essential to improve their reach to those most in need of support.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2024.1519964/fulldigital healthhealth educationsocio-economic factorssocial servicesolder adultshealth literacy |
| spellingShingle | Lucille M. B. Standaar Lucille M. B. Standaar Lucille M. B. Standaar Adriana M. C. Israel Rosalie van der Vaart Brigitta Keij Roland D. Friele Roland D. Friele Mariëlle A. Beenackers L. H. D. van Tuyl Support in digital health skill development for vulnerable groups in a public library setting: perspectives of trainers Frontiers in Digital Health digital health health education socio-economic factors social services older adults health literacy |
| title | Support in digital health skill development for vulnerable groups in a public library setting: perspectives of trainers |
| title_full | Support in digital health skill development for vulnerable groups in a public library setting: perspectives of trainers |
| title_fullStr | Support in digital health skill development for vulnerable groups in a public library setting: perspectives of trainers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Support in digital health skill development for vulnerable groups in a public library setting: perspectives of trainers |
| title_short | Support in digital health skill development for vulnerable groups in a public library setting: perspectives of trainers |
| title_sort | support in digital health skill development for vulnerable groups in a public library setting perspectives of trainers |
| topic | digital health health education socio-economic factors social services older adults health literacy |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2024.1519964/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lucillembstandaar supportindigitalhealthskilldevelopmentforvulnerablegroupsinapubliclibrarysettingperspectivesoftrainers AT lucillembstandaar supportindigitalhealthskilldevelopmentforvulnerablegroupsinapubliclibrarysettingperspectivesoftrainers AT lucillembstandaar supportindigitalhealthskilldevelopmentforvulnerablegroupsinapubliclibrarysettingperspectivesoftrainers AT adrianamcisrael supportindigitalhealthskilldevelopmentforvulnerablegroupsinapubliclibrarysettingperspectivesoftrainers AT rosalievandervaart supportindigitalhealthskilldevelopmentforvulnerablegroupsinapubliclibrarysettingperspectivesoftrainers AT brigittakeij supportindigitalhealthskilldevelopmentforvulnerablegroupsinapubliclibrarysettingperspectivesoftrainers AT rolanddfriele supportindigitalhealthskilldevelopmentforvulnerablegroupsinapubliclibrarysettingperspectivesoftrainers AT rolanddfriele supportindigitalhealthskilldevelopmentforvulnerablegroupsinapubliclibrarysettingperspectivesoftrainers AT marielleabeenackers supportindigitalhealthskilldevelopmentforvulnerablegroupsinapubliclibrarysettingperspectivesoftrainers AT lhdvantuyl supportindigitalhealthskilldevelopmentforvulnerablegroupsinapubliclibrarysettingperspectivesoftrainers |