Positive Ways to Use Technology in Nursing Research
How can nurses leverage the widespread use of technology across age, heritage, and economic status to engage more people and communities in research?
The digital divide has significantly narrowed over the past decade. What was once thought of as entertainment for younger generations has now become the leading modality for communication with others. We use technology for entertainment, accessing news, education, dating, friendship, keeping in touch – you name it. We do this through the use of smartphones, tablets, computers, gaming, etc. to stay in touch with the world around us. As a society, we have evolved from letters to email, from calling to texting, from asking a clinician to consulting with Dr. Google.
In 2023, Statista reported that internet use was greater than 86% in adults ages 65+ and in those with annual incomes less than $30,000. AARP published a study in 2019 that found ethnic and racial minorities ages 50 and up used technology daily. Specifically, they used online gaming to maintain mental sharpness and for personal entertainment. In 2021 a separate poll found that adults perceived many benefits to online gaming, such as connection with others, meeting new individuals, staying in touch, and for online community building.
With all of this data on the uptake and benefits of technology across age, heritage, and economic status, how can nurses leverage this to benefit patients and individuals in the community? How can it be harnessed to advance equity for persons who have access to technology, but have not had opportunities or an interest to participate in research?
In 2019, leaders in nursing, bioethics, medicine, and public health developed an e-Health framework for using technology in empowering, non-stigmatizing, ways. The framework goes over five steps towards use.
The first step is to use a technology that is common in the community, such as a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. This is important because if you use a new technology or one that is not easily accessible because of price, like a VR headset or popular gaming console, this may create barriers for individuals financially or not be of interest to a certain age demographic. Keeping the technology simple and accessible will ensure that others are comfortable using it (from their prior experiences) and that it is accessible after the study (so people can continue to benefit after the study ends).
The second step is to ensure anonymity. Even though we use technology for almost everything, individuals still value privacy. This can be especially important for individuals who have chronic illnesses (diabetes, HIV, heart disease, etc.), or are from backgrounds that are marginalized and experience social stigma.
The third step is co-presence, or the ability to feel close with others online although you are physically apart. This is important because it is a symbol of deepening engagement with others online.
The fourth step is self-disclosure, which stems from the feeling of co-presence where an individual can share parts of themselves with others in a meaningful way.
The fifth step is social support. That is, the potential gains associated with the safety of anonymity, deepening engagement, connection with others, and the building of community.
All of these steps are designed to make engagement with technology in research easy and engaging. The most important step prior to using the framework is to assess your positionality in that community, to earn trust, and be trustworthy as a research partner.
S. Raquel Ramos, PhD, MBA, MSN, FNYAM, FAHA, is Associate Professor of Nursing and Public Health at Yale School of Nursing. She is also recipient of the 2023 Equity-Minded Nurse Research Award, which was co-sponsored by the American Academy of Nursing.