Greater Houston AHEC and Neighborhood Centers Inc. to launch: Operation C.L.I.C.K.S.C.L.I.C.K.S
Greater Houston AHEC and Neighborhood Centers Inc. to launch: Operation C.L.I.C.K.S.(Computer Literacy: Increasing Consumer Knowledge for Seniors)
Houston, Texas (February 22, 2010) – Training senior citizens to safely and effectively navigate the World Wide Web in search of accurate healthcare information, Operation CLICKS is ready for engagement. Because there is a need for senior citizens to utilize the Internet to find healthcare information, the National Network of Libraries of Medicine South Central Region is providing grant funding for this initiative and Greater Houston Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is collaborating with Neighborhood Centers, Inc. to teach computer literacy. Training sites , SHAPE Community Center, Kashmere Senior Multi-service Senior Center, Acres Home Senior Multi-service Center, and Magnolia Community Center, will become the debriefing station, utilizing CHW (Community Health Workers) and onsite staff to prepare the units for Internet engagement. Training courses will commence July 2010 and end February 2011, producing four specially trained senior citizen units capable of finding valid healthcare information online.
Operation CLICKS (Computer Literacy: Increasing Consumer Knowledge for Seniors) is a computer literacy program that provides education on basic computer and Internet usage skills. The target population is senior citizens in the Harris County, Houston, Texas area who will receive instruction on how to utilize the MedlinePlus and NIHSeniorHealth websites to find valid and credible health information. Program goals include increasing self-efficacy while decreasing anxiety towards computer and Internet usage and having the centers’ staff able to assist seniors with finding health information on the Internet. At least one staff member at each senior center will be trained to use MedlinePlus and NIHSeniorHealth. At the end of the program, a computer designed as “senior-friendly and dedicated to Internet access of health resources will be given to each site. Thus, seniors will have continued access to valuable electronic health information beyond the program year. The program coordinator will instruct the senior citizen participants at each community center in a nine-module course, each module lasting approximately three hours. The courses will be provided for two community centers a week receiving two days of instruction per module. Sessions will begin August 2nd and continue through December 16th.
According to another study about the elderly and the Internet conducted by Dr. R. Campbell and J. Wabby, members of the Health Management Systems at Duquesne University in Pennsylvania, the study participants “acknowledged that the Internet can be used to locate health related information that allows them to take a more active role in their own health care, and work collaboratively with their PCP [primary care physician].” Therefore, it is imperative for the aging population to receive education and training on how to access and use health information. resources on the Internet in order to increase their health literacy and overall health.