F09B - Access Digital Resources for Virtual DSMES: Factors Among Medicare Beneficiaries

Successful delivery of virtual Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) requires access to digital resources, such as having a computer, laptop, or tablet and using the Internet. Some Medicare beneficiaries may lack access to these digital resources which can contribute to the digital divide and potentially widen or exacerbate existing health disparities or inequities. Limited evidence currently exists on the extent of this digital divide among the Medicare population. This session reviews a cross-sectional study to better understand whether sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., age, sex, race/ethnicity, education level, income, area of residence) and health status (e.g., functional limitations, number of chronic conditions) were associated with access to digital resources among Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years with reported diabetes and no prior diabetes self-management training. Authors: Boon Peng Ng, PhD, University of Central Florida, College of Nursing and Disability, Aging, and Technology Cluster, Jacqueline LaManna, PhD, APRN, ANP-BC, BC-ADM, CDCES, FADCES, University of Central Florida, College of Nursing, Georgianne Tiu Hawkins, DrPH, MPH, University of Kentucky, Department of Health Management and Policy, Chanhyun Park, PhD, MPharm, MEd, The University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy. Funding Source: This research was not funded.