Opening the digital doorway to sexual healthcare: Recommendations from a behaviour change wheel analysis of barriers and facilitators to seeking online sexual health information and support among underserved populations.
<h4>Background</h4>The ability to access and navigate online sexual health information and support is increasingly needed in order to engage with wider sexual healthcare. However, people from underserved populations may struggle to pass though this "digital doorway". Therefore,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2025-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0315049 |
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| author | Julie McLeod Claudia S Estcourt Jennifer MacDonald Jo Gibbs Melvina Woode Owusu Fiona Mapp Nuria Gallego Marquez Amelia McInnes-Dean John M Saunders Ann Blandford Paul Flowers |
| author_facet | Julie McLeod Claudia S Estcourt Jennifer MacDonald Jo Gibbs Melvina Woode Owusu Fiona Mapp Nuria Gallego Marquez Amelia McInnes-Dean John M Saunders Ann Blandford Paul Flowers |
| author_sort | Julie McLeod |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>The ability to access and navigate online sexual health information and support is increasingly needed in order to engage with wider sexual healthcare. However, people from underserved populations may struggle to pass though this "digital doorway". Therefore, using a behavioural science approach, we first aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to i) seeking online sexual health information and ii) seeking online sexual health support. Subsequently, we aimed to generate theory-informed recommendations to improve these access points.<h4>Methods</h4>The PROGRESSPlus framework guided purposive recruitment (15.10.21-18.03.22) of 35 UK participants from diverse backgrounds, including 51% from the most deprived areas and 26% from minoritised ethnic groups. Using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, we identified barriers and facilitators to seeking online sexual health information and support. A Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) analysis then identified recommendations to better meet the needs of underserved populations.<h4>Results</h4>We found diverse barriers and facilitators. Barriers included low awareness of and familiarity with online information and support; perceptions that online information and support were unlikely to meet the needs of underserved populations; overwhelming volume of information sources; lack of personal relevancy; chatbots/automated responses; and response wait times. Facilitators included clarity about credibility and quality; inclusive content; and in-person assistance. Recommendations included: Education and Persuasion e.g., online and offline promotion and endorsement by healthcare professionals and peers; Training and Modelling e.g., accessible training to enhance searching skills and credibility appraisal; and Environmental Restructuring and Enablement e.g., modifications to ensure online information and support are simple and easy to use, including video/audio options for content.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Given that access to many sexual health services is now digital, our analyses produced recommendations pivotal to increasing access to wider sexual healthcare among underserved populations. Implementing these recommendations could reduce inequalities associated with accessing and using online sexual health service. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5968ecbc032b42e2984dc45c2d95b991 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj-art-5968ecbc032b42e2984dc45c2d95b9912025-01-17T05:31:34ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01201e031504910.1371/journal.pone.0315049Opening the digital doorway to sexual healthcare: Recommendations from a behaviour change wheel analysis of barriers and facilitators to seeking online sexual health information and support among underserved populations.Julie McLeodClaudia S EstcourtJennifer MacDonaldJo GibbsMelvina Woode OwusuFiona MappNuria Gallego MarquezAmelia McInnes-DeanJohn M SaundersAnn BlandfordPaul Flowers<h4>Background</h4>The ability to access and navigate online sexual health information and support is increasingly needed in order to engage with wider sexual healthcare. However, people from underserved populations may struggle to pass though this "digital doorway". Therefore, using a behavioural science approach, we first aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to i) seeking online sexual health information and ii) seeking online sexual health support. Subsequently, we aimed to generate theory-informed recommendations to improve these access points.<h4>Methods</h4>The PROGRESSPlus framework guided purposive recruitment (15.10.21-18.03.22) of 35 UK participants from diverse backgrounds, including 51% from the most deprived areas and 26% from minoritised ethnic groups. Using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, we identified barriers and facilitators to seeking online sexual health information and support. A Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) analysis then identified recommendations to better meet the needs of underserved populations.<h4>Results</h4>We found diverse barriers and facilitators. Barriers included low awareness of and familiarity with online information and support; perceptions that online information and support were unlikely to meet the needs of underserved populations; overwhelming volume of information sources; lack of personal relevancy; chatbots/automated responses; and response wait times. Facilitators included clarity about credibility and quality; inclusive content; and in-person assistance. Recommendations included: Education and Persuasion e.g., online and offline promotion and endorsement by healthcare professionals and peers; Training and Modelling e.g., accessible training to enhance searching skills and credibility appraisal; and Environmental Restructuring and Enablement e.g., modifications to ensure online information and support are simple and easy to use, including video/audio options for content.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Given that access to many sexual health services is now digital, our analyses produced recommendations pivotal to increasing access to wider sexual healthcare among underserved populations. Implementing these recommendations could reduce inequalities associated with accessing and using online sexual health service.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0315049 |
| spellingShingle | Julie McLeod Claudia S Estcourt Jennifer MacDonald Jo Gibbs Melvina Woode Owusu Fiona Mapp Nuria Gallego Marquez Amelia McInnes-Dean John M Saunders Ann Blandford Paul Flowers Opening the digital doorway to sexual healthcare: Recommendations from a behaviour change wheel analysis of barriers and facilitators to seeking online sexual health information and support among underserved populations. PLoS ONE |
| title | Opening the digital doorway to sexual healthcare: Recommendations from a behaviour change wheel analysis of barriers and facilitators to seeking online sexual health information and support among underserved populations. |
| title_full | Opening the digital doorway to sexual healthcare: Recommendations from a behaviour change wheel analysis of barriers and facilitators to seeking online sexual health information and support among underserved populations. |
| title_fullStr | Opening the digital doorway to sexual healthcare: Recommendations from a behaviour change wheel analysis of barriers and facilitators to seeking online sexual health information and support among underserved populations. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Opening the digital doorway to sexual healthcare: Recommendations from a behaviour change wheel analysis of barriers and facilitators to seeking online sexual health information and support among underserved populations. |
| title_short | Opening the digital doorway to sexual healthcare: Recommendations from a behaviour change wheel analysis of barriers and facilitators to seeking online sexual health information and support among underserved populations. |
| title_sort | opening the digital doorway to sexual healthcare recommendations from a behaviour change wheel analysis of barriers and facilitators to seeking online sexual health information and support among underserved populations |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0315049 |
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