Tailored Literacy Training for Psychosis Patients through Assessment and Adaptable Curricula
Jane Mikkelson, Bridget Dwyer, Harvard Medical School, BIDMC, Abigail Mejia Harvard Medical School, BIDMC, Victoria Lisowski Harvard Medical School, BIDMC
Background: Technology use has evolved from a luxury to a necessity and is now recognized as a social determinant of health (1, 2). While digital tools have the potential to increase access to care, this shift towards technology has excluded individuals in underserved populations who lack the digital literacy skills to engage with technology; This phenomenon is well recognized as The Digital Divide (2, 3, 4, 5, 6). People with serious mental illness (SMI), such as schizophrenia, are particularly affected by this divide and at high risk of digital exclusion (7).
Methods: To help close this divide, it is essential to prioritize digital literacy training for individuals with SMI. Our team has developed a research-backed digital literacy training program called DOORS (8, 9). To streamline training, we have also developed a digital literacy scale that quickly and effectively assesses the baseline knowledge of an individual. Survey results inform digital literacy instructors (digital navigators) on the individualized needs of their client and directly refers them to a corresponding DOORS training module.
Results: At large, the DOORS curriculum teaches essential laptop and smartphone skills through distinct learning modules, powerpoints, and handouts. However, all DOORS materials are designed to be flexibly adapted to meet the unique needs of a specific person, population, or organization. Our digital literacy scale facilitates the adaptation/personalization process and informs the education process.
Discussion: Our DOORS program and actionable assessment provide a feasible method to increase digital literacy among schizophrenia patients at scale. We have implemented the program with success at the largest clubhouse for adults with psychiatric disabilities in Boston (The Center Club) and the inpatient psychiatric unit at BIDMC.