This paper investigates the design considerations for health information technologies (HITs) that are aimed at supporting lower socioeconomic status (SES) individuals in addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) needs. While emerging technologies offer new opportunities for improving quality of life outcomes, many lower SES individuals may be novice users of digital health technologies, including SDOH technologies. To address this gap, we conducted qualitative research using user-centered design tools during the development of an app designed to help individuals address SDOH needs. Our findings provide insight into the unique characteristics, needs, and preferences of lower SES digital novices, and highlight multiple aspects of their eHealth literacy. We discuss the implications of these findings for designing and implementing HITs for novice users.
