Digital health technologies are not accessible to all communities and areas in Europe equally, raising concerns over the equitable use of digital tools for health, a new WHO/Europe study has found.
The research shows that people with poor health are among the ones struggling the most in accessing these tools.
Digital technologies are smart devices and connected equipment that improve health. They include artificial intelligence, digital platforms, software, wearable devices, and tools that capture and share data and relevant health information across systems. These technologies can support health workers and improve diagnosis, treatment and quality of care.
The study was carried out jointly with the Public Health Data, Knowledge and Research Directorate of Public Health Wales. It summarizes the evidence from 2016 to 2022 on inequity in access, use and engagement with digital health technologies.
The study notes that patterns in access, use and engagement with digital technologies vary across populations. Those living in urban areas, with more advanced education levels and higher economic status were more likely to use digital health tools than people from ethnic minorities and those facing language barriers.
Younger people were also found to use tools more than older adults.
The study warns that, while many healthcare providers are increasingly using digital health technologies to enable patients and the public to better manage their health, a focus on these technologies “may inadvertently widen existing inequities in health, if known inequalities in access, use and engagement with digital technology are not considered and addressed”.
Some of the ways in which these challenges can be addressed include:
finding a common framework to monitor engagement with digital technology for health across equity domains;
mapping inequities in digital infrastructure;
addressing barriers to accessing digital health;
finding the most effective approaches to build digital skills for those most in need; and
addressing access for those with disabilities or language barriers.
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Click here to read the original study.