Social inequality in the context of digital health applications: digital divides in access, use, effectiveness, and privacy

Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz. 2024 Jan 30. doi: 10.1007/s00103-024-03832-6. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTGiven the massive increase in digital health tools, the question about the impact of these tools on health equity has gained importance. The aim of this narrative review is to discuss the extent and central aspects of the digital divide. To illustrate the extent of the digital divide, we draw on data from the Liter@te study, which interviewed low-literacy individuals regarding their use of digital health tools and their digital health literacy. The results of the Liter@te study are compared with population surveys conducted in parallel. Four areas can be distinguished in relation to digital divides: access, use, effectiveness, and privacy. Inequalities can be observed in all four areas. While differences in access or material infrastructure, as well as in usage patterns and the required literacies, have already been investigated in some studies, the data basis for a comprehensive assessment of the unequal effects of digital health tools in different population groups is still lacking. Digital divides in the area of privacy protection is an emerging field. However, transparent and understandable privacy measures will undoubtedly be an important prerequisite for the widespread use of digital health tools. Overall, in addition to a better data base, involvement of disadvantaged population groups in the development of digital health interventi...
Source: Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Source Type: research