Digital Inclusion as a Social Factor Affecting Health

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Digital Inclusion as Important Social Factor Affecting Health

The Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) greatly influence communities' and individuals' well-being. The social and cultural context, healthcare access, education, economic stability, and neighbourhood environment are all critical determinants of health outcomes, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2022) have shown. It is still being determined if broadband access and digital inclusion should be considered essential elements of the SDOH framework in the modern era of technological advancement. With a focus on the significance of patient portals, telemedicine, mobile health, electronic health records (EHRs), and mobile health, this conversation examines the importance of digital inclusion and internet access in the context of SDOH.

Internet Access and Digital Inclusion as Important SDOHs

Digital inclusion—defined as fair access to and use of ICTs—has become increasingly important in today's linked world. To fully engage in the digital landscape, people need access to broadband, which is a fundamental component of digital inclusion. Broadband connectivity and digital inclusion are crucial to broadband connectivity, and digital inclusion is critical to enhancing the SDOH framework in multiple ways.

Quality and Access to Healthcare: According to Xie et al. (2021), digital inclusion facilitates telemedicine services, improving healthcare quality and accessibility for individuals. Digital platforms, for example, provide patients in underserved or rural areas with access to preventive care, medical consultations, and health education. Telehealth services are only available to individuals with dependable internet connections due to the potential for broadband access to worsen already-existing health inequities.

The Quality and Access of Education: Digital inclusion, as a fundamental component of the SDOH, is intimately associated with education quality and access. The digital divide's capacity to impede access to online learning materials may impact students' overall health literacy. By recognizing the role of technology in advancing health literacy and education, the SDOH framework has included digital inclusion.

Social and Contextual Framework: According to Perez-Escolar & Canet (2023), digital inclusion promotes social connectivity, particularly in online health groups and patient portals. Social media support groups and online health resources might be helpful for people who are socially isolated or have limited mobility. In contrast, communities without broadband connectivity may become isolated and have limited access to vital health resources.

The increasing significance of digital skills in the labour market indicates the connection between digital inclusion and economic stability. A lack of access to digital resources means more economic mobility. The recognition of digital inclusion as a social determinant highlights the link between financial stability and access to digital technologies.

Complying with the notion of the neighbourhood and built environment is the integration of digital inclusion into the SDOH framework. Broadband services benefit community development because they make it easier to engage in economic activity, access online employment prospects, and construct digital infrastructure.

The Effects of Digital Health Technologies on SDOH

The essential elements of digital health technologies that interact with SDOH are electronic health records (EHRs), mobile health, patient portals, and telemedicine.

Health Information Records (EHRs) and Patient Portals: According to Dendere et al. (2019), these tools improve patient engagement and give people the power to take an active role in their health management. Yet access to and digital literacy are prerequisites for these tools' efficacy. Specific communities can only use patient portals and EHRs if digital inclusion is achieved, which would maintain health inequities.

Telemedicine: According to Eisenstein et al. (2020), telemedicine services improve healthcare access by bridging geographic gaps and reducing inequalities in rural and understaffed areas. However, while telemedicine can potentially improve healthcare fairness, its implementation needs to be enhanced by a need for broadband infrastructure.

Finally, it is critical to acknowledge that broadband access and digital inclusion are essential to the Social Determinants of Health to address current health inequities. Increased general well-being may result from using digital technologies in community, school, and healthcare settings. But to guarantee that everyone may benefit from new technologies and advance health equity in the digital age, great thought needs to be paid to the difficulties presented by the digital divide.

References

Dendere, R., Slade, C., Burton-[name removed], A., Sullivan, C., Staib, A., & Janda, M. (2019). Patient portals facilitating engagement with inpatient electronic medical records: a systematic review. Journal of medical Internet research, 21(4), e12779.

Eisenstein, E., Kopacek, C., Cavalcante, S. S., Neves, A. C., Fraga, G. P., & Messina, L. A. (2020). Telemedicine: a bridge over knowledge gaps in healthcare. Current pediatrics reports, 8, 93-98.

Perez-Escolar, M., & Canet, F. (2023). Research on vulnerable people and digital inclusion: toward a consolidated taxonomical framework. Universal access in the information society, 22(3), [identifier removed].

Xie, B., Charness, N., Fingerman, K., Kaye, J., Kim, M. T., & Khurshid, A. (2021). When going digital becomes a necessity: Ensuring older adults’ needs for information, services, and social inclusion during COVID-19. In Older Adults and COVID-19 (pp. 181-191). Routledge.