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Digital Health for Equity
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Digital Health for Equity

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "TeleHealth and Digital Healthcare".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 10040

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Tarun Reddy Katapally

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Health Sciences, the University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
Interests: digital health; digital epidemiology; data sovereignty; population health interventions; digital interventions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Health inequities, which have been persistent in our health systems, have further widened since the emergence of COVID-19. In an increasingly globalized society, population health crises in the 21st century are extremely complex, with links to economic disasters, warfare, climate change, and pandemics. Complex global health crises are exacerbated by health inequities, and therefore difficult to address using traditional research practices. The digital age offers new opportunities and challenges for population health science to tackle these global health crises. For instance, digital tools and technologies are being used to not only respond to urgent humanitarian crises, but also to facilitate multi-stakeholder participation for population health interventions and knowledge transfer.

Despite this immense potential, digital technologies are rarely evaluated for their impact on health outcomes, and perhaps more relevant to population health, citizens, communities, and researchers are seldom involved in designing digital tools. The objective of this Special Issue is to bring together a diverse, inclusive, and interdisciplinary group of scholars who can contribute towards advancing digital health for equity. The scope of this Special Issue is intentionally broad to ensure the amplification of diverse voices in all areas of health that can benefit from digital health approaches. We especially encourage submissions that address inequities among disadvantaged groups, and innovative approaches in utilizing big data, enhancing data sovereignty, and promoting remote interventions.

Dr. Tarun Reddy Katapally
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • data sovereignty
  • digital health
  • health equity
  • health informatics
  • indigenous health
  • mental health
  • patient-oriented health
  • population health interventions
  • youth health
  • virtual care

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 440 KiB  
Article
Online Health Information-Seeking Behaviour among People of African Descent in the United Kingdom: A Qualitative Study
by Jesse Enebi Usman, Charmaine Childs, David Rogerson and Markos Klonizakis
Healthcare 2024, 12(9), 897; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12090897 - 26 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1750
Abstract
Effective public health interventions rely on understanding how individuals access, interpret, and utilise health information. Studying the health information-seeking behaviour (HISB) of a community can provide valuable insights to inform strategies that address community health needs and challenges. This study explored the online [...] Read more.
Effective public health interventions rely on understanding how individuals access, interpret, and utilise health information. Studying the health information-seeking behaviour (HISB) of a community can provide valuable insights to inform strategies that address community health needs and challenges. This study explored the online HISBs of People of African Descent (PoAD) in the United Kingdom (UK), a demographic that comprises four percent of the UK population and has a 92.8% active Internet usage rate. Data on the HISB were collected from 21 PoAD across various UK regions through online semi-structured interviews before being analysed using reflexive Thematic Analysis (TA). The participants ranged in age from 20 to 70 years and had a mean age of 42.8 (SD ± 11.4). Our analysis of the interview transcripts revealed five key themes: Internet usage and preferences, attitudes toward social media, barriers to seeking health information online, trust in online health information, and cultural influences on online HISB. Our findings indicate a proactive engagement among PoAD in seeking health information online that is underscored by a preference for professional sources over ethnic congruence. However, concerns about misinformation exist, and there are barriers to accessing health information online, including data privacy, unreliable information, and information relevance and overload. We also found that cultural factors and traditional beliefs impact the adoption of Internet-based interventions among PoAD, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive approaches. Preferences regarding the frequency and delivery of online health information varied among participants, with a majority preferring a weekly update. This study emphasises the critical need for accessible, culturally appropriate, secure, and reliable online health resources tailored to the needs and preferences of the PoAD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Health for Equity)
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14 pages, 741 KiB  
Article
Mobile Apps for Patients with Peritoneal Dialysis: Systematic App Search and Evaluation
by Shu-Mei Chao, Ming-Ling Wang, Yu-Wen Fang, Mei-Ling Lin and Shu-Fen Chen
Healthcare 2024, 12(7), 719; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12070719 - 25 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1611
Abstract
Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is one type of renal replacement therapy. If patients have problems during the dialysis process, healthcare providers may not be able assist the patients immediately. mHealth can provide patients with information and help them to solve problems in real-time, [...] Read more.
Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is one type of renal replacement therapy. If patients have problems during the dialysis process, healthcare providers may not be able assist the patients immediately. mHealth can provide patients with information and help them to solve problems in real-time, potentially increasing their willingness to choose PD. Objective: The objectives of this study were to conduct a comprehensive review of free mobile applications for patients with PD on the Internet and to recommend suitable mobile applications to facilitate patient self-management and health. Methods: We conducted a systematic search for PD mobile applications on Google Play and the Apple iTunes Store from 3 to 16 June 2023. Results: A total of 828 identifiable mobile applications were initially identified, and ultimately, 21 met the inclusion criteria. The Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) assessment of the applications revealed the highest score in the functionality domain, followed by the aesthetics, information, app-specific, subjective quality, and engagement domains, respectively. In the comprehensive self-management of PD, the highest percentage was related to disease-related information. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that some applications, with the highest quality, can be recommended to patients for use in English or traditional Chinese. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Health for Equity)
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10 pages, 267 KiB  
Article
Changed Digital Technology Perceptions and Influencing Factors among Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Ok-Hee Cho and Junghee Cho
Healthcare 2023, 11(15), 2146; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11152146 - 27 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2309
Abstract
This correlational study aimed to identify factors that contribute to changes in perceptions of digital technology among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study utilized raw data from “The 2021 Report on the Digital Divide,” a nationwide survey conducted in South Korea. [...] Read more.
This correlational study aimed to identify factors that contribute to changes in perceptions of digital technology among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study utilized raw data from “The 2021 Report on the Digital Divide,” a nationwide survey conducted in South Korea. Data were collected from 1171 older adults (aged ≥ 65 years) from September to December 2021. Multiple regression analyses were performed to examine the factors influencing changes in the perception of digital technology. Over one-third of the participants reported positive changes in their perceptions of digital technology during the pandemic. Key factors included self-efficacy for digital devices (β = 0.35, p < 0.001), digital networking (β = 0.11, p < 0.001), accessibility to digital devices (β = 0.10, p = 0.002), and perceived health (β = 0.08, p = 0.003). The expansion of digital technology owing to the pandemic has served as a catalyst for changes in older adults’ perceptions. Healthcare providers and caregivers should consider digital technology perceptions and influencing factors when providing digital healthcare services. The results can be utilized to identify vulnerable older adults with negative perceptions of digital technology, thus minimizing disparities in access to digital healthcare services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Health for Equity)
22 pages, 539 KiB  
Article
Patient-Oriented Research to Improve Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for People of Diverse Ethnocultural Groups in Routine Practice
by Ram P. Sapkota, Emma Valli, Andrew Wilhelms, Kelly Adlam, Lee Bourgeault, Vanessa Heron, Kathryn Dickerson, Marcie Nugent and Heather D. Hadjistavropoulos
Healthcare 2023, 11(15), 2135; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11152135 - 26 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1540
Abstract
There has been limited research on improving Internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (ICBT) in routine online therapy clinics that serve people from diverse ethnocultural groups (PDEGs). This article describes a patient-oriented adaptation approach used to address this gap in research. A working group consisting [...] Read more.
There has been limited research on improving Internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (ICBT) in routine online therapy clinics that serve people from diverse ethnocultural groups (PDEGs). This article describes a patient-oriented adaptation approach used to address this gap in research. A working group consisting of people with lived experience, community representatives, ICBT clinicians, managers, and researchers was formed. The working group examined archival feedback on ICBT from past patients who self-identified as being from diverse ethnocultural backgrounds (N = 278) and the results of interviews with current patients (N = 16), community representatives (N = 6), and clinicians (N = 3). The archival data and interviews revealed the majority of the patients reported being satisfied with and benefitting from ICBT. Suggestions for improvement were not related to the cognitive-behavioural model and techniques, but rather to making treatment materials more inclusive. Consequently, the ICBT adaptation focused on adding content related to cultural influences on mental health, addressing stigma, diversifying case stories, examples, and imagery, adding audiovisual introductions, and replacing English idioms with more descriptive language. Moreover, further training was offered to clinicians, and efforts were made to improve community outreach. This study demonstrates a process for using patient-oriented research to improve ICBT within routine care serving patients of diverse backgrounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Health for Equity)
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16 pages, 1988 KiB  
Article
Are All Societies Ready for Digital Tools? Feasibility Study on the Use of Mobile Application in Polish Early Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Perioperative Chemotherapy
by Grażyna Suchodolska, Anna Koelmer, Monika Puchowska and Elżbieta Senkus
Healthcare 2023, 11(14), 2114; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11142114 - 24 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1861
Abstract
Background: The population of individuals affected by breast cancer is growing, and with advances in cancer treatment implemented into usual care, there is an urgent need to improve the recognition, monitoring and treatment of therapy-induced adverse effects. This study aims to explore the [...] Read more.
Background: The population of individuals affected by breast cancer is growing, and with advances in cancer treatment implemented into usual care, there is an urgent need to improve the recognition, monitoring and treatment of therapy-induced adverse effects. This study aims to explore the use of an in-app electronic questionnaire to assess and monitor chemotherapy-related symptoms in early breast cancer patients treated with perioperative chemotherapy. Method: Between December 2019 and June 2021, 72 female study participants used the mobile app Centrum Chorób Piersi UCK and completed an in-app questionnaire about the 14 most common chemotherapy-related symptoms. Replies including symptoms with a critical value triggered automatic email alerts to the nursing team. Results: Acceptance of the study was higher among younger women and patients originating from rural areas, while possible digital exclusion among patients >60 years was observed during the enrolment process. A total of 55 participants completed the electronic questionnaire at least once and generated 553 responses with 1808 specific problems reported. Fatigue (n = 428) was the most common problem, and fever (n = 5) the least reported problem. A total of 21 participants triggered alerts with responses containing symptoms with critical value assessment (n = 89). Significant negative correlation was observed between the number of responses and time from the first chemotherapy administration; however, the number of responses was not determined by any sociodemographic or medical factors. Significant positive correlations were identified between the number of communicated problems and participants’ age. The usage of our electronic symptom assessment questionnaire decreased substantially after the period of active encouragement during the study enrolment. Conclusions: Not all societies are ready for innovative eHealth solutions. Patients’ age should be carefully considered when app-based interventions are introduced to usual cancer care. Additional support is suggested for older patients to improve their awareness and participation in eHealth interventions. More research involving older participants is needed to explore and address their particular needs and perspectives on eHealth solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Health for Equity)
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