Evaluating the Digital Health Experience for Patients in Primary Care: Mixed Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Health Equity
• Primary Care Research

Background:

• The digital health divide exacerbates existing health disparities for socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.
• Understanding patient experiences with digital health is crucial for bridging this divide.
• Primary care patients, particularly those with chronic conditions, are key demographics for studying digital health access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate patient experiences and barriers to digital health access.
• To focus on the digital health divide within primary care settings.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory mixed methods design was employed.
• Qualitative interviews were conducted with 19 patients with socioeconomic disadvantage and chronic disease.
• A survey was administered to 487 Australian general practice patients to quantify qualitative findings.

Main Results:

• Key barriers identified include preference for human interaction, low trust, high costs, poor internet access, life pressures, and low digital self-efficacy.
• 31% of participants had never used digital health; 10.7% were low- to medium-frequency users.
• High-frequency users showed greater interest and self-efficacy, while low-frequency users cited affordability issues.

Conclusions:

• Digital health access is influenced by interest, cost, and literacy, but the digital health divide involves complex, cumulative barriers.
• Effective interventions must be multi-faceted and tailored to specific, sequential barriers.
• Patient-centered care in primary care is essential for addressing the digital health divide by recognizing individual patient needs and barriers.