Lessons learned from a multi-site collaborative working toward a digital health use screening tool

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Health Equity
• Health Disparities

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital health adoption, highlighting disparities in patient access.
• Many health systems were unprepared for patient digital uptake, particularly among underserved groups.
• The growing digital divide risks exacerbating existing health disparities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the need for a standardized, multilingual screening tool for digital health readiness.
• To evaluate patients' needs for digital health inclusion and equip them with necessary resources.
• To inform the development of health system digital exclusion screening tools and promote digital health equity.

Main Methods:

• Convening a diverse group of stakeholders, including researchers and operations leaders.
• Reviewing existing digital health screening tools and assessing their limitations.
• Conducting formative work with patients to understand perceptions of screening tool language and concepts.

Main Results:

• Identified a critical need for a brief, effective tool to screen for digital health use in diverse populations.
• Gathered insights into patient perceptions of screening questions and response options.
• Highlighted challenges in implementing screening tools in under-resourced health systems.

Conclusions:

• A standardized, validated, multilingual screening instrument is essential for assessing digital health readiness.
• Health systems must prioritize developing and implementing digital exclusion screening tools.
• These tools are vital for advancing digital health equity and ensuring inclusive access to care.