Development of an evidence- and consensus-based Digital Healthcare Equity Framework

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Health Equity
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Digital healthcare solutions offer potential benefits but risk exacerbating existing health inequities.
• A structured approach is needed to intentionally integrate equity considerations into digital health technologies.
• Existing frameworks may not comprehensively address equity throughout the digital healthcare lifecycle.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an evidence- and consensus-based Digital Healthcare Equity Framework.
• To guide users in intentionally considering equity in digital healthcare solutions.
• To ensure digital technologies improve, rather than worsen, healthcare disparities.

Main Methods:

• Conducted an environmental scan, including a scoping review of relevant literature.
• Performed key informant interviews with health equity and digital health experts.
• Convened a technical expert panel (TEP) to refine and validate the framework domains.

Main Results:

• Synthesized concepts from literature review and interviews into primary domains and subdomains.
• Identified three core domains for the framework: Patient and Community Characteristics, Health System Characteristics, and Health Information Technology Characteristics.
• Structured the framework around five phases of the digital healthcare lifecycle: planning, development, acquisition, implementation/maintenance, and monitoring/improvement/equity assessment.

Conclusions:

• The Digital Healthcare Equity Framework provides a systematic tool for assessing equity in digital health solutions.
• It guides stakeholders to proactively address potential inequities at each stage of the digital healthcare lifecycle.
• The framework aims to ensure digital health innovations promote health equity for all populations.