Differences in eHealth Access, Use, and Perceived Benefit Between Different Socioeconomic Groups in the Dutch...

Area of Science:

• Digital Health Equity
• Socioeconomic Disparities in Healthcare
• eHealth Adoption and Access

Background:

• Growing concern that digital health care (eHealth) may worsen existing health disparities.
• The digital divide, characterized by unequal access and use of digital technology, affects socioeconomic groups differently.
• Existing research indicates lower eHealth utilization among individuals in lower socioeconomic positions (SEPs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between SEP and eHealth access, use, and perceived benefits in the adult Dutch population.
• To evaluate disparities in eHealth access, use, and perceived benefits across education, income, and neighborhood socioeconomic status.

Main Methods:

• Secondary analysis of the Nivel Dutch Health Care Consumer Panel data (n=849).
• Examined eHealth access, use, and perceived benefits, including general eHealth, websites, apps, and wearables.
• Stratified results by 9 SEP populations based on education, income, and neighborhood socioeconomic status; logistic regression used.

Main Results:

• Confirmed a significant association between SEP and eHealth; lower SEP respondents had less access (OR 5.72) and use (OR 4.96).
• Disparities in eHealth access and use were most pronounced when stratified by education levels.
• Socioeconomic status indicators showed varying impacts on eHealth access and use, indicating they are not interchangeable.

Conclusions:

• A clear socioeconomic gradient exists in eHealth access and use.
• The findings highlight the need for targeted activities and policies to improve eHealth accessibility and usage among low SEP groups.
• Mitigating these disparities is essential to reduce health inequalities between different socioeconomic groups.