Digital Health Readiness Comparison for Empowering Vulnerable Populations: A Path Toward Digital Health Equity.

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Health Equity
• Vulnerable Populations

Background:

• The digital divide exacerbates health inequities, particularly for vulnerable populations.
• Understanding digital health readiness is crucial for promoting equitable access to healthcare.
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition requiring ongoing management, often supported by digital tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine and compare the digital health readiness of diverse vulnerable groups.
• To identify disparities in digital health literacy and access based on disease and age.
• To inform strategies for bridging the digital divide in healthcare.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Mobile-centered Digital Health Readiness (mDiHERS) scale.
• Analyzed data from 173 participants, including adult and pediatric IBD patients, healthy older adults, and older adults with illnesses.
• Compared digital health readiness across different demographic and clinical groups.

Main Results:

• IBD patients (adult and pediatric) exhibited higher digital health readiness compared to older adult groups.
• Older adults with illnesses demonstrated significantly lower scores in mobile service capability and mobile health literacy.
• Disease and age intersect to create unique vulnerabilities impacting digital health engagement.

Conclusions:

• Targeted interventions are necessary to address the specific barriers faced by older adults with illnesses in digital health.
• Tailored digital health strategies are essential for advancing health equity among vulnerable populations.
• Improving mobile health literacy and service capability is key to enhancing digital health access for all.