Digital Health Evaluation of Canadians With Physical Disabilities Compared to Those Without Chronic Conditions

Nearly 8.0 million Canadians have one or more disabilities, and this population uses a disproportionate portion of healthcare resources. Digital health, including virtual care and health information interoperability, offers specific benefits but also specific challenges to patients with physical disabilities (PwPD).

This study examined the utilization of virtual care and digital health access among PwPD compared to those without chronic conditions (NCC) by examining the usage rates, preferred modalities, the impact of interoperability, and the role of access to personal digital health information.

A cross-sectional survey, termed the 2022 Canadian Digital Health Survey (CDHS), was conducted to target any Canadians over 16 who have used healthcare in Canada over the last 12 months.

This study compared the PwPD group (n=674) with the NCC group (n=5273). PwPD were significantly older and had higher digital health service utilization among PwPD compared to NCC individuals. They reported higher engagement in digital health services like prescription management, telephone consultations, and remote patient monitoring. Healthcare system coordination challenges were more prevalent with 24.4% experiencing care delays and 31.8% reporting frustration. PwPD reported positive outcomes in accessing personal health information (PHI), setting health goals, avoiding doctor visits, and preventing ER visits.

This study highlights the link between digital health quality and care outcomes in Canadian healthcare. It reveals a preference for telephone consultations in virtual care, emphasizing the importance of accessible technology. Future studies need to be completed to better understand people with PwPD and the larger group of patients with chronic conditions.