Digital health paradox: international policy perspectives to address increased health inequalities for people living with disabilities

van Kessel, Robin, Hrzic, Rok, O'Nuallain, Ella, Weir, Elizabeth, Wong, Brian Li Han, Anderson, Michael ORCID: 0000-0002-8454-4640, Baron-Cohen, Simon and Mossialos, Elias ORCID: 0000-0001-8664-9297 (2022) Digital health paradox: international policy perspectives to address increased health inequalities for people living with disabilities. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 24 (2). e33819. ISSN 1438-8871

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the uptake of digital health worldwide and highlighted many benefits of these innovations. However, it also stressed the magnitude of inequalities regarding accessing digital health. Using a scoping review, this article explores the potential benefits of digital technologies for the global population, with particular reference to people living with disabilities, using the autism community as a case study. We ultimately explore policies in Sweden, Australia, Canada, Estonia, the United Kingdom, and the United States to learn how policies can lay an inclusive foundation for digital health systems. We conclude that digital health ecosystems should be designed with health equity at the forefront to avoid deepening existing health inequalities. We call for a more sophisticated understanding of digital health literacy to better assess the readiness to adopt digital health innovations. Finally, people living with disabilities should be positioned at the center of digital health policy and innovations to ensure they are not left behind.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://www.jmir.org/
Additional Information:	© 2022 The Authors
Divisions:	Health Policy
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
Date Deposited:	02 Mar 2022 14:27
Last Modified:	17 Apr 2024 20:06
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/113893

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