Did COVID-19 reduce the digital divide? A systematic review

Conolly, Georgina, Costa-Font, Joan ORCID: 0000-0001-7174-7919 and Srivastava, Divya ORCID: 0000-0001-5135-3592 (2025) Did COVID-19 reduce the digital divide? A systematic review. Health Policy and Technology. ISSN 2211-8837 (In Press)

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Abstract

Aim This research paper aims synthesise literature evaluating how the increased use of digital health during the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted equitable access to healthcare in the United Kingdom (UK). Methods A systematic literature review was adopted to get a broad overview of the impact of digital exclusion in the UK. To enable a structured analytical approach a three-domain framework was adopted ((1) digital access, (2) digital literacy, and (3) digital assimilation), and two specific groups were selected to investigate (older people and people with a lower socioeconomic status (SES)). Results This review identified 18 relevant papers, of which 6 considered SES and 17 age, concerning equitable healthcare access via digital health in the UK. Three-domain framework analysis found that increased use of digital health during the COVID-19 pandemic had digitally excluded some groups, particularly people with a lower SES. 23.5% of included studies identified negative outcomes associated with equitable access for older people, a figure which increased to 50% in the lower SES analysis. Digital access and literacy were identified as key issues in the lower SES population, meanwhile behavioural factors, such as bounded learning and hassle costs, were identified as a key barrier in older adults. Notably, this review identified some studies where these barriers were effectively overcome, meaning that digital health was able to improve care access and experience for some older adults. Some cases where digital health meant that care could be effectively prioritised were also identified. Conclusion Digital inclusion must become a higher priority on this agenda in the UK. In the meantime, health systems should be mindful of potentially digitally excluded groups and ensure alternate modes of care (e.g. in-person and telephone) are effectively prioritised for those that need it most.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2025
Divisions:	Health Policy Social Policy
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine H Social Sciences
Date Deposited:	20 Jan 2025 09:06
Last Modified:	20 Jan 2025 10:06
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/126920

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