Kaihlanen AM, Virtanen L, Buchert U, Safarov N, Valkonen P, Hietapakka L, Horhammer I, Kujala S, Kouvonen A, Heponiemi T. (2022). Towards digital health equity – A qualitative study of the challenges experienced by vulnerable groups in using digital health services in the COVID-19 era. BMC Health Serv Res 22, 188. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-07584-4
This study examined the challenges experienced by vulnerable groups in using digital health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews between October 2020 and May 2021 in Finland. The 74 participants included older adults, people with migrant status, patients using mental health services, people who are high users of health services, and unemployed people. The barriers of digital health services were interpreted through digital determinants of health based on the Digital Health Equity Framework. The study found that most participants identify insufficient digital and/or language skills as challenges. Participants also indicated a lack of support and training, poor health, and lack of strong e-identification or suitable devices prevented access to digital health. Additionally, digital health was perceived to be not applicable for every case or capable of replacing in-person services. Fear, lack of trust regarding digital platforms, and security concerns were also identified. Participants perceived digital communication with a health care provider to be less personal and more prone to misunderstandings compared to in-person contact. Participants found digital health options were not always available or they were unaware of existing digital services. Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that digital health is not equally accessible to all persons and major issues must be addressed to reduce the accessibility gap.