Version 1
: Received: 6 September 2024 / Approved: 7 September 2024 / Online: 9 September 2024 (08:42:42 CEST)
How to cite:
Kim, D.; Eltahir, A.; Ngo, S.; Rodriguez, F. Bridging the Gap: How Accounting for Social Determinants of Health Can Improve Digital Health Equity in Cardiovascular Medicine. Preprints2024, 2024090621. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.0621.v1
Kim, D.; Eltahir, A.; Ngo, S.; Rodriguez, F. Bridging the Gap: How Accounting for Social Determinants of Health Can Improve Digital Health Equity in Cardiovascular Medicine. Preprints 2024, 2024090621. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.0621.v1
Kim, D.; Eltahir, A.; Ngo, S.; Rodriguez, F. Bridging the Gap: How Accounting for Social Determinants of Health Can Improve Digital Health Equity in Cardiovascular Medicine. Preprints2024, 2024090621. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.0621.v1
APA Style
Kim, D., Eltahir, A., Ngo, S., & Rodriguez, F. (2024). Bridging the Gap: How Accounting for Social Determinants of Health Can Improve Digital Health Equity in Cardiovascular Medicine. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.0621.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Kim, D., Summer Ngo and Fatima Rodriguez. 2024 "Bridging the Gap: How Accounting for Social Determinants of Health Can Improve Digital Health Equity in Cardiovascular Medicine" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.0621.v1
Abstract
Purpose of review: In this review, we discuss the importance of digital health equity and how social determinants of health (and intersectionality with race, ethnicity, and gender) affect cardiovascular health-related outcomes in digital health trials. We propose strategies to improve digital health equity as we move to a digitally-connected world for healthcare applications and beyond.Recent findings: Digital health has immense promise to improve population health by reaching individuals in their homes, at their preferred times. However, initial data demonstrate decreased patient engagement and worse cardiovascular outcomes for racial and ethnic minorities, leading to unequal uptake of digital health technologies. In addition, while women generally have higher uptake of technology, they are less likely to be referred by clinicians for digital health interventions. We highlight several exemplar trials and analyze their methodology for replication in future digital health research.Summary: The promise of digital health equity has not been reached due to exclusionary practices. Specific focus must be placed on societal/governmental policies that enable digital inclusion, particularly of racial and ethnic minority populations and women, to ensure that the expansion of digital health technologies does not exacerbate existing health disparities.
Keywords
digital health equity; health disparities; digital health; digital accessibility; digital divide; cardiovascular disease
Subject
Medicine and Pharmacology, Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
