TY - JOUR
T1 - Expanding a Behavioral View on Digital Health Access
T2 - Drivers and Strategies to Promote Equity
AU - Kepper, Maura M.
AU - Fowler, Lauren
AU - Kusters, Isabelle S.
AU - Davis, Jean W.
AU - Baqer, Manal
AU - Sagui-Henson, Sara
AU - Xiao, Yunyu
AU - Tarfa, Adati
AU - Yi, Jean C.
AU - Gibson, Bryan
AU - Heron, Kristin E.
AU - Alberts, Nicole M.
AU - Burgermaster, Marissa
AU - Njie-Carr, Veronica P.S.
AU - Klesges, Lisa M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 JMIR Publications Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - The potential and threat of digital tools to achieve health equity has been highlighted for over a decade, but the success of achieving equitable access to health technologies remains challenging. Our paper addresses renewed concerns regarding equity in digital health access that were deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our viewpoint is that (1) digital health tools have the potential to improve health equity if equitable access is achieved, and (2) improving access and equity in digital health can be strengthened by considering behavioral science–based strategies embedded in all phases of tool development. Using behavioral, equity, and access frameworks allowed for a unique and comprehensive exploration of current drivers of digital health inequities. This paper aims to present a compilation of strategies that can potentially have an actionable impact on digital health equity. Multilevel factors drive unequal access, so strategies require action from tool developers, individual delivery agents, organizations, and systems to effect change. Strategies were shaped with a behavioral medicine focus as the field has a unique role in improving digital health access; arguably, all digital tools require the user (individual, provider, and health system) to change behavior by engaging with the technology to generate impact. This paper presents a model that emphasizes using multilevel strategies across design, delivery, dissemination, and sustainment stages to advance digital health access and foster health equity.
AB - The potential and threat of digital tools to achieve health equity has been highlighted for over a decade, but the success of achieving equitable access to health technologies remains challenging. Our paper addresses renewed concerns regarding equity in digital health access that were deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our viewpoint is that (1) digital health tools have the potential to improve health equity if equitable access is achieved, and (2) improving access and equity in digital health can be strengthened by considering behavioral science–based strategies embedded in all phases of tool development. Using behavioral, equity, and access frameworks allowed for a unique and comprehensive exploration of current drivers of digital health inequities. This paper aims to present a compilation of strategies that can potentially have an actionable impact on digital health equity. Multilevel factors drive unequal access, so strategies require action from tool developers, individual delivery agents, organizations, and systems to effect change. Strategies were shaped with a behavioral medicine focus as the field has a unique role in improving digital health access; arguably, all digital tools require the user (individual, provider, and health system) to change behavior by engaging with the technology to generate impact. This paper presents a model that emphasizes using multilevel strategies across design, delivery, dissemination, and sustainment stages to advance digital health access and foster health equity.
KW - behavioral medicine
KW - digital divide
KW - digital health
KW - health care access
KW - health equity
KW - implementation
KW - mHealth
KW - mobile health
KW - mobile phone
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85200293920&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2196/51355
DO - 10.2196/51355
M3 - Article
C2 - 39088246
AN - SCOPUS:85200293920
SN - 1438-8871
VL - 26
JO - Journal of medical Internet research
JF - Journal of medical Internet research
M1 - e51355
ER -