Equality Challenges in the Use of eHealth: Selected Results from a Danish Citizens Survey.

Abstract

The increased focus on and use of citizen/patient generated health data has spurred a wide range of personal health technology projects within digital intervention in health, e.g. telehealth. These developments are focused on objectives of improving health, but also claiming to provide health services at a lower cost. However, the question is: do the ways healthcare technologies are designed and developed support and improve healthcare services for those who need it the most? Survey data from our study point toward health informatics challenges in reaching the people who are considered in 'health risk' group, who, in this study, are interpreted as people with low level of education. The study shows that this group is less likely to use and communicate through health information technologies (HIT) and is generally more sceptical towards the benefits of HIT. We conclude that there is a need to pay specific attention to the patient groups that are socio-economically and health wise weakest during HIT design and development. It would also provide equality and equity in digital health intervention and access to healthcare for them in the future.