Access To Digital Technologies Research Articles

Barriers and facilitators to the uptake of electronic collection and use of patient-reported measures in routine care of older adults: a systematic review with qualitative evidence synthesis.

The aims of this systematic review were to (1) synthesize the available qualitative evidence on the barriers and facilitators influencing implementation of the electronic collection and use of patient-reported measures (PRMs) in older adults' care from various stakeholder perspectives and (2) map these factors to the digital technology implementation framework Non-adoption, Abandonment, challenges to the Scale-up, Spread, Sustainability (NASSS) and behavior change framework Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behaviour (COM-B). A search of MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, and Web of Science databases from 1 January 2001 to 27 October 2021 was conducted and included English language qualitative studies exploring stakeholder perspectives on the electronic collection and use of PRMs in older adults' care. Two authors independently screened studies, conducted data extraction, quality appraisal using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP), data coding, assessed confidence in review findings using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research (GRADE CERQual), and mapped the findings to NASSS and COM-B. An inductive approach was used to synthesize findings describing the stakeholder perspectives of barriers and facilitators. Twenty-two studies were included from the 3368 records identified. Studies explored older adult, caregiver, healthcare professional, and administrative staff perspectives. Twenty nine of 34 review findings (85%) were graded as having high or moderate confidence. Key factors salient to older adults related to clinical conditions and socio-cultural factors, digital literacy, access to digital technology, and user interface. Factors salient to healthcare professionals related to resource availability to collect and use PRMs, and value of PRMs collection and use. Future efforts to implement electronic collection and use of PRMs in older adults' care should consider addressing the barriers, facilitators, and key theoretical domains identified in this review. Older adults are more likely to adopt electronic completion of PRMs when barriers associated with digital technology access, digital literacy, and user interface are addressed. Future research should explore the perspectives of other stakeholders, including those of organizational leaders, digital technology developers and implementation specialists, in various healthcare settings and explore factors influencing implementation of PREMs. CRD42022295894.

Patterns of digital health access and use among US adults: a latent class analysis

BackgroundDigital technologies allow users to engage in health-related behaviors associated with positive outcomes. We aimed to identify classes of US adults with distinct digital technologies access and health use patterns and characterize class composition. Data came from Health Information National Trends Survey Wave 5 Cycles 1–4, a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of US adults (N = 13,993). We used latent class analysis to identify digital technologies access and health use patterns based on 32 ternary variables of behaviors and access to requisite technologies and platforms, including the internet, internet-enabled devices, health monitors, and electronic health records (EHRs). We ran a multinomial logistic regression to identify sociodemographic and health correlates of class membership (n = 10,734).ResultsTen classes captured patterns of digital technology access and health use among US adults. This included a digitally isolated, a mobile-dependent, and a super user class, which made up 8.9%, 7.8%, and 13.6% of US adults, respectively, and captured access patterns from only basic cellphones and health monitors to near complete access to web-, mobile-, and EHR-based platforms. Half of US adults belonged to classes that lacked access to EHRs and relied on alternative web-based tools typical of patient portals. The proportion of class members who used digital technologies for health purposes varied from small to large. Older and less educated adults had lower odds of belonging to classes characterized by access or engagement in health behaviors. Hispanic and Asian adults had higher odds of belonging to the mobile-dependent class. Individuals without a regular healthcare provider and those who had not visited a provider in the past year were more likely to belong to classes with limited digital technologies access or health use.DiscussionOnly one third of US adults belonged to classes that had near complete access to digital technologies and whose members engaged in almost all health behaviors examined. Sex, age, and education were associated with membership in classes that lacked access to 1 + digital technologies or exhibited none to limited health uses of such technologies. Results can guide efforts to improve access and health use of digital technologies to maximize associated health benefits and minimize disparities.

Digital technology access, labor market behavior, and income inequality in rural China

This study uses China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data from 2010 to 2018 to empirically investigate the interplay between digital technology access, labor market behavior, and income inequality in rural China. The following salient conclusions are derived. Digital technology access has a substantial negative influence on individual income inequality in rural China, with a more pronounced inhibitory effect on inequality among low-income groups, males, middle and higher professional classes, and younger cohorts. Mechanism analysis suggests that digital technology access significantly impacts a range of rural labor practices, including increasing the frequency of digital technology use among rural inhabitants, decreasing credit costs, enhancing entrepreneurial activities, and boosting rural labor mobility. Based on these findings, this study proposes accelerating digital infrastructure development in rural regions, improving digital and financial literacy among rural residents, and refining inclusive digital financial services to facilitate more stable and sustainable progress to promote common prosperity.

Доступність інформаційних і електронних технологій для старших вікових груп населення України: цифрова грамотність та e-learning

The article, based on a meta-analysis of official statistical data from various sources and sociological studies, substantiates the problems of accessibility of digital technologies for people of older age groups: technical, material, physiological, cognitive, psychological. Data analysis showed the insufficient attention to studying the use of information technologies by people aged 60 years and older. Among older people, almost one in three lack digital skills, and one in two have below basic digital literacy. Discrepancies in the level of digital literacy are observed not only by age, but also by region. With age, interest in mastering digital skills decreases. This training is not considered relevant for people in older age groups (64.3%). The most desirable form of education is with children or grandchildren (36.4%). The mechanism for «entering» the digital skills training platform for people in older age groups should be as simple, understandable, and secure as possible. The author shows that the availability of digital technologies, training and development of digital skills among older groups of the population is an important task for the development of digital inclusion and support of this age group in the digital world.

Got It? Comparative Ergonomic Evaluation of Robotic Object Handover for Visually Impaired and Sighted Users

The rapidly growing research on the accessibility of digital technologies has focused on blind or visually impaired (BVI) users. However, the field of human–robot interaction has largely neglected the needs of BVI users despite the increasing integration of assistive robots into daily life and their potential benefits for our aging societies. One basic robotic capability is object handover. Robots assisting BVI users should be able to coordinate handovers without eye contact. This study gathered insights on the usability of human–robot handovers, including 20 BVI and 20 sighted participants. In a standardized experiment with a mixed design, a handover robot prototype equipped with a voice user interface and haptic feedback was evaluated. The robot handed over everyday objects (i) by placing them on a table and (ii) by allowing for midair grasping. The usability target was met, and all user groups reported a positive user experience. In total, 97.3% of all handovers were successful. The qualitative feedback showed an appreciation for the clear communication of the robot’s actions and the handover reliability. However, the duration of the handover was seen as a critical issue. According to all subjective criteria, the BVI participants showed higher variances compared to the sighted participants. Design recommendations for improving robotic handovers equally supporting both user groups are given.

ІНФОРМАЦІЙНО-КОМУНІКАЦІЙНІ ТЕХНОЛОГІЇ У БОРОТЬБІ З КОРУПЦІЄЮ ТА ЇХ ВПЛИВ НА ЕКОНОМІЧНУ БЕЗПЕКУ

The article examines the impact of digital technologies on combating corruption and their role in enhancing the economic security of the state. It explores the primary mechanisms through which information and communication technologies (ICT) can reduce corruption levels, including process automation and increased transparency of government operations. By analyzing successful implementations of digital solutions, such as e-government in Estonia, the Aadhaar system in India, and the ProZorro platform in Ukraine, the article demonstrates the effectiveness of these approaches. The integration of electronic management and documentation systems minimizes the need for direct interaction between officials and citizens, reducing opportunities for corrupt practices and enhancing economic security. For example, e-government systems streamline administrative procedures, reducing bureaucratic delays and eliminating corrupt schemes. Estonia's X-Road system, which ensures secure data exchange between government institutions, significantly decreases the risk of corruption by providing online access to government services, thus improving the country's economic security. Transparency is a critical factor in fighting corruption and bolstering economic security. When government actions and decisions are open and accessible to public scrutiny, the chances for corrupt practices are substantially lowered. Open data platforms offer access to information on government activities, such as budget expenditures and public procurement, enabling citizens and organizations to monitor and control state actions. Platforms like data.gov.uk in the UK and data.gov in the USA provide extensive data sets that support transparency and accountability in government operations, positively impacting economic security. Despite significant advancements, unresolved issues remain, including the limited dissemination and accessibility of digital technologies in some regions and cybersecurity and data protection challenges. The article identifies these challenges and discusses the need for ongoing research and development of new digital solutions. It also emphasizes the importance of international cooperation and sharing best practices in digital anti-corruption efforts. The article concludes that digital technologies are a powerful tool in the fight against corruption, significantly enhancing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public administration. By reducing corruption risks and strengthening economic security, digital technologies contribute to increased trust in government institutions and an improved business climate. Future research should focus on developing and implementing new digital solutions and evaluating their impact on corruption levels in various contexts, along with fostering international collaboration.

Mapping Senior Leaders' Perceptions of the Impact of Local and National COVID-19 Closure/Lockdown Policies on Schools and Vulnarable Young People and Those at Risk of Exclusion

Mapping Senior Leaders' Perceptions of the Impact of Local and National COVID-19 Closure/Lockdown Policies on Schools and Vulnarable Young People and Those at Risk of Exclusion

Digital Communication Inequalities Among U.S. Adults Reporting Current Cigarette Use

To reduce tobacco-related health problems, it is critical to reach people who smoke with smoking cessation information and treatment. However, digital communication inequalities may limit access to online information sources. Digital device ownership, high-speed internet access, and online health information-seeking were examined among adults reporting current smoking in the Health Information National Trends Survey (n=847). Data were collected in 2019 and 2020 and analyzed in 2022. Multivariable logistic regression models examined associations between demographics, digital technology access, and online health information-seeking. Only 47.6% (95% CI 39.0%, 56.3%) of adults aged 65+, 54.2% of Black/African American adults (95% CI 37.8%, 69.8%), and 59.6% with high school or less education (95% CI 51.5%, 67.1%) reported high-speed internet access (vs. 74.0% overall, 95% CI 68.9%, 78.6%). Inequalities in device ownership, high-speed internet access, and online health information-seeking were found by education and income. Adults with high school or less education (vs. college or more) had 78% lower odds of digital device ownership (aOR 0.22, 95% CI 0.08, 0.59) and 75% lower odds of high-speed internet access (aOR 0.25, 95% CI 0.09, 0.71). High-speed internet access (vs. no digital device or high-speed internet) was associated with 4.9 times greater odds of online health information-seeking (95% CI 1.81, 13.4). Digital communication inequalities among adults who smoke exist. Understanding digital technology access among lower income populations could inform the development and delivery of interventions and health communication strategies to improve health outcomes among this population.

Divided in a digital economy: Understanding disability employment inequities stemming from the application of advanced workplace technologies

ObjectivesThe digital transformation of the economy is characterized by the rapid advancement and wide-spread workplace application of digital technologies. Our study aimed to unpack how the digital transformation of the economy contributes to challenges and opportunities for the sustainable employment and health of persons living with disabilities. MethodsOne-on-one semi-structured interviews with policy makers, disability employment service providers and future of work specialists were conducted. Interviewees asked about the implications of digital technology advancements for persons with disabilities. Participants were also asked about the strategies that could be used to support inclusive employment within a digitized working world. An iterative and flexible grounded theory methodological approach was taken to analyze the qualitative data and to develop a conceptual understanding of the digital transformation of the economy for persons living with disabilities. ResultsForty participants were interviewed from across Canada. The digital transformation of the economy was seen as disadvantageous to persons living with disabilities and could impact their ability to find and sustain paid work, advance within their career, and remain productive. Labelled as the digital divide, participants frequently referred to sources of inequities faced by persons with disabilities that shaped their ability to fully participate in a digital working world. The digital divide was characterized by three intersecting concepts which included disparities in digital technology access, personal resources, and job skills. Participants highlighted the importance of equity and inclusive design considerations in the development and dissemination of digital technology and more responsive skilling initiatives for a changing work environment. ConclusionsFindings provide an important conceptual foundation for scholarship on work and health inequities that can arise from the digital transformation of the economy and bring greater attention to the design of targeted disability employment support programs and policies that are relevant and inclusive for a digital working world.

Evaluating Digital Technology Access and Usage among Teachers

This study investigates teachers' access to digital technologies in Public Basic Schools in Asante Akim Central Municipality, Ghana. The study uses a quantitative approach to evaluate the availability and types of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools, teachers' motivational and physical comfort with digital technologies, and their skills and usage patterns. Engaging with 108 teachers highlights gaps in access to and use of ICT tools. The results demonstrate that while teachers have access to digital tools such as laptops and smartphones, their access to specific software and digital tools is limited. In terms of motivation, teachers are primarily intrinsically motivated to use digital technologies. Teachers exhibited comfort and confidence in utilizing ICT tools, indicating operational skills and access to ICT. The findings underline the need to address these educational implementation gaps and reduce the digital divide. This research contributes to the literature on digital technology access in developing countries and provides valuable insights for stakeholders involved in integrating educational technology.

Factors affecting digital technology access in vocational education

If policies are not thoroughly designed, technology integration may fail. As a result, users’ perceptions of technology, especially access to digital technology, are critical for technology integration in education. This study aimed to develop and validate a scale to model factors affecting digital technology access for instructional use in Indonesian vocational schools. The study also reports the structural model of the path analysis and tests of differences based on geographical areas. A scale adapted from prior studies was established, validated, and examined for its validity and reliability. A total of 1355 responses were measurable; partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and t-test procedures were applied for the data analysis. The findings informed that the scale was valid and reliable. For the structural model, the strongest relationship emerged between motivational access and skills access, while the lowest existed between material access and skills access. However, motivational access has an insignificant effect on instructional use. The t-test results show that geographical areas were significantly different regarding all involved variables.

ЦИФРОВОЕ НЕРАВЕНСТВО В СОВРЕМЕННОМ РОССИЙСКОМ ОБЩЕСТВЕ: УРОВНИ И СОЦИАЛЬНЫЕ ПОСЛЕДСТВИЯ

Objective of the study is to examine the levels and social consequences of digital inequality in Russian society. The methodological basis of the research is the institutional approach (D. North), the provisions of the theory of digital transformation of society (M. Castels, W. Beck), the theory of stratification (P. Sorokin), the concept of social capital (P. Bourdieu). Research results. The total digitalization of society is accompanied by the emergence and deepening of digital inequality, which today has a multi-level character, manifesting itself in the form of global, national and individual asymmetry in the level of accessibility of digital technologies for countries, regions, settlement communities and certain categories of the population. Digital inequality is a multidimensional phenomenon that reflects not only the availability of digital infrastructure for various actors, but also their ability to use other vital resources that can ensure both the economic development of the country and the social well-being of a person. Prospects of the study. The problem of digital inequality is of scientific and practical interest due to the need to understand the factors of its emergence and reproduction, as well as its social consequences for countries, regions, and certain categories of citizens.

Charting the Southeast Asian Science Teachers’ Challenges into Recommendations for Future Online Regional Courses

The regional courses for science teachers in Southeast Asia (SEA) offer participants with the inservice knowledge and skills while promoting deliberate discussions about recent issues related to teaching profession and the sharing of best practices in science education. A total of 21 teachers from eight SEA countries were purposefully selected to participate in this course as nominated by their respective education ministerial officers. Given that the participants came from different countries and attended the course virtually for four weeks, this article aims to chart participants’ insights to be backed as data for future course facilitation. The findings are based on post-course evaluation garnered from 21 unstructured essays provided by participants with a focus on two key aspects: (1) the challenges that participants encountered prior to or during the courses, and (2) a recommendation for a similar course in future. Five challenges emerged from the findings include; English proficiency, socio-cultural preferences in social activities, digital technology access and skills, time and schedule constraints, and institutional challenges. In terms of recommendations, participants shared their thoughts on how to better facilitate and manage course administration. Since the majority of professional development courses are held at the national level, this study helped to consolidate country differences and served as the foundation of evidence for future courses that will adapt similar region-based online participations.

Digital Technology Access and Health-Related Internet Use Among People Experiencing Homelessness in Hungary: Quantitative Survey.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of digital technology for personal health and well-being. Previous research has revealed that these technologies might provide vulnerable populations, including those who are homeless, better access to health services and thus a greater chance of more personalized care. However, little is known about the relationship between technology and health among people experiencing homelessness in Central and Eastern Europe. This study is part of a series of studies by the Digital Health Research Group at Semmelweis University (Budapest, Hungary) in cooperation with the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta; it aims to assess the existing technological resources available for the homeless population and their health-related internet use characteristics to set the ground for potential health policy interventions, enabling better access to health services by strengthening the digital components of the existing health care system. Between April 19, 2021, and August 11, 2021, a total of 662 people from 28 institutions providing social services for people experiencing homelessness in Budapest, Hungary, were surveyed about their access to digital tools and internet use patterns. For selected questions, the responses of a representative sample of the Hungarian population were used for comparison as the reference group. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify variables affecting internet use for health-related reasons. The results demonstrated a considerable level of internet use in the homeless population; 52.9% (350/662) of the respondents used the internet frequently compared with 81.3% (1220/1500) of the respondents in the reference group. Among the homeless group, 69.6% (461/662) of the respondents reported mobile phone ownership, and 39.9% (264/662) of the respondents added that it had a smartphone function. Moreover, 11.2% (70/662) of the respondents had already used a health mobile app, and 34.6% (229/662) of the respondents had used the internet for medical purposes. On the basis of these characteristics, we were able to identify a broadly defined, digitally engaged group among people experiencing homelessness (129/662, 19.5%). This subpopulation was inclined to benefit from digitalization related to their personal health. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that internet use for health reasons was more significant for younger respondents, women, those with higher levels of education, and those with no chronic conditions. Although compared with the general population, health-related internet use statistics are lower, our results show that the idea of involving homeless populations in the digital health ecosystem is viable, especially if barriers to access are systematically reduced. The results show that digital health services have great promise as another tool in the hands of community shelters for keeping homeless populations well ingrained in the social infrastructure as well as for disease prevention purposes.

Особенности формирования спроса и предложения на рынке электронной коммерции

The research is devoted to the identification and analysis of factors and principles that determine the features of the sustainable formation of supply and demand in the e-commerce market. The key factors of e-commerce development are highlighted. The signs of digital division of the development level and accessibility of digital technologies are given in relation to countries, regions, territories, firms, households. The strategic principles for the formation of sustainable demand and supply of e-commerce are analyzed and their unified, interrelated, complementary and interdependent essence is noted. The significance of the conversion rate as a special strategic condition and evaluation criterion is indicated. The weak points of trading via the Internet, directly constraining the growth of demand are analyzed. The influence of the productive forces development level on the content of goods and services and on the means used to maintain or carry out trade operations is noted. It is proposed to take into account the development level of productive forces as a basic component of the formation of supply in the digital commerce market. The objective need for large-scale investments to adapt to new market needs is substantiated. The growth of the importance of search engines in promoting the demand for e-commerce market services is predicted. The importance of coupling consumer behavior in the e-commerce market with the institutional and regulatory framework is emphasized.

Features of the Development of Primary Education in the Context of the Impact of COVID-19

The main purpose of the article is to study the features of the development of primary education under the influence of COVID-19. Competently oriented primary education is a response to the challenges of modern society, to the requirements of new information progress. The crisis caused by a dangerous new coronavirus required urgent measures to reduce the risks of the spread of infection in various areas of people's lives and activities. In the field of primary education, an urgent transfer of the educational process to a distance form using e-learning technologies was chosen as such a measure. Such an attitude, in principle, corresponds to the current level of accessibility of digital technologies for the majority of the world's population. In addition, the vast majority of educational institutions, in accordance with accreditation requirements, must have an Internet connection, which is the basic criterion for assessing the ability of a school to work remotely using digital technologies. As a result of the study, the main prerequisites for the development of primary education under the impact of COVID-19 were identified

Economic Dependency and Rural Exclusion

The global digital divide is a pressing contemporary form of inequality, especially considering the increased salience of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the post-pandemic world. Despite unequal rates of expansion across the developing world, processes that explain disparities in digital technology access are under-studied from macro, cross-national sociological perspectives. This longitudinal study evaluates factors associated with access to mobile phones across 133 developing countries from 1995 to 2014, the key period of rapid ICT expansion worldwide. We investigate two major global sociological theories, dependency and world society, to determine the processes that best explain unequal access between developing states. Using negative binomial count models within a generalized estimating equation framework, we find that the global digital divide is exacerbated by (1) larger rural populations at the state level and (2) higher levels of dependence, as measured by foreign direct investment, export concentration, and domestic fiscal independence. We also find that internal characteristics of economically dependent states work in combination to worsen the digital divide; specifically, we find that the negative effect of rurality on subscriptions is heightened in states with less domestic fiscal independence. Finally, we find limited evidence that world society institutionalization of ICT norms has a positive effect on access to mobile phones globally; however, the relationship between state-level measures of world society penetration and mobile phone subscriptions is unclear.

Technology as a Double-Edged Sword: Understanding Life Experiences and Coping With COVID-19 in India.

The two waves of COVID-19 in India have had severe consequences for the lives of people. The Indian State-imposed various regulatory mechanisms like lockdowns, encouraged remote work, online teaching in academic institutions, and enforced adherence to the COVID protocols. The use of various technologies especially digital/online technologies not only helped to adapt to the “new normal” and cope with the disruptions in pursuing everyday activities but also to manage one’s well-being. However, the availability and accessibility of digital technologies to various sections of the population were not uniform. This paper reports a series of three studies examining the nature of pandemic stress, the impact of technology use on people’s emotional well-being during turbulent times, and the effects of technology use on psychological resources like resilience, self-efficacy, motivation to work, and emotional well-being. The differences in the residential background (Urban/Rural) and SES (Low/High) in the extent of the use of technology and strength of psychological resources were assessed. The findings indicated that the most common causes of concern included worrying about family, friends, partners, fears of getting and giving the viral infection to someone; frustration and or boredom; and changes in normal sleep patterns. It was noted that technology was a double-edged sword and created barriers as well as opportunities for the people. Also, self-efficacy mediated the relationship between the use of technology and emotional wellbeing. The results have policy implications for building resilient communities in the post COVID period.

Islamic Religious Authority in Cyberspace: A Qualitative Study of Muslim Religious Actors in Australia

The arrival of new technologies has always presented new challenges and opportunities to religious communities anchored in scriptural and oral traditions. In the modern period, the volume, speed and accessibility of digital technologies has significantly altered the way knowledge is communicated and consumed. This is particularly true for the way religious authority is constructed online. Using in-depth fieldwork interviews and survey findings of Australian Muslims, this article examines the way religious actors, including imams/sheikhs, educators and academics in the field of Islamic studies, perceive and use online platforms to convey their religious knowledge. The findings suggest Muslims value the benefits of accessing knowledge, communicating ideas and facilitating religious pluralism via digital platforms. By the same token, participants warned against the dangers of information anarchy, “Sheikh Google” and the limitations of “do it yourself Islam”. Importantly, the article shows imams, educators and Muslim scholars largely prioritise face-to-face learning as a more reliable and effective method of teaching and establishing rapport among Muslims compared to eclectic internet-based information dissemination. At the same time, religious actors are not averse to Muslims using digital platforms so long as they possess the skills to cross-examine online content and verify the credentials of religious actors. For more complex and circumstantial issues, participants encouraged Muslims to consult a local imam or trusted religious scholar from the community.

The Expansion of Pediatric Care Through Digital Technology.

In this commentary, we hope to offer examples of how technology is building connections and agencies are working creatively to reduce disparities in digital technology access to improve the lives of children and adolescents across the globe.