Rui Yao|Zhang Wen-li|Richard Evans|Guang Cao|Tianqi Rui|Lining Shen
Inequities in Health Care Services Caused by the Adoption of Digital Health Technologies: Scoping Review
Huazhong University of Science and Technology|Huazhong University of Science and Technology|Dalhousie University|Huazhong University of Science and Technology|Huazhong University of Science and Technology|Huazhong University of Science and Technology|Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention
digital health technologies ie integration digital technology health information aim increase efficiency health care delivery rapidly adapting health care contexts provide improved medical services citizens however contrary expectations rapid adoption appears led health inequities differences health conditions inequality distribution health care resources among different populationsthis scoping review aims identify describe inequities health care services brought adoption digital health technologies factors influencing inequities well corresponding countermeasures ensure health equity among different groups citizens also studiedprimary studies literature including articles reviews published english 1990 2020 retrieved using appropriate search strategies across following three electronic databases clarivate analytics web science pubmed scopus data management performed two authors ry wz using thomson endnote clarivate analytics inc systematically screening identifying eligible articles study conflicts opinion resolved discussions corresponding author qualitative descriptive synthesis performed determine outcomes scoping reviewa total 2325 studies collected search process 41 176 papers identified analysis quantity literature increased 2016 peak 2020 united states united kingdom norway ranked among top 3 countries publication output health inequities caused adoption digital health technologies health care services reflected following two dimensions inability citizens obtain adopt technology different disease outcomes found among citizens technical intervention measures factors influenced inequities included age race region economy education level together health conditions ehealth literacy finally action taken alleviate inequities future government agencies medical institutions eg establishing national health insurance digital health technology providers eg designing highquality tools health care service recipients eg developing skills access digital technologiesthe application digital health technologies health care services caused inequities extent however existing research certain limitations findings provide comprehensive starting point future research allowing investigation digital health technologies may influence unequal distribution health care services interaction individual subjective factors well social support influencing factors included future studies specifically access availability digital health technologies socially disadvantaged groups paramount importance