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König LM, Krukowski RA, Kuntsche E, Busse H, Gumbert L, Gemesi K, Neter E, Mohamed NF, Ross KM, John-Akinola YO, Cooper R, Allmeta A, Silva AM, Forbes CC, Western MJ. Reducing intervention- and research-induced inequalities to tackle the digital divide in health promotion. Int J Equity Health 2023; 22:249. [PMID: 38049789 PMCID: PMC10696856 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-023-02055-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Social inequalities are an important contributor to the global burden of disease within and between countries. Using digital technology in health promotion and healthcare is seen by some as a potential lever to reduce these inequalities; however, research suggests that digital technology risks re-enacting or evening widening disparities. Most research on this digital health divide focuses on a small number of social inequality indicators and stems from Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) countries. There is a need for systematic, international, and interdisciplinary contextualized research on the impact of social inequality indicators in digital health as well as the underlying mechanisms of this digital divide across the globe to reduce health disparities. In June 2023, eighteen multi-disciplinary researchers representing thirteen countries from six continents came together to discuss current issues in the field of digital health promotion and healthcare contributing to the digital divide. Ways that current practices in research contribute to the digital health divide were explored, including intervention development, testing, and implementation. Based on the dialogue, we provide suggestions for overcoming barriers and improving practices across disciplines, countries, and sectors. The research community must actively advocate for system-level changes regarding policy and research to reduce the digital divide and so improve digital health for all.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M König
- Faculty of Life Sciences: Food, Nutrition and Health, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Wächtergasse 1/504, 1010, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Rebecca A Krukowski
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Emmanuel Kuntsche
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Heide Busse
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
- Leibniz Science Campus Digital Public Health Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | | | - Kathrin Gemesi
- Institute for Nutritional Medicine, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Nor Firdous Mohamed
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Development, University Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Tanjong Malim, Malaysia
| | | | - Yetunde O John-Akinola
- Department of Health Promotion and Education, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Rosie Cooper
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Anila Allmeta
- Faculty of Life Sciences: Food, Nutrition and Health, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Anabelle Macedo Silva
- Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cynthia C Forbes
- Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, UK
| | - Max J Western
- Centre for Motivation and Health Behaviour Change, Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK
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