Post a description of your views on whether or not digital inclusion or broad band access should be added as a key area to the social determinants of health
Post a description of your views on whether or not digital inclusion or broad band access should be added as a key area to the social determinants of health.
Social Determinants of Health
Expert Answer and Explanation
My Views On Whether Or Not Digital Inclusion and Broadband Access Should Be Added As Key Area to Social Determinants of Health
Digital inclusion with broadband access should stand as a main element of the social determinants of health framework. Our connected world makes reliable internet and digital technology essential for achieving health fairness (Sieck et al., 2021). The delivery of health services like telemedicine and electronic health records depends on internet connections. Digital access becomes a barrier that keeps marginalized populations from accessing important health services and makes health differences between groups grow larger (Sieck et al., 2021).
Telemedicine helps rural communities and underserved areas by connecting them to medical specialists they could not reach before (Chidambaram et al., 2024). Without broadband access people cannot use modern healthcare technology to manage their chronic conditions or access preventive services. Through patient portals and mobile health apps patients can book appointments and view test results while communicating with their healthcare providers. People without digital skills or internet access face greater health disparities because they cannot benefit from these services.
How electronic health records, mobile health, patient portals, or telemedicine can impact and be impacted by the social determinants of health
Healthcare providers can share patient information more effectively when they use electronic health records. When patients cannot access their electronic health records because they lack digital tools they cannot fully participate in their healthcare (Kohli et al., 2024). During the COVID-19 pandemic people needed broadband access to schedule vaccine appointments and stay updated on public health information which showed how important digital tools are for health outcomes.
The growing use of technology in healthcare demands that we include digital access when we study Social Determinants of Health. Policies that lower broadband costs and teach digital skills help create equal healthcare opportunities for everyone.
References
Chidambaram, S., Jain, B., Jain, U., Mwavu, R., Baru, R., Thomas, B., & Darzi, A. (2024). An introduction to digital determinants of health. PLOS Digital Health, 3(1), e0000346. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000346Links to an external site.
Kohli, K., Jain, B., Patel, T. A., Eken, H. N., Dee, E. C., & Torous, J. (2024). The digital divide in access to broadband internet and mental healthcare. Nature Mental Health, 2(1), 88-95. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-023-00176-zLinks to an external site.
Sieck, C. J., Sheon, A., Ancker, J. S., Castek, J., Callahan, B., & Siefer, A. (2021). Digital inclusion as a social determinant of health. NPJ Digital Medicine, 4(1), 52. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-021-00413-8Links to an external site.
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Introduction: Use Walden White paper or the CDC
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2022), “Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes. They are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life… SDOH are one of three priority areas for Healthy People 2030, along with health equity and health literacy.
Healthy People 2030 sets data-driven national objectives in five key areas of SDOH: healthcare access and quality, education access and quality, social and community context, economic stability, and neighborhood and built environment. Some examples of SDOH included in Healthy People 2030 are safe housing, transportation, and neighborhoods; polluted air and water; and access to nutritious foods and physical health opportunities”.
Resources
Required Sources
- McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2022). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (5th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
- Chapter 14, “The Electronic Health Record and Clinical Informatics” (pp. 293–316)
- Chapter 15, “Informatics Tools to Promote Patient Safety, Quality Outcomes, and Interdisciplinary Collaboration” (pp. 323–349)
- Chapter 16, “Patient Engagement and Connected Health” (pp. 357–378)
- Chapter 17, “Using Informatics to Promote Community/Population Health” (pp. 383–397)
- Chapter 18, “Telenursing and Remote Access Telehealth” (pp. 403–432)
- Benda, N. C., Veinot, T. C., Sieck, C. J., & Ancker, J. S. (2020). Broadband internet access is a social determinant of health!Links to an external site.. American Journal of Public Health, 110(8), 1123-1125. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.305784
- Dykes, P. C., Rozenblum, R., Dalal, A., Massaro, A., Chang, F., Clements, M., Collins, S. …Bates, D. W. (2017). Prospective evaluation of a multifaceted intervention to improve outcomes in intensive care: The Promoting Respect and Ongoing Safety Through Patient Engagement Communication and Technology Study Download Prospective evaluation of a multifaceted intervention to improve outcomes in intensive care: The Promoting Respect and Ongoing Safety Through Patient Engagement Communication and Technology Study. Critical Care Medicine, 45(8), e806–e813. doi:10.1097/CCM.0000000000002449
- HealthIT.gov. (2018c). What is an electronic health record (EHR)?Links to an external site. Retrieved from
https://www.healthit.gov/faq/what-electronic-health-record-ehr - Rao-Gupta, S., Kruger, D. Leak, L. D., Tieman, L. A., & Manworren, R. C. B. (2018). Leveraging interactive patient care technology to Improve pain management engagementLinks to an external site.. Pain Management Nursing, 19(3), 212–221.
- Sieck, C. J., Sheon, A., Ancker, J. S., Castek, J., Callahan, B., & Siefer, A. (2021). Digital inclusion as a social determinant of healthLinks to an external site.. NPJ Digital Medicine, 4(1), 52. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-021-00413-8
- Skiba, D. (2017). Evaluation tools to appraise social media and mobile applicationsLinks to an external site.. Informatics, 4(3), 32–40.
- Sharma, P., & Patten, C. A. (2022). A need for digitally inclusive health care service in the United States: Recommendations for clinicians and health care systemsLinks to an external site.. Permanente Journal, 26(3). https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/21.156
Optional Sources
- Iott, B. E., Adler-Milstein, J., Gottlieb, L. M., & Pantell, M. S. (2022). Characterizing the relative frequency of clinician engagement with structured social determinants of health dataLinks to an external site.. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 30(3), 503-510. https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocac251 Links to an external site.
- Lyles, C. R., Sharma, A. E., Fields, J. D., Getachew, Y., Sarkar, U., & Zephyrin, L. (2022). Centering health equity in telemedicineLinks to an external site.. The Annals of Family Medicine, 20(4), 362-367. https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.2823
- Romain, C. V., Trinidad, S., & Kotagal, M. (2022). The effect of social determinants of health on telemedicine access during the COVID-19 pandemicLinks to an external site.. Pediatric Annals, 51(8), e311-e315. https://doi.org/10.3928/19382359-20220606-04
- Singh, P., Jonnalagadda, P., Morgan, E., & Fareed, N. (2022). Outpatient portal use in prenatal care: differential use by race, risk, and area social determinants of healthLinks to an external site.. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 29(2), 364-371. https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocab242
- Ye, J., & Ma, Q. (2021). The effects and patterns among mobile health, social determinants, and physical activity: a nationally representative cross-sectional studyLinks to an external site.. AMIA Summits on Translational Science Proceedings, 653-662.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8378627/
Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days using one or more of the following approaches:
- Respond to a colleague whose views differed from yours on whether digital inclusion of broad band access should be added as a key area to the social determinants of health. Expand on your colleagues’ posting by providing additional insights or contrasting perspectives based on the readings.
- Respond to a colleague who discussed a different health IT system than you did. Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ posting, synthesizing the readings to provide new perspectives on how the system can impact or be impacted by the social determinants of health.
FAQs:
Should digital inclusion or broad band access be added as a key area to the social determinants of health?
Yes, digital inclusion and broadband access should be considered as key areas within the social determinants of health. In today’s increasingly digital world, access to the internet and digital tools is essential for education, employment, healthcare access, and social connectivity. Lack of broadband access can exacerbate health disparities, particularly for underserved populations, by limiting access to telehealth services, health information, and online resources. Including digital inclusion as a social determinant of health can help address these inequities and promote better health outcomes for all.
What are the social determinants of health digital inclusion?
The social determinants of health related to digital inclusion include access to affordable broadband internet, availability of digital devices (e.g., computers, smartphones), digital literacy skills, and the ability to use technology effectively. These factors influence an individual’s ability to access telehealth services, online health information, educational resources, and employment opportunities. Lack of digital inclusion can exacerbate health disparities, particularly for marginalized or low-income populations, by limiting their ability to participate in the digital economy and access essential health and social services. Addressing these determinants is critical for reducing inequities and improving overall health outcomes.
Is technology a social determinant?
Yes, technology can be considered a social determinant of health. Access to technology, including broadband internet, digital devices, and the skills to use them effectively, plays a critical role in shaping health outcomes. Technology influences access to telehealth services, health information, education, employment opportunities, and social connections. Lack of access to technology, often referred to as the ‘digital divide,’ can exacerbate health disparities, particularly for underserved populations. As society becomes increasingly digital, addressing technological access and digital literacy is essential for promoting health equity and improving overall well-being.