A national survey assessing public readiness for digital health strategies against COVID-19 within the United Kingdom

Abstract

There is concern that digital public health initiatives used in the management of COVID-19 may marginalise certain population groups. There is an overlap between the demographics of groups at risk of digital exclusion (older, lower social grade, low educational attainment and ethnic minorities) and those who are vulnerable to poorer health outcomes from SARS-CoV-2. In this national survey study (n = 2040), we assessed how the UK population; particularly these overlapping groups, reported their preparedness for digital health strategies. We report, with respect to using digital information to make health decisions, that those over 60 are less comfortable (net comfort: 57%) than those between 18 and 39 (net comfort: 78%) and lower social grades are less comfortable (net comfort: 63%) than higher social grades (net comfort: 75%). With respect to a preference for digital over non-digital sources in seeking COVID-19 health information, those over 60 (net preference: 21%) are less inclined than those between 18 and 39 (net preference: 60%) and those of low educational attainment (net preference: 30%) are less inclined than those of high educational attainment (net preference: 52%). Lastly, with respect to distinguishing reliable digital COVID-19 information, lower social grades (net confidence: 55%) are less confident than higher social grades (net confidence: 68%) and those of low educational attainment (net confidence: 51%) are less confident than those of high educational attainment (net confidence: 71%). All reported differences are statistically significant (p < 0.01) following multivariate regression modelling. This study suggests that digital public health approaches to COVID-19 have the potential to marginalise groups who are concurrently at risk of digital exclusion and poor health outcomes from SARS-CoV-2.

The mental health crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic in older adults and the role of physical distancing interventions and social protection measures in 26 European countries

“…Several more recent studies have also found similar findings ( Ettman et al, 2020 ; Fancourt et al, 2021 ; González-Sanguino et al, 2020 ; Pan et al, 2021 ; M. Pierce, Hope, et al, 2020 ). Although some of these studies have used data representative of populations, many use non-representative samples, such as those recruited using the internet, which can introduce bias as those who experience digital exclusion, including many older or poorer people or those with mental illness, and who are at increased risk from both COVID-19 and policy responses, may be excluded ( Sounderajah et al, 2021 ). As a consequence, there have been calls for greater use of high-quality representative data that can provide more robust evidence on the impact of the pandemic on mental health ( Holmes et al, 2020 ; Matthias Pierce, McManus, et al, 2020b ).…”

(Mis) Communicating The Gut Microbiome: A Cross-Sectional Assessment of Social Media Video Content

“…Particularly in the post-pandemic era, digital technologies are commonly used in the delivery of public health and wellbeing educational material and interventions. Although younger cohorts may have embraced this shift, there is evidence to suggest that many segments of the population were poorly prepared for this rapid digitisation in services (19). Ensuring equity across the population in the ability to access, interpret and appraise information is commonly over-looked.…”

“…Similarly in the US, the proposed Health Misinformation Act and Justice Against Malicious Algorithms Act aim to hold online platforms accountable for content with misinformation related to an existing public health emergency (i.e. COVID- 19) or content that contributes towards the physical or severe emotional injury of viewers (21)(22)(23).…”

Implementations of digital technologies in COVID -19 pandemic and other health threats: multi nationals responses

“…• Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark and Finland: Digital technologies such as videoconferencing, telephone services and online platforms were used to inform, to track or to reduce the infection of covid-19 (Sounderajah, et al, 2021). The health care practitioners shared their experiences to identify needs and demonstrate the urgent need for telemedicine solutions for efficient consultation and treatment of patients (Almathami, et al, 2020).…”