The European Health Data Space fails to bridge digital divides

Kessel, Robin van; Wong, Brian Li Han; Forman, Rebecca; Gabrani, Jonila; Mossialos, Elías

doi:10.1136/bmj-2022-071913

Cited by 17 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…However, our findings indicate that digital health care–seeking behavior is not sustainable at the current stage of progress, seeing how the search volumes under study frequently reverted to prepandemic levels. While this may be partially explained by the return of traditional health services, it also supports previously speculated notions that key shortcomings still exist in the digital health infrastructure and competencies to fully embrace the opportunities afforded by digital health [ 11 , 12 , 14 , 61 , 62 ]. Initiatives such as the Biden Administration’s plan to provide internet access to 48 million low-income households could form an important step in removing barriers in the digital infrastructures [ 61 ], while developing educational modules and training courses available can aid in mitigating the paradoxical effects of digital health [ 8 , 11 , 63 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

“…Implementing digital health solutions is complex and relies on many institutional factors, cultural and behavioral traits, and health system characteristics [ 9 , 10 ]. For instance, the design process of digital health solutions is indicative of which populations it will be able to reach and, equally importantly, what population groups will experience difficulties in accessing and using the tool [ 3 , 11 , 12 ]. Policy environments are vital to laying the foundation of how conducive a health system is to adopting a digital health solution and how health professionals are trained in the field of digital health [ 3 , 11 , 13 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consequently, if digital health services were to be structurally introduced now, only certain population groups could fully benefit from these services. Paradoxically, population groups that have higher needs for health care and could potentially benefit most from these innovations are the ones that would experience the highest barriers to access [ 8 , 11 , 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Digital Health–Seeking Behavior: Big Data Interrupted Time-Series Analysis of Google Trends

Kessel¹,

Kyriopoulos²,

Wong³

et al. 2023

J Med Internet Res

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Background Due to the emergency responses early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of digital health in health care increased abruptly. However, it remains unclear whether this introduction was sustained in the long term, especially with patients being able to decide between digital and traditional health services once the latter regained their functionality throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective We aim to understand how the public interest in digital health changed as proxy for digital health–seeking behavior and to what extent this change was sustainable over time. Methods We used an interrupted time-series analysis of Google Trends data with break points on March 11, 2020 (declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organization), and December 20, 2020 (the announcement of the first COVID-19 vaccines). Nationally representative time-series data from February 2019 to August 2021 were extracted from Google Trends for 6 countries with English as their dominant language: Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, and Ireland. We measured the changes in relative search volumes of the keywords online doctor, telehealth, online health, telemedicine, and health app. In doing so, we capture the prepandemic trend, the immediate change due to the announcement of COVID-19 being a pandemic, and the gradual change after the announcement. Results Digital health search volumes immediately increased in all countries under study after the announcement of COVID-19 being a pandemic. There was some variation in what keywords were used per country. However, searches declined after this immediate spike, sometimes reverting to prepandemic levels. The announcement of COVID-19 vaccines did not consistently impact digital health search volumes in the countries under study. The exception is the search volume of health app, which was observed as either being stable or gradually increasing during the pandemic. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the increased public interest in digital health associated with the pandemic did not sustain, alluding to remaining structural barriers. Further building of digital health capacity and developing robust digital health governance frameworks remain crucial to facilitating sustainable digital health transformation.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Digital Health–Seeking Behavior: Big Data Interrupted Time-Series Analysis of Google Trends

Kessel¹,

Kyriopoulos²,

Wong³

et al. 2023

J Med Internet Res

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…More extensive educational material may be prepared for key stakeholder groups, such as patients, health professionals, and policymakers. Closer engagement with the general public and patient groups will further prove to be instrumental in facilitating digital health tools that are widely accessible (9,58).…”

Section: Implications For Research Policy Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Vulnerable population groups, in particular, may be further disadvantaged and excluded through lack of access to digital infrastructure and underdeveloped digital skills. The recently launched European Health Data Space is an example of how policy frameworks can risk exacerbating existing digital divides if policymakers do not address the underlying lack of access to digital infrastructure and underdeveloped digital skills before structurally rolling out digital health tools (58). As such, capacity-building efforts in the areas of digital infrastructure and skills should be combined with the large-scale introduction of digital health technologies to ensure that citizens and health professionals alike are in the position to recognise the value of digital health tools once they enter the healthcare market at large (7)(8)(9)13,52,59).…”

Section: Implications For Research Policy Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

Has the pandemic enhanced and sustained digital health-seeking behaviour? A big data interrupted time-series analysis of Google Trends

Kessel

Kyriopoulos

Wong

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Background: Due to the emergency responses early in the pandemic, the use of digital health in healthcare increased abruptly, yet it remains unclear whether this introduction was sustainable on the long term. We explore trends in digital health-seeking behaviour as proxy for readiness to adopt digital health as a mainstream form of healthcare. Methods: We use weekly Google Trends data from February 2019 to August 2021 in Canada, United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, and Ireland. We used five keywords to monitor online search interests in Google Trends: online doctor, telehealth, online health, telemedicine, and health app. Data are analysed using an interrupted time-series analysis with break-points on 11 March 2020 and 20 December 2020. Results: Digital health searches immediately increased in all countries after the pandemic announcement. There was some variance in what keywords were used per country. However, searches declined after this immediate spike, sometimes towards pre-pandemic levels. The exception is the search volume of health app, which showed to either remain stable or gradually increase during the pandemic. Interpretation: Our findings suggest that digital health-seeking behavioural patterns associated with the pandemic are currently not sustainable. Further building of digital health capacity and development of robust digital governance and literacy frameworks remain crucial to more structurally facilitate digital health transformation across countries. Funding: Not applicable.

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The Evolution of Telepsychiatry for Substance Use Disorders During COVID-19: a Narrative Review

et al. 2023

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Purpose of Review This article aims to review and synthesize the current research evidence regarding the efficacy of telepsychiatry-delivered substance use disorder treatment using a narrative review with a focus on the effects of remote healthcare delivery within the substance abuse treatment space. Recent Findings The COVID-19 pandemic exerted substantial pressures on all levels of society. Social isolation, loss of employment, stress, physical illness, overburdened health services, unmet medical needs, and rapidly changing pandemic restrictions had particularly severe consequences for people with mental health issues and substance use disorders. Since the start of the pandemic, addiction treatment (and medical treatment overall) using remote health platforms has significantly expanded to different platforms and delivery systems. The USA, in particular, reported transformational policy developments to enable the delivery of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, systemic barriers such as a widespread lack of internet access and insufficient patient and provider digital skills remain. Summary Overall, telepsychiatry is a promising approach for the treatment of substance use disorders, but more randomized controlled trials are needed in the future to assess the evidence base of available interventions.

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The European Health Data Space fails to bridge digital divides

Cited by 17 publications

References 9 publications

The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Digital Health–Seeking Behavior: Big Data Interrupted Time-Series Analysis of Google Trends

The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Digital Health–Seeking Behavior: Big Data Interrupted Time-Series Analysis of Google Trends

Has the pandemic enhanced and sustained digital health-seeking behaviour? A big data interrupted time-series analysis of Google Trends

The Evolution of Telepsychiatry for Substance Use Disorders During COVID-19: a Narrative Review

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