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Kepper MM, Fowler LA, Kusters IA, Davis JW, Baqer M, Sagui-Henson SJ, Xiao Y, Tarfa A, Yi JC, Gibson B, Heron KE, Alberts NM, Burgermaster M, Njie-Carr VP, Klesges LM
Expanding a Behavioral View on Digital Health Access: Drivers and Strategies to Promote Equity
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Expanding a behavioral view on digital health access: drivers and strategies to promote equity
Maura M Kepper;
Lauren A Fowler;
Isabelle A Kusters;
Jean W Davis;
Manal Baqer;
Sara J Sagui-Henson;
Yunyu Xiao;
Adati Tarfa;
Jean C Yi;
Bryan Gibson;
Kristin E Heron;
Nicole M Alberts;
Marissa Burgermaster;
Veronica PS Njie-Carr;
Lisa M Klesges
ABSTRACT
The potential and threat of digital tools to achieve health equity has been highlighted for over a decade but success in achieving equitable access to health technologies remains challenging. Our paper addresses renewed concerns regarding equity in digital health access that were deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing behavioral, equity, and access frameworks allowed for a unique and comprehensive exploration of current drivers of digital health inequities. This paper presents a compilation of strategies that have the potential for actionable impact on digital health equity. Multi-level factors drive unequal access, so strategies require action from tool developers, individual delivery agents, organizations, and systems to effect change. Strategies were shaped with a behavioral medicine focus as the field has a unique role in improving digital health access – arguably, all digital tools require the user (individual, provider, health system) to change behavior by engaging with the technology to generate impact. The paper presents a model that emphasizes using multi-level strategies across stages of design, delivery, dissemination, and sustainment to advance digital health access and foster health equity.
Citation
Please cite as:
Kepper MM, Fowler LA, Kusters IA, Davis JW, Baqer M, Sagui-Henson SJ, Xiao Y, Tarfa A, Yi JC, Gibson B, Heron KE, Alberts NM, Burgermaster M, Njie-Carr VP, Klesges LM
Expanding a Behavioral View on Digital Health Access: Drivers and Strategies to Promote Equity