npj Digital Medicine (Aug 2022)

A framework for digital health equity

  • Safiya Richardson,
  • Katharine Lawrence,
  • Antoinette M. Schoenthaler,
  • Devin Mann

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-022-00663-0
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 5, no. 1
pp. 1 – 6

Abstract

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Abstract We present a comprehensive Framework for Digital Health Equity, detailing key digital determinants of health (DDoH), to support the work of digital health tool creators in industry, health systems operations, and academia. The rapid digitization of healthcare may widen health disparities if solutions are not developed with these determinants in mind. Our framework builds on the leading health disparities framework, incorporating a digital environment domain. We examine DDoHs at the individual, interpersonal, community, and societal levels, discuss the importance of a root cause, multi-level approach, and offer a pragmatic case study that applies our framework.