Social Determinants of Health Discussion Paper

To Prepare:

Reflect on the concept of social determinants of health as presented in the resources.
Contemplate whether digital inclusion or broad band access should be added to the 5 key areas of social determinants of health.
Using the optional outside resources or other peer reviewed journal articles, consider how electronic health records, mobile health, patient portals, or telemedicine can impact and be impacted by the social determinants of health. Social Determinants of Health Discussion Paper

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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. Be specific and provide examples that support your position. Explain how electronic health records, mobile health, patient portals, or telemedicine can impact and be impacted by the social determinants of health. Support your explanation with the require

As conventionally defined, a social determinant of health includes social and community context, education, health and healthcare, economic stability, and neighborhood and built environment. Considering the growing importance of digital technologies in healthcare delivery, there is a clear need to supplement the current five critical areas with the sixth one dedicated to digital inclusion or broadband access. Social Determinants of Health Discussion Paper

Digital inclusiveness and broadband access are the essential components of health equity in today’s digital era. With sufficient provision of the web, it is possible that patients would find it easier to benefit from telemedicine services, electronic health records (EHRs), or patient portals. A research published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association identified that poor internet access is one factor leading to inequitable telemedicine utilization among disadvantaged populations (Curtis et al., 2022).Social Determinants of Health Discussion Paper

Furthermore, mobile health, electronic health records, patient portals, and telemedicine can both affect and be affected by the social factors of health. These emerging technologies could help improve healthcare access and outcomes through telemedicine, whereby patients and non-specialists in certain zones receive rather specific, timely medical interventions to manage chronic diseases and communicate with patients’ doctors (Ma et al., 2022). Nevertheless, their effectiveness frequently conflicts with barriers such as digital literacy, internet connection, and availability of digital devices. Social Determinants of Health Discussion Paper

The social determinants of health should consider digital inclusion or broadband access a significant area. To mitigate the digital gap in healthcare services, the equitable distribution of digital resources is of paramount importance for bridging healthcare disparities and improving health outcomes. As illustrated by the World Health Organization, solving the social determinant of health, like communication gaps, is fundamental in the fight for equity in healthcare and universal health coverage (Ataguba & Ataguba, 2020). Social Determinants of Health Discussion Paper

In conclusion, digital inclusion is closely interlinked with the social aspects of health and should be formally recognized as a determinant in its own right. Decreasing digital inequalities is critical to achieving the full potential of digital technologies in healthcare, thereby ensuring access and improving outcomes for all.

Social Determinants of Health Discussion Paper

References

Ataguba, O. A., & Ataguba, J. E. (2020). Social determinants of health: the role of effective communication in the COVID-19 pandemic in developing countries. Global health action, 13(1), 1788263.

Curtis, M. E., Clingan, S. E., Guo, H., Zhu, Y., Mooney, L. J., & Hser, Y. I. (2022). Disparities in digital access among American rural and urban households and implications for telemedicine‐based services. The Journal of Rural Health, 38(3), 512-518.

Ma, Y., Zhao, C., Zhao, Y., Lu, J., Jiang, H., Cao, Y., & Xu, Y. (2022). Telemedicine application in patients with chronic disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC medical informatics and decision making, 22(1), 105. Social Determinants of Health Discussion Paper