Elikman Daniel, Anderson Robert, Balish Margarita, Zilbermint Mihail
From Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.
Johns Hopkins University, Carey Business School, Baltimore, Maryland.
South Med J. 2025 Jun;118(6):330-332. doi: 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000001830.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of US health care, technological advances promise significant improvements. The ongoing digital divide, however, is a critical factor affecting equitable access to health care. This perspective examines the multifaceted nature of the digital divide and its impact on health literacy, the use of electronic health tools, and disparities rooted in race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. The partnership between healthcare providers and health communication researchers, along with seamless data sharing, emerges as a crucial catalyst for elevating health literacy. To effectively address the digital divide, healthcare providers may find it beneficial to conduct assessments of the evolving health literacy and digital health landscape. An essential paradigm shift involves the customization of digital health solutions by medical providers, aligning them with the diverse needs and preferences of patients. This transformative approach necessitates a departure from static, one-way communication channels, emphasizing the dynamic adaptation of digital health interventions to enhance accessibility and relevance in patient care.
在美国医疗保健快速发展的格局中，技术进步有望带来显著改善。然而，持续存在的数字鸿沟是影响医疗保健公平可及性的关键因素。本文探讨了数字鸿沟的多方面性质及其对健康素养、电子健康工具使用的影响，以及源于种族、族裔和社会经济地位的差异。医疗保健提供者与健康传播研究人员之间的合作，以及无缝的数据共享，成为提升健康素养的关键催化剂。为有效解决数字鸿沟问题，医疗保健提供者可能会发现，对不断变化的健康素养和数字健康格局进行评估是有益的。一个重要的范式转变是医疗服务提供者定制数字健康解决方案，使其与患者的多样化需求和偏好相匹配。这种变革性方法需要摒弃静态的单向沟通渠道，强调数字健康干预措施的动态调整，以提高其在患者护理中的可及性和相关性。
