What are the barriers to using health technology?
"Technology must be used to reduce inequalities and not become another mechanism to leave people behind."
World Health Organization
Access to internet and digital devices
Broadband access
6% of UK households did not use the internet – this is influenced by a number of factors such as socioeconomic and skills gaps.
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Geography
In the US, 1 in 3 rural communities lack the bandwidth needed for a remote video consultation.
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Age
26% of UK households with individuals over the age of 75 have no internet access (compared to 6% across the adult UK population).
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Data poverty
In the UK, 25 million low-income mobile phone users are on pay-as-you-plans, with many spending up to half their family budget on mobile phone costs.
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Skills and capacity
Digital literacy
In the UK, 16% of the adult population cannot perform basic activities using digital devices (such as turning on a device).
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Health literacy
47% of European adults have basic or below basic health literacy (a person's ability to understand and use information to make decisions about their health).
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Low English proficiency
7.1 million UK adults have a reading age of under 9 years.
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Motivation to use technology
Trust
Certain populations are less likely to trust health technology, set against a backdrop of systemic racism, disenfranchisement and social injustice.
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Data privacy concerns
Only 61% of African and 57% of Asian countries have adequate legislation in place around data privacy – hindering the use of health technology.
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Cultural relevance
Cultural beliefs affect capacity and willingness to use health technology, and many health apps do not reflect a culturally diverse user base.
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