Digital health, cardiometabolic disease and ethnicity: an analysis of United Kingdom government policies from 2010 to 2022
Thorlu-Bangura, Zareen Poole, Lydia Sood, Harpreet Khan, Nushrat Stevenson, Fiona Khunti, Kamlesh Gill, Paramjit Sajid, Madiha Hanif, Wasim Bhala, Neeraj
Thorlu-Bangura, Zareen
Poole, Lydia
Sood, Harpreet
Khan, Nushrat
Stevenson, Fiona
Khunti, Kamlesh
Gill, Paramjit
Sajid, Madiha
Hanif, Wasim
Bhala, Neeraj
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2023-04-21
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Abstract
Recent health policies in the United Kingdom (UK) and internationally have focussed on digitisation of healthcare. We examined UK policies for evidence of government action addressing health inequalities and digital health, using cardiometabolic disease as an exemplar. Using a systematic search methodology, we identified 87 relevant policy documents published between 2010 and 2022. We found increasing emphasis on digital health, including for prevention, diagnosis and management of cardiometabolic disease. Several policies also focused on tackling health inequalities and improving digital access. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified inequalities. No policies addressed ethnic inequalities in digital health for cardiometabolic disease, despite high prevalence in minority ethnic communities. Our findings suggest that creating opportunities for digital inclusion and reduce longer-term health inequalities, will require future policies to focus on: the heterogeneity of ethnic groups; cross-sectoral disadvantages which contribute to disease burden and digital accessibility; and disease-specific interventions which lend themselves to culturally tailored solutions.
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J Public Health Policy. 2023 Apr 21:1-17. doi: 10.1057/s41271-023-00410-z. Online ahead of print.
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