Combating Digital Health Inequality in the Time of Coronavirus
Bob Gann
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only brought into sharp focus the vital role of digital information and technologies in enabling the public to live their everyday lives, but also the risk of excluding those who most need support. Those most at risk from COVID-19 are also those most likely to be digitally excluded—in particular older people and those in communities experiencing social and economic deprivation. In the United Kingdom, community organizations, including libraries, are responding to this challenge through digital inclusion initiatives, including supply of digital devices, support in developing digital skills, and provision of reliable, trustworthy information.
Topics & Concepts
PandemicInequalityDigital healthPublic relationsCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Public healthDigital inclusionDigital divideInternet privacySocial inequalityBusinessTrustworthinessPolitical scienceEconomic growthHealth careMedicineThe InternetNursingInformation and Communications TechnologyEconomicsComputer scienceWorld Wide WebDiseasePathologyMathematicsInfectious disease (medical specialty)LawMathematical analysisHealth Literacy and Information AccessibilityMobile Health and mHealth ApplicationsTechnology Use by Older Adults