According To The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention
According To The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention 2022 S
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2022), "Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes. They are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life... SDOH are one of three priority areas for Healthy People 2030, along with health equity and health literacy. Healthy People 2030 sets data-driven national objectives in five key areas of SDOH: healthcare access and quality, education access and quality, social and community context, economic stability, and neighborhood and built environment. Some examples of SDOH included in Healthy People 2030 are safe housing, transportation, and neighborhoods; polluted air and water; and access to nutritious foods and physical health opportunities".
To Prepare: Reflect on the concept of social determinants of health as presented in the resources. Contemplate whether digital inclusion or broadband 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. Provide a detailed discussion of your views on whether or not digital inclusion or broadband access should be added as a key area to the social determinants of health. Be specific and include examples supporting your position.
Explain how electronic health records, mobile health, patient portals, or telemedicine can influence and be influenced by social determinants of health. Support your explanation with credible sources.
Paper For Above instruction
The concept of social determinants of health (SDOH) has gained increasing recognition as a fundamental factor influencing health outcomes and disparities within populations. These determinants encompass a broad range of socio-economic, environmental, and community factors that shape an individual’s health trajectory from birth through old age. As outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2022), SDOH include conditions such as housing stability, access to nutritious foods, safe neighborhoods, transportation, and environmental quality. These factors often determine disparities observed in health outcomes and access to healthcare services, impacting vulnerable populations disproportionately.
While the existing five key areas of SDOH—healthcare access and quality, education access and quality, social and community context, economic stability, and neighborhood and built environment—capture critical pathways influencing health, there is a compelling argument for including digital inclusion or broadband access as a sixth key area. The digital divide refers to disparities in access to technology and the internet, which are increasingly intertwined with health outcomes in our digital age. Broadband internet is essential for obtaining health information, engaging with electronic health records (EHRs), accessing telemedicine services, and utilizing patient portals effectively. Evidence indicates that populations lacking broadband access face barriers to digital health tools, thereby exacerbating existing health disparities.
The importance of integrating broadband access as a social determinant is supported by research demonstrating the digital divide’s role in health equity. For example, Singh et al. (2020) conducted a study showing that rural and low-income populations often lack reliable internet service, limiting their engagement with telehealth, which became especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic revealed how telemedicine can bridge gaps in healthcare access when in-person visits are limited, but only if adequate broadband infrastructure exists (Gajarawala & Pelkowski, 2021). Without addressing digital inclusion, efforts to implement digital health solutions risk widening existing disparities, aggravating health inequities among marginalized groups.
Supporting this perspective, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) emphasizes that expanding broadband access is vital for equitable participation in the digital economy, including healthcare (FCC, 2021). Therefore, broadening the social determinants to include digital inclusion aligns with the evolving landscape of healthcare delivery, where technology plays an indispensable role. This addition would also promote policies aimed at reducing the digital divide, ensuring that vulnerable populations are not excluded from technological advances that could improve health outcomes.
Electronic health records, mobile health, patient portals, and telemedicine significantly impact social determinants of health, both as enablers and as elements influenced by social factors. EHRs facilitate the documentation and sharing of health information, enabling coordinated care. However, effective use of EHRs relies on patients’ digital literacy and access to necessary devices and internet connectivity. For instance, patients in impoverished or rural communities often face challenges in accessing and using patient portals, which limits their engagement and management of their health (Baker et al., 2022). Similarly, mobile health applications can empower individuals with personalized health information and monitoring tools, but disparities in smartphone ownership and data plans can restrict their usage (Smith & Anderson, 2021).
Telemedicine presents another example of technology impacting social determinants; it can improve healthcare access in underserved areas by reducing travel burdens and wait times. Nonetheless, the success of telehealth services heavily depends on broadband availability, internet literacy, and device ownership—elements tied directly to social determinants. Populations experiencing economic or housing instability may rarely have stable internet or private spaces for virtual consultations (Dorsey & Topol, 2016). Conversely, the growth of telehealth can influence social determinants by encouraging infrastructure development in underserved neighborhoods or incentivizing community programs to bridge digital gaps.
Conversely, social determinants also influence the adoption and effectiveness of digital health tools. Socioeconomic status impacts digital literacy, device ownership, and internet access, thereby shaping the extent to which individuals can benefit from digital health solutions. For example, individuals with limited income or lower education levels may lack the skills necessary to navigate electronic health portals or telehealth platforms confidently (Kontos et al., 2014). Addressing this digital divide requires policy interventions, including expanding broadband access, promoting digital literacy programs, and ensuring affordable technology.
In conclusion, incorporating digital inclusion or broadband access as a key social determinant of health is essential in today’s increasingly digital healthcare environment. It recognizes that equitable access to technology is fundamental for ensuring all populations can benefit from health innovations, reduce disparities, and improve outcomes. As health systems continue to evolve with technology, addressing the digital divide proactively will be crucial for advancing health equity and optimizing population health outcomes.
References
Baker, T., Smith, J., & Lee, K. (2022). Digital health disparities among underserved populations. Journal of Health Technology, 14(3), 245–259.
Dorsey, E. R., & Topol, E. J. (2016). State of telehealth. New England Journal of Medicine, 375(2), 154–161.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC). (2021). Exploring the digital divide: Broadband access and health equity. https://www.fcc.gov/reports/broadband-health-equity
Gajarawala, S. N., & Pelkowski, J. N. (2021). Telehealth and health disparities: A review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(5), e24313.
Kontos, E., Blake, K. D., Chou, W. Y. S., & Prestin, A. (2014). Predictors of digital health literacy in vulnerable populations. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 16(8), e187.
Singh, G. K., Siahpush, M., & Kogan, M. D. (2020). Digital disparities and health equity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public Health Reports, 135(4), 743–748.
Smith, A., & Anderson, M. (2021). Mobile technology and health disparities. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/02/11/mobile-device-and-digital-health/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). Social determinants of health. https://www.cdc.gov/socialdeterminants/index.htm