PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Digital health disparities continue to affect marginalized populations, especially older adults, individuals with low-income, and racial/ethnic minorities, intensifying the challenges these populations face in accessing healthcare. Bridging this digital divide is essential, as digital access and literacy are social determinants of health that can impact digital health use and access to care. This article discusses the potential of leveraging community Wi-Fi and spaces to improve digital access and digital health use, as well as the challenges and opportunities associated with this strategy. The existing limited evidence has shown the possibility of using community Wi-Fi and spaces, such as public libraries, to facilitate telehealth services. However, privacy and security issues from using public Wi-Fi and spaces remain a concern for librarians and healthcare professionals. To advance digital equity, efforts from multilevel stakeholders to improve users\' digital access and literacy and offer tailored technology support in the community are required. Ultimately, leveraging community Wi-Fi and spaces offers a promising avenue to expand digital health accessibility and use, highlighting the critical role of collaborative efforts in overcoming digital health disparities.
摘要：
数字健康差距继续影响边缘化人群，尤其是老年人，低收入人群,和种族/族裔少数，加剧这些人群在获得医疗保健方面面临的挑战。弥合这一数字鸿沟至关重要，因为数字访问和识字是健康的社会决定因素，可以影响数字健康的使用和获得护理。本文讨论了利用社区Wi-Fi和空间来改善数字访问和数字健康使用的潜力，以及与这一战略相关的挑战和机遇。现有的有限证据表明，使用社区Wi-Fi和空间的可能性，比如公共图书馆,促进远程医疗服务。然而,使用公共Wi-Fi和空间的隐私和安全问题仍然是图书馆员和医疗保健专业人员关注的问题。为了推进数字股权，需要多层次的利益相关者努力改善用户的数字访问和素养，并在社区中提供量身定制的技术支持。最终,利用社区Wi-Fi和空间为扩展数字健康的可访问性和使用提供了一个有希望的途径，强调合作努力在克服数字健康差距方面的关键作用。
