Digital Health Equity and Patient Education: A New Paradigm in Patient Empowerment

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted global healthcare, heightening vigilance among individuals with chronic disease and increasing levels of fear and depression. As a response, digital technologies, especially telehealth, have emerged as promising tools to address these challenges, facilitating health information access and supporting patient education and decision-making. The digital health landscape now includes electronic health records, remote monitoring, digital therapeutics, AI, and machine learning, which together enhance patient care, improve diagnosis accuracy, and streamline healthcare operations. Digital health tools, by presenting information interactively, engage patients cognitively and foster autonomy in health management. Additionally, social media and mobile health platforms contribute to health equity by promoting healthy behaviours and reducing barriers to access. However, disparities in digital health access, termed "digital health equity," remain a challenge. Digital health equity involves addressing “digital determinants of health," including technology access, digital literacy, and infrastructure, which interact with traditional social determinants of health. In this context, e-health literacy has become a critical factor in enabling individuals to retrieve and appraise electronic health information effectively, ultimately enhancing health literacy. Health literacy, therefore, serves as a foundation for reducing health inequalities and fostering population health.