Social Determinants of Health
The addition of digital inclusion or broadband access as a key area of social determinants of health (SDOH) is a contemporary consideration that reflects the increasing role of technology in shaping various aspects of our lives (Benda, Veinot, Sieck & Ancker, 2020). I support the idea that digital inclusion, or rather broadband access, should be added to the key areas of social determinants of health. This is the age of technology, and it is estimated that 77% of Americans today own a smartphone (Martin, 2021). Internet is used widely for various things, including learning what to eat, drink, and wear, among other things, which have a significant impact on our health, both physical and mental. This would mean that digital inclusion could be one of the most wide-ranging areas of SDOH.
However, there are some concerns, for example, for individuals who cannot afford a data plan for these services and also individuals with little to no digital literacy. While it can enhance various aspects of individuals’ lives, careful consideration must be given to ensure that these advancements contribute to health equity and do not inadvertently exacerbate existing disparities. Addressing both digital inclusion and the broader social determinants of health in tandem may provide a more comprehensive approach to improving overall well-being.
Electronic Health Records (EHRs), mobile health, patient portals, and telemedicine are integral components of modern healthcare delivery, offering opportunities to improve access, efficiency, and quality of care. These technologies both impact and are impacted by the social determinants of health in various ways. EHRs’ impact on social determinants of health includes data accessibility, whereby EHRs can provide healthcare providers with comprehensive patient information, including socioeconomic factors, enabling more personalized care and interventions tailored to individual needs (HealthIT.gov, 2018). The impact of SDOH on EHR includes limited access to healthcare resources, which may result in incomplete or inaccurate EHR data, affecting the quality of care for underserved populations. Second is health disparities; inequities in socioeconomic status may lead to disparities in EHR utilization and data quality, contributing to healthcare disparities.
Further, mobile Health impacts SDOH via remote monitoring, whereby mHealth applications enable remote monitoring of patients’ health metrics, which can be particularly beneficial for individuals with limited access to healthcare facilities (Skiba, 2017). The impact of SDOH is through the digital divide and health literacy. Subsequently, patient portals impact DOH by empowering individuals to take an active role in managing their health, potentially improving outcomes and reducing disparities. The impact of SDOH on patient portals is that low levels of digital literacy in some communities can make it more difficult for patients to utilize patient portals effectively, which exacerbates language and cultural barriers and disparities in access to care. In telemedicine, the effects it has on SDOH include accessibility whereby it can overcome geographic barriers, and expand access to healthcare services for individuals in remote or underserved areas. The effects of SDOH on telemedicine include technological barriers, whereby limited access to appropriate technology or infrastructure may hinder the adoption of telemedicine among disadvantaged populations.
References
Benda, N. C., Veinot, T. C., Sieck, C. J., & Ancker, J. S. (2020). Broadband internet access is a social determinant of health! American Journal of Public Health, 110(8), 1123–1125. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2020.305784
HealthIT.gov. (2018). What is an electronic health record (EHR)? https://www.healthit.gov/faq/what-electronic-health-record-ehr
Martin, M. (2021, October 8). Computer and Internet use in the United States, 2018. Census.gov. https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2021/acs/acs-49.html
Skiba, D. (2017). Evaluation tools to appraise social media and mobile applications. Informatics, 4(3), 32. https://doi.org/10.3390/
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Question 
Introduction: Use Walden White paper or the CDC
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”.
Social Determinants of Health
https://www.cdc.gov/about/sdoh/index.htmlLinks to an external site.
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.