Practical guidelines for developing digital health solutions to increase equity in dementia care in the UK
2024

Guidelines for Digital Health Solutions in Dementia Care

Sample size: 34 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Wolff Beth, Nielsen Simon, Kiwanuka Achilles

Primary Institution: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Hypothesis

Can equity frameworks for digital health solutions guide the development of equitable care for dementia patients in the UK?

Conclusion

Digital health solutions can increase inequity in healthcare, but practical guidelines can help minimize this if developers focus on equity and collaborate with healthcare providers and users.

Supporting Evidence

  • 34 publications and reports were included in the review.
  • Four equity frameworks were analyzed to create guidelines.
  • The study emphasizes the importance of co-design with end-users.
  • Digital health solutions can exacerbate existing healthcare inequities.
  • Guidelines aim to improve access and usability for dementia care.
  • Future research could test the usability of the proposed guidelines.
  • Living labs are recommended for effective co-design processes.
  • Equity frameworks can help identify barriers to access in digital health.

Takeaway

This study shows that making digital health tools for dementia care fairer is possible if developers work closely with patients and healthcare workers.

Methodology

A scoping review was conducted across four databases and grey literature to identify equity frameworks and design principles for digital health solutions.

Potential Biases

Potential bias in the selection of literature and frameworks due to the focus on specific databases and inclusion criteria.

Limitations

The study is limited to the context of dementia care in the UK and may not be generalizable to other health conditions or regions.

Participant Demographics

The study focuses on dementia patients and their caregivers in the UK.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3389/fdgth.2024.1490156

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