Complex role of individual digital skills and eHealth policies in shaping health policy
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted individuals’ physical and mental health worldwide. Using data from the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and a comparative approach across European countries, this study investigates the potential protective effect of individual digital skills and eHealth policies in mitigating the pandemic health effects. Our analysis exploits a within-between random effects approach and shows that individuals with null or poor digital skills have a 2.4% higher likelihood of experiencing a worsening health status and a 4% higher probability of experiencing mental health issues. At the same time, living in countries characterized by high levels of digitalization minimizes the probability of worsening health status in a range between 1% and 2.7%. The protective effect of eHealth policies on mental health status is much stronger. However, the relationship between digital skills and health outcomes is influenced by the country-specific level of digitalization. Indeed, the impact of having poor digital skills is more substantial if one lives in a country where eHealth is widespread. These results show that the rapid advancement of healthcare digitalization could exacerbate healthcare inequality unless accompanied by the development of digital skills among the population.
Source: Socio-Economic Planning Sciences
Authors: Lucia Leporatti, Marcello Montefiori
Institution: University of Genoa
Language: English
Subfield: Demography
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,020
Awards: Social Sciences & Humanities Open Cloud, Multinational Advancement of Research Infrastructures on Ageing, G1178032220, G1237079599, G1330667123, G1397107050, G1428006373, G1565542540, G1608581485, G1708035608, G1750703574, G1756054413, G1778268290, G1781191216, G1820526844, G2077389594, G2343781458, G24207250, G2465118858, G2576676356, G2593358879, G2841052746, G2881429984, G288447808, G3166864496, G323020161, Achieving world-class standards in all SHARE countries, G3361099077, G3440788226, G3457581384, G3497955178, G3654244103, G3687180791, G4096536797, G4165969582, RAND Center for the Study of Aging, G4290142911, G434337789, Upgrading the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe – preparatory phase, G4545110052, G4569152855, G4587185496, Cohesion in further developing and innovating SHARE across all 28 member countries, G4723430573, G4847675667, G5021238699, G503278667, G504669776, G5062201959, Data Service Infrastructure for the Social Sciences and Humanities, G5207492846, G5618942462, Non-intended health, economic and social effects of the COVID-19 epidemic control decisions: Lessons from SHARE (SHARE-COVID19), G5857780965, G6053673296, G6055688980, G6122222817, G6476390097, G6678519423, G6767647029, G6969501727, G6978085111, Synergies for Europe's Research Infrastructures in the Social Sciences, G751768989, DEVELOPING AN ISRAELI VERSION OF THE HRS/SHARE PROJECT, G8072554765, G8677177991, Longitudinal Enhancement and Access imProvement of the SHARE infrastructure, G8806983220, G8875743412, G8957671751, G9000113159, Understanding and Improving Healthcare Decision-Making and Outcomes for People Living with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias, Health and Retirement Study: Yrs 35-40, G93458789
OpenAlex ID: W4394859231