As digital health tools grow in popularity due to rapid technological advancements and the shift toward personalized medicine, a new study highlights the critical need to focus on equity in their design.
Today’s digital health tools are transforming care: wearable devices offer continuous monitoring and early warnings; telemedicine provides virtual consultations, especially in underserved areas; artificial intelligence-driven interventions support mental health where stigma or access is an issue; and community-based platforms link users to local resources such as food, housing and transportation. Integrated with electronic health records, these tools are becoming more advanced, promising to improve outcomes, streamline care and close health gaps.
The study’s senior author, Maura Kepper, PhD, an assistant professor within the Prevention Research Center at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, is working to ensure that these innovations serve all populations effectively, particularly the historically marginalized.
The paper, “How to Design Equitable Digital Health Tools,” recently published in PLOS Digital Health, highlights design tactics, case studies and opportunities for improvement. It provides a roadmap for developers, offering strategies to make future digital health tools accessible, effective and equitable for all.
“Digital health tools have the potential to revolutionize health care,” Kepper said. “However, if we don’t design these tools with equity in mind, we risk widening the very disparities we aim to reduce.” She emphasizes that while the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote health solutions, many tools lack the necessary design components to equitably serve diverse populations.