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Inequity in Access and Delivery of Virtual Care Interventions: A Scoping Review

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  • Sabuj Kanti Mistry

    (Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
    Department of Public Health, Daffodil International University, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh)

  • Miranda Shaw

    (RPA Virtual Hospital, Sydney 2050, Australia)

  • Freya Raffan

    (RPA Virtual Hospital, Sydney 2050, Australia)

  • George Johnson

    (Sydney Institute for Women, Children and their Families, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney 2050, Australia)

  • Katelyn Perren

    (Sydney Institute for Women, Children and their Families, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney 2050, Australia)

  • Saito Shoko

    (Health Equity Research Development Unit (HERDU), Centre for Primary Health Care & Equity, The University of New South Wales, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney 2050, Australia)

  • Ben Harris-Roxas

    (School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia)

  • Fiona Haigh

    (Health Equity Research Development Unit (HERDU), Centre for Primary Health Care & Equity, The University of New South Wales, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney 2050, Australia)

Abstract

The objectives of this review were to map and summarize the existing evidence from a global perspective about inequity in access and delivery of virtual care interventions and to identify strategies that may be adopted by virtual care services to address these inequities. We searched MEDLINE , EMBASE , and CINAHL using both medical subject headings (MeSH) and free-text keywords for empirical studies exploring inequity in ambulatory services offered virtually. Forty-one studies were included, most of them cross-sectional in design. Included studies were extracted using a customized extraction tool, and descriptive analysis was performed. The review identified widespread differences in accessing and using virtual care interventions among cultural and ethnic minorities, older people, socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, people with limited digital and/or health literacy, and those with limited access to digital devices and good connectivity. Potential solutions addressing these barriers identified in the review included having digitally literate caregivers present during virtual care appointments, conducting virtual care appointments in culturally sensitive manner, and having a focus on enhancing patients’ digital literacy. We identified evidence-based practices for virtual care interventions to ensure equity in access and delivery for their virtual care patients.

Suggested Citation

  • Sabuj Kanti Mistry & Miranda Shaw & Freya Raffan & George Johnson & Katelyn Perren & Saito Shoko & Ben Harris-Roxas & Fiona Haigh, 2022. "Inequity in Access and Delivery of Virtual Care Interventions: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-12, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:15:p:9411-:d:877473
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xiaoli Wang & Zhiyong Zhang & Jun Zhao & Yongqiang Shi, 2019. "Impact of Telemedicine on Healthcare Service System Considering Patients’ Choice," Discrete Dynamics in Nature and Society, Hindawi, vol. 2019, pages 1-16, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nikita V. Polukhin & Tamara R. Nikolic Turnic & Natalia V. Ekkert & Vladimir A. Reshetnikov & Valery V. Royuk & Vera R. Shastina & Mikhail V. Vodolagin, 2023. "The Analysis of the Context of Digital Access to Healthcare in Russia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-16, January.

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