Better technological access reduces gaps in health care for African-Americans

UC Santa Barbara researchers have noted that better access to technology can greatly contribute to equity in health care. Nevertheless, for African-Americans in the United States. Consequently, According to Sharon Tettegah. For example, Ebenezer Larnyo, the two research researchers Center for Black Studies (CBSR) of the UCSB, taking advantage of health technology is a promising strategy for combating long -standing health care disparities “by improving access to care, improving its quality and reducing inequalities”.

“Our study shows that improving access to technology as a large-band internet. Therefore, smartphones, and that health care technology uses as tele-health and health media platforms, can considerably reduce health care disparities among African-Americans,” said Larnyo, the main author of an article published in the journal in the journal Public health borders.

‘The evidence is important’

African-Americans now better technological access reduces gaps continue to face an excessive amount of difficulty accessing health care. Consequently, tend to have less good health results than white counterparts. Consequently, Tettegah recalled a particularly remarkable case – that of the tennis champion Venus Williams. Moreover, who throughout her career was prey to severe pelvic pain access.

“She had uterine fibroids. Furthermore, had gone to several doctors and no one gave her the right answer,” said Tettegah, who directs the CBSR and concentrates her research at the intersection of the social sciences and the STEM. However, “They dismissed her. In addition, »»

Indeed. For example, despite the pain and bleeding, in interviews, Williams herself notes that even if she knew that she had fibroids (African-American women are affected disproportionately by non-cancerous tumors), her doctors have never linked the condition and her pain, telling her that her symptoms were a “normal” part of her menstrual cycle. Meanwhile, Williams finally better technological access reduces gaps found a team that took its complaints seriously. Therefore, because of this experience, now defends the health of women.

Williams’ experience to be reduced by doctors is unfortunately too common for African-Americans in the American health system. resulting from a history of systemic racism and models of historical exclusion, the researchers said. Although she was finally able to find the appropriate care, many others continue to have trouble being seen.

The question therefore becomes: “How can we get the medical community of people who are not people of. color to understand that we really have different needs?” And many times that must come from the patient. But not all patients can defend themselves. “”

Sharon Tettegah, Center for Research in Black Studies of the UCSB

Socioeconomic status is another major factor. In the United States. health care is taking money, whether for health insurance, hospital better technological access reduces gaps visits and clinic, medicines and other supplies. Even the continuous boom of health technologies. such as telemedicine on the Internet, portable devices or precision medicine, which have great potential to level the rules of health care, are limited to who can afford them.

“Individuals with higher socioeconomic status are more likely to have technological access. and when they have access, they know fewer disparities in health care,” said Larnyo. “So, tackling the digital and structural barriers is therefore the key to achieving equity. »»

In their article. researchers explore the complex relationship between technological inequality and health care disparities in African-Americans and discover the statistical links between socioeconomic status, access to technology and the use of health technologies.

“The evidence is important,” said Larnyo. “Having difficult numbers allows us to go beyond the hypotheses. to demonstrate precisely how socio-economic factors influence access to health care in the digital age. It better technological access reduces gaps helps us to understand the underlying mechanisms by which technological iniquity strengthens. perpetuates the disparities in health care and allows us to highlight structural changes rather than structural solutions within the framework of economic opportunities and digital inclusion, thus in the event of structural changes rather than individual solutions. »»

The data analysis of an African-American 815 survey on their access. use of information on health and behaviors, perceptions and knowledge related to health, research collaboration, which includes teams from Jiangsu university in China and Teesside University in the United Kingdom, has elucidated this complex dance of variables. They have found a statistically significant relationship between socioeconomic status. access to technology (the higher socioeconomic status, the more access to technology) and a positive association between access to technology and the use of health technology (the more access to technology, the more it is likely to use health technology).

Conversely. better technological access reduces gaps they found a negative association between technological access and health care disparities – the less access to health technology, the more important health care disparities. The influence that socioeconomic status. access to technology and health disparities have on each other indicate that “the fight against socioeconomic disparities and access to technology is crucial to reduce disparities in health care”, according to the newspaper.

Some of the most powerful solutions are already at hand.

“To begin with, the Internet with broad band is fundamental; It must be affordable, accessible and reliable, ”said Larnyo. “It goes hand in hand with affordable smartphones. »»

In addition. to effectively benefit from technology, culturally tailor -made telehealth, simple to use mental health applications and health media platforms are necessary, researchers said.

“We must certainly do more work to raise awareness that people of color have different needs who must be met. not only transferred,” said better technological access reduces gaps Tettegah, stressing that ethnic minorities have different chances for various diseases and conditions. “We must build a story that highlights this with advocacy and information, because often you don’t know you don’t know. »»