posted on 2025-03-31, 11:01authored byMel Ramasawmy, Nushrat Khan, David Sunkersing, Madiha Sajid, Shivali H Modha, Manoj Mistry, Wasim Hanif, Fiona Stevenson, Kiran Patel, Kamlesh KhuntiKamlesh Khunti, Paramjit Gill, Lydia Poole, Amitava Banerjee
Digital health interventions (DHIs), such as apps, websites and wearables, are being presented as solutions or enablers to manage the burden of cardiometabolic disease in healthcare. However, the potential benefits of DHIs may not be reaching the most in-need populations, who may face intersecting barriers to accessing health services and digital solutions. The Digital Interventions for South Asians in Cardiometabolic Disease (DISC) study used a mixed-method approach to focus on people of a South Asian background, a high-risk group for cardiometabolic disease. A one-day workshop was held in May 2023 with key stakeholders, including people with lived experience, health professionals, technology innovators and policymakers ( n = 34), to develop recommendations arising from the DISC study findings. Discussions covered four areas: actions to support individuals to access and benefit from DHIs; translating learning about inclusive design into practice; the role of regulation and evaluation to improve inclusivity of DHIs used within the health service; and improving quality of data collection and use to reduce inequalities related to digital health and cardiometabolic disease. Our recommendations align with recent national strategies and provide specific examples of actions that can be taken to address digital inequalities for ethnic minority populations.
Funding
Digital interventions for cardiometabolic disease in South Asians- a case study for opportunities, risks and inequalities in digital health