Measuring the digital divide among people with severe mental ill health using the essential digital skills framework.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Amid the vast digitalisation of health and other services during the pandemic, people with no digital skills are at risk of digital exclusion. This risk might not abate by the end of the pandemic. This article seeks to understand whether people with severe mental ill health (SMI) have the necessary digital skills to adapt to these changes and avoid digital exclusion.

Methods

Two hundred and forty-nine adults with SMI across England completed a survey online or offline. They provided information on their digital skills based on the Essential Digital Skills (EDS) framework, sociodemographic information, and digital access. This is the first time that the EDS is benchmarked in people with SMI.

Results

42.2% had no Foundation Skills, and 46.2% lacked skills for daily

SUBMITTER: Spanakis P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10757390 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature