Impact of COVID-19 on the digital divide: a rapid review.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The increased reliance on digital technologies to deliver healthcare as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has meant pre-existing disparities in digital access and utilisation of healthcare might be exacerbated in disadvantaged patient populations. The aim of this rapid review was to identify how this 'digital divide' was manifest during the first wave of the pandemic and highlight any areas which might be usefully addressed for the remainder of the pandemic and beyond.

Design

Rapid review and narrative synthesis.

Data sources

The major medical databases including PubMed and Embase and Google Scholar were searched alongside a hand search of bibliographies.

Eligibility criteria

Original research papers available in English which described studies conduc

SUBMITTER: Litchfield I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8520586 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature