Third of people in Wales use digital technology to self-diagnose 鈥� new report
More than a third of people in Wales (34 per cent) use digital technology to self-diagnose health conditions, whilst only 14 per cent make a healthcare appointment online.
These insights are from aexploring how people in Wales use digital technology to support and monitor their health, by s and 精东影业.
Two in three people (66 per cent) in Wales use digital technology to support their health through different actions, including finding information about general health or health services, managing long-term health conditions and medications.
More than one in three people (34 per cent) use digital technology to monitor their health, including step count, fitness levels, food intake 鈥� but there are marked differences across social groups.
84 per cent of people in the least deprived group use digital technology to support their health, but only 51 per cent in the most deprived group.
The findings highlight important considerations for health systems seeking to harness this digital age to ensure that those who have the greatest needs are not left behind.
Dr Alisha Davies, Head of Research and Development for Public Health Wales, said:
鈥淚t is great to see people in Wales are embracing the potential of technology to support their health, and although more common in the younger age groups, older populations are active online too.
鈥淲e need to capitalise on this interest, to engage users in the development of digital health technology and to understand what works to improve health and wellbeing.
鈥淲e also need to make sure that everyone has the potential to benefit. A focus on digital should not reinforce underlying inequalities and inequities in health, to ensure those who have the greatest needs are not left behind.鈥�
The report also highlights a disparity in the use of digital technology for health depending on underlying health.
For example, 34 per cent of people with no health-harming behaviours 鈥� specifically being a current smoker, regularly binge drinking or being physically inactive 鈥� use digital technology to support their health. This falls to nearly half that number (19 per cent) for people who engage in two or three health-harming behaviours.
Other key findings in the report include:
- Nearly twice as many women (39 per cent) than men (20 per cent of men) use digital technology to monitor their health
- 10 per cent of people use digital technology to find emotional support online, and this was higher in those with low mental wellbeing
- 16 per cent use digital technology to manage a long-term health condition
Co-author Dr Catherine Sharp, Research Officer, Public Health Collaborating Unit, 精东影业, said:
鈥淥ur study shows that around one in four people in Wales are already using digital devices to monitor activities like their step count and fitness. We need to build on the investments people are already making to improve their health.
鈥淗owever, we must also ensure that technological opportunities for health improvement benefit the health of all people in Wales and do not add to the already substantive difference in health between the richest and the poorest.鈥�
The nationally representative survey was administered through face-to-face interviews of 1,240 individuals aged 16 years and above, and resident in Wales.
Publication date: 30 May 2019