Bridging the digital divide: a systematic review protocol on the impact
of internet inequity on access and utilization of healthcare services
Abstract
Background: In today’s digital era, the internet has become an
integral part of our daily lives, serving as a fundamental tool for
communication, social interaction, work, and accessing essential
services. However, disparities in access to internet based on personal
and social factors, defined as internet inequity, can significantly
impact how people engage with healthcare. Understanding the disparities
across regions and demographics is crucial to addressing inequities and
improving healthcare accessibility. Objective: This protocol
aims to outline the methodology for a systematic review examining the
impact of internet inequity on access and utilization of healthcare
services. Methods: Databases including Medline, Web of Science,
Embase, IEEE Xplore, and CINAHL, will be searched for peer-reviewed
articles published between 2014 and 2024. To be included in this review,
studies must examine internet inequity and its association with access
and utilization of at least one healthcare service. Studies employing
qualitative methodologies (e.g., examining barriers and perceptions) or
those where healthcare services access and/or utilization was treated as
the predictor rather than the outcome will be excluded. Data will be
extracted and analyzed by two independent reviewers to identify patterns
and quantify the impact of internet inequity. Quality assessment of
included studies will be performed utilizing Hawker’s checklist for
disparate study designs. Conclusions: This protocol details a
systematic approach to analyzing disparities in internet access and
their effects on healthcare services access and utilization. The results
of this review will fill existing gaps in the literature and offer
evidence-based recommendations to guide future policies focused on
enhancing healthcare services access and use on a global scale.