Keyword: Digital Health

ABSTRACT: Digital technologies are increasingly used to support healthcare and social care for older adults, yet their effects on access and satisfaction depend on technological, individual, and organizational conditions. This structured narrative review synthesized current evidence on the impact of digital technologies on access to and satisfaction with health and social care among older adults. A comprehensive literature search was conducted iteratively from February 2025 through May 2026 in seven international and regional databases and search platforms. English- and Russian-language publications addressing older adults, digital health technologies, healthcare or social care access, satisfaction, and related implementation outcomes were considered. Forty-eight publications were included. Because study designs, populations, technologies, and outcomes were heterogeneous, findings were synthesized narratively and organized thematically. Evidence most consistently suggested that telemedicine, electronic health technologies, mobile health technologies, remote monitoring, mobile applications, and wearable devices may reduce geographical and mobility-related barriers, support continuity of care and chronic disease management, and improve satisfaction when services are usable, trusted, and adequately supported. Satisfaction findings were more context-dependent than access outcomes. Digital literacy, connectivity, affordability, interface usability, privacy concerns, technophobia, and access to technical or professional support repeatedly influenced adoption. Evidence specifically addressing social care, long-term care, and integration between healthcare and social services was comparatively limited. Digital technologies may complement conventional care for older adults, but age-appropriate design, digital-literacy support, privacy safeguards, non-digital alternatives, and integration into existing care pathways are important for equitable implementation.

ABSTRACT: Depression and anxiety are among the most prevalent mental health conditions affecting children, adolescents, and young people, contributing substantially to the global burden of disease. Despite the availability of effective treatments, access to care remains limited due to structural, economic, and stigma-related barriers, particularly in low-resource settings. Digital mental health interventions have emerged as a scalable and accessible approach to addressing these gaps. This scoping review aimed to map the extent, range, and characteristics of existing evidence on digital interventions targeting depression and anxiety in individuals aged approximately 10–24 years, with a focus on effectiveness, engagement, and implementation. A systematic search of PubMed, Dimensions, and CINAHL was conducted, and primary studies of any design published in English were included. Data were extracted and synthesized using descriptive and thematic approaches. A total of 42 studies were included, covering diverse modalities such as internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy, mobile applications, chatbots, and tele-mental health platforms. Digital interventions were associated with reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms, particularly in the short term. However, between-group effects were often modest when compared with active controls. Engagement emerged as a key determinant of effectiveness, with higher adherence linked to better outcomes. While feasibility and acceptability were generally high, challenges related to sustained engagement and long-term effectiveness were common. Digital interventions show promise as adjuncts to conventional care but require further optimization and evaluation in real-world settings.

ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telemedicine and artificial intelligence (AI), transforming healthcare delivery worldwide. These technologies hold promise for improving access, efficiency, and diagnostic accuracy, but their benefits remain unevenly distributed. In many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), persistent gaps in infrastructure, affordability, literacy, and governance risk turning digital innovation into a driver of health inequities. This paper examines the digital divide as a multidimensional health determinant encompassing infrastructure, affordability, human capacity, sociocultural inclusion, and governance. Using illustrative case studies from Africa, South Asia, Latin America, and high-income countries, this study highlights how telehealth and AI can enhance accessibility and enable task-shifting, while also demonstrating how exclusionary design and weak systems may perpetuate disparities. Building on these insights, the paper proposes a multi-sector framework for inclusive digital health, integrating investments in infrastructure, affordable and scalable models, digital literacy, culturally sensitive design, governance reform, sustainable financing, and public–private partnerships. To operationalize this framework, we recommend measurable indicators (e.g., affordability thresholds, literacy benchmarks, governance readiness indices) and propose implementation tools, including a logic model and barrier-to-action checklist. We argue that digital equity must be treated not as a peripheral issue but as a moral imperative for global health justice. Achieving this requires embedding equity into design, financing, and governance from the outset so that telehealth and AI reduce, rather than exacerbate, disparities in healthcare.