Health apps and digital devices which may be used by both the rich and poor, might still show differences in results

While socio economic classes have differences on their own in several aspects of life, one thing you might not have expected them to have a difference in is digital tools and health app effectivity. The rich according to studies have better outcomes and effectivity when it comes to using health app and digital tools than those lower in the socio economic charts.

The people from the lower radar of the charts already had health issues and lack in medical facilities on its own, but the question stands that how can a device or a wearable like a health tracker which is the same for the poor and the rich, give the two classes different results despite having same functions.

Digital tools while were known to diminish the health inequity because it being widely available and considering it came from several different companies, the price ranges accordingly to. However, the study showed that it was reasonable enough to be bought by a middle class working person. Still, the same study also showed that though it was pocket friendly enough to be bought by a large lot, the tool didn’t necessarily diminish the gap.

While the rich and poor buy the same devices with the same working functions, where is the difference coming from then.

Well you see, the functions may be the same, but it is exactly what changes the game between the two classes.

The people from lower socio economic class while may be able to afford the device, in some cases, not all, they might have lesser digital health knowledge than those from the class higher than them. The difference in electronic literacy effects the usage of those particular features, because once users cannot use the features to their full potential, the results will always be different. The other reason for this also was the fact that lower socio economic group have lesser time on hand to do the physical activities or the suggestive work outs the gadgets tells them do. Tasks as simple as walking or going out for a jog may differ too because of the lack of time on hand.

While this report was specifically based on digital tools, it is believed that the same inequity will be observed in all aspects of health industry as medicine becomes more digitalized with time. However, this factor while may be industry wide, it may not be easy to erase the inequity so easily. It will take a lot of time to convince industries in making tech products which are user friendly enough to be used by all, because we all know industries in the end focus on the percentage of users who will most likely be the consumers of their products.


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