Dissemination of health-related technologies in Germany between 2020 and 2022

BACKGROUND: Health systems are facing major changes due to digitalization. ICTs offer the potential to improve healthcare, but the impact on health inequities is unclear. Therefore, the following research question will be addressed: How will health-related technologies be used in Germany between 2020 and 2022 and are there age- and gender-specific differences? METHODS: This analysis is based on three cross-sectional online surveys conducted in 2020 (N = 1570) and in 2022 (N = 1200; N = 1850). The sample is representative for age, gender, and federal state according to Eurostat. Participants indicated whether they used (yes/no) online booking for medical appointments (OB), video consultation (VC), and app-based transmission of health data to health insurers (DT). In 2020, participants were asked if they had used such technologies before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. For the stratified analysis, a Chi2-test was used. RESULTS: Before COVID-19, 34.5% of the participants used OB, 4.1% VC, and 18.8% DT. VC and DT differed by age, OB by gender only. In May 2020, there was a decrease in use of OB (21.6%) and DT (12.0%), but not VC (5.4%). Age-related differences existed for VC and DT. In March 2022, an increased usage was observed for all technologies (OB: 40.4%, DT: 22.3%, VC: 7.1%). Gender and age differences occurred for VC, but for age only for OB and DT. An increased use was also observed in autumn 2022 (OB: 57.6%, DT. 35.4%, VC: 11.1%). The usage of such technologies continued to vary by age and gender, with one exemption: no gender-specific differences appeared for VC. CONCLUSIONS: With the exception of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, an increased diffusion of health-related technologies has been observed, accompanied by an elevated availability of such technologies after the pandemic. Although the diffusion of such technologies increased from 2020 to 2022, age- and gender-specific differences regarding their usage seem to emerge and tend to consolidate. KEY MESSAGES: • Between 2020 and 2022, an increased utilization of health technologies can be observed, which goes hand in hand with an expanded diffusion of such technologies in the German health system. • Not all population groups participate in digitization in the same way. Whether these differences will contribute to health inequities needs to be closely examined.