eHealth policy in Spain: A comparative study between general population and groups at risk of social exclusion in Spain

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the healthcare sector has experienced accelerated progress in terms of the inclusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in its procedures and formalities. However, public administrations have been unable to adapt to the peculiarities of the most vulnerable groups. This leads to marginalization of at-risk groups within the healthcare system and contributes to the widening of the so-called digital divide. METHODS: Based on the analysis of the literature, three dimensions have been constructed to identify the level of inclusion of web portals: the perception of quality, the perception of usability, and the importance attributed to their content. In order to obtain data on each of these dimensions, a study was designed based on the user test methodology as a central element (identifying and evaluating 11 vulnerable groups) and, in parallel, a survey of the general population and heuristic tests. RESULTS: A high percentage of vulnerable people at risk of social exclusion are not receiving adequate healthcare due to the digitalization of the system and the implementation of scarcely inclusive health web portals, which pose significant barriers in service provision for the 11 selected collectives. Meanwhile, the general population is being introduced to eHealth benefits, although the latter did not have high levels of digitization or a broad portfolio of services. CONCLUSIONS: The general population has a relatively positive perspective of eHealth services, but only a minority of them make intensive use of them, and they are not widespread in Spain as a whole. Meanwhile, the population at risk of exclusion lacks the skills and resources to make real use of eHealth, needing “digital intermediaries” from the social sphere to achieve results. eHealth policies are not taking into account people with higher levels of marginalization, aggravating their exclusion and the digital divide.