KFF Health Tracking Poll: Public Use and Trust in Health Care Apps and Websites – KFF

 

Digital Health Integration and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

This report analyzes the adoption and public perception of digital health applications in the United States, framing the findings within the context of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Widespread use of these tools indicates progress towards SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by enhancing access to health management. However, significant challenges related to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) persist, particularly concerning equitable access, data privacy, and public trust in emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Analysis of Digital Health Adoption and Contribution to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The proliferation of digital health tools represents a significant step towards achieving universal health access and empowering individuals in their health management, a core tenet of SDG 3. Data indicates a high rate of adoption across the U.S. population.

Key Adoption Statistics

• Approximately 75% of U.S. adults have utilized a health care app or website in the past year.
• Usage is prevalent across diverse demographics, including income, education, race, and geographic location (urban, suburban, rural).
• Among adults aged 65 and older with Medicare, approximately 80% have used a digital health tool in the past year.

Primary Functions Supporting Health Management

The primary uses of these applications directly support proactive health management and patient engagement, contributing to better health outcomes as targeted by SDG 3.

1. Access to Medical Information: 71% of users access medical records or lab test results.
2. Appointment Scheduling: 61% use apps to make appointments with healthcare providers.
3. Prescription Management: 59% manage prescriptions or medications online.
4. Provider Communication: 55% send direct messages to their healthcare providers.

A majority of users (65%) report that these tools have made managing their healthcare easier, reinforcing their potential to enhance health and well-being.

Challenges to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities in Digital Health Access

While adoption is widespread, disparities in usage highlight challenges in achieving the goals of SDG 10, which aims to reduce inequality within and among countries. Ensuring equitable access to the benefits of digital health is paramount.

Observed Disparities in Usage

• Racial and Ethnic Disparities: 80% of White adults reported using a digital health tool in the past year, compared to 70% of Black adults and approximately 67% of Hispanic adults.
• Socioeconomic Disparities: Lower rates of adoption are reported among individuals with lower incomes and those with less than a college degree.

These gaps indicate that the digital divide could exacerbate existing health inequalities if not addressed through targeted policies promoting digital literacy and access.

Innovation, Infrastructure, and Partnerships (SDG 9 & SDG 17)

Government initiatives and public-private partnerships are driving innovation in health technology, aligning with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The “Make Health Tech Great Again” initiative, involving collaboration between the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and technology firms, exemplifies this trend.

Priorities for Technological Advancement

Older adults with Medicare identify key areas for infrastructure improvement, though few consider them top priorities:

• Data Interoperability (SDG 9): 81% believe it is an important priority for Medicare to facilitate the secure sharing of health information between different providers.
• Chronic Disease Management (SDG 3): 63% view increasing the availability of apps to manage chronic conditions as an important priority.

Infrastructure Usability Challenges

The current digital ecosystem presents usability challenges that hinder the development of resilient and user-friendly infrastructure (SDG 9).

• 51% of users manage their health care across multiple apps, websites, or accounts.
• Among those using multiple platforms, 28% find it difficult to manage them, indicating a need for more integrated and streamlined systems.

Trust, Privacy, and Institutional Accountability (SDG 16)

Public concerns over data privacy and trust in technology pose significant barriers to the full realization of digital health’s potential. These issues are central to SDG 16, which calls for effective, accountable, and transparent institutions.

Widespread Privacy Concerns

Majorities of adults express concern about the privacy of their health information, with trust levels varying by the type of institution managing the application.

1. Government-Managed Apps: 78% are concerned.
2. Private Technology Company Apps: 75% are concerned.
3. Health Insurance Company Apps: 64% are concerned.
4. Hospital or Provider-Managed Apps: 52% are concerned.

Low Trust in Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Public skepticism towards AI in healthcare highlights a critical trust deficit that must be addressed to leverage advanced technologies for SDG 3.

• Only 41% of the public would trust a health app using an AI chatbot for tasks like making appointments.
• Just 32% would trust an AI-powered tool to access their medical records and provide personalized health advice.

This lack of trust underscores the need for robust governance frameworks and transparent institutional practices to ensure that technological advancements are deployed responsibly and ethically, in line with the principles of SDG 16.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article is fundamentally about health and well-being, focusing on how digital tools like apps and websites are used to manage healthcare. It discusses accessing medical records, managing prescriptions, making appointments, and managing chronic conditions, all of which are central to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The article highlights the role of technology and innovation in the healthcare sector. It details the “Make Health Tech Great Again” initiative, which involves partnerships between the government (CMS) and technology companies to build a “smarter, more secure, and more personalized healthcare experience.” This directly relates to fostering innovation and upgrading technological infrastructure in a key industry.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article points out disparities in the adoption and use of digital health tools among different demographic groups. It states that “smaller shares of those with lower incomes and less than a college degree” use these tools, and it also notes differences in usage rates between White, Black, and Hispanic adults. This addresses the challenge of ensuring equal access to technological advancements and services, which is a core component of reducing inequalities.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

  The article touches upon the role of institutions (government, hospitals, private companies) in managing sensitive health data. The widespread public concern about data privacy (“Majorities of adults are concerned about the privacy of their information”) and the varying levels of trust in different types of institutions relate to the goal of building effective, accountable, and transparent institutions that protect individual rights and data.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including… access to quality essential health-care services. The article discusses how apps facilitate access to essential services like making appointments (used by 61% of adults), managing prescriptions (59%), and accessing medical records (71%), which are all components of managing one’s health care. The widespread use across demographics shows progress toward more universal access to these management tools.
   • Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity… for… management of national and global health risks. The article mentions the use of apps “to manage a chronic condition like diabetes or obesity with their doctor” (used by 21% of adults). Furthermore, it highlights that a majority of older adults (63%) believe it is an important priority for Medicare to “increase the availability of apps that help manage chronic conditions,” which directly relates to managing health risks at a population level.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors… encouraging innovation. The article describes a government initiative to partner with “dozens of companies,” including AI leader OpenAI, to “increase the availability and use of digital health tools.” This is a clear example of a public-private effort to upgrade technological capabilities and foster innovation within the healthcare industry.
   • Target 9.c: Significantly increase access to information and communications technology. The article’s core subject is the use of ICT (health apps and websites) for healthcare. It provides data showing widespread access and use, with “three in four adults in the U.S. saying they have used a health care app or website in the past year,” including large majorities in urban (76%), suburban (79%), and rural (78%) areas.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social… inclusion of all, irrespective of age… race, ethnicity… or economic status. The article directly identifies disparities that work against this target. It notes that recent use of health apps is lower among Black and Hispanic adults compared to White adults, and that “smaller shares of those with lower incomes and less than a college degree” use these tools, highlighting a digital divide in healthcare access.

4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The use of patient portals to access one’s own medical records and lab results is a direct move toward more transparent healthcare institutions. The public’s desire for Medicare to make it “easier to securely share health information between different health care providers” (seen as important by 81% of older adults) also reflects a demand for more effective and integrated institutional processes.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

   • Implied Indicator for Target 3.8: Percentage of the population using digital tools to access essential health services. The article provides specific data points: “three in four who say they have done so in the past year,” “71% adults say they have used a health care app or website in the past year to access their medical records or lab test results,” 61% for making appointments, and 59% for managing prescriptions.
   • Implied Indicator for Target 3.d: Percentage of the population using digital tools for chronic disease management. The article states that 21% of adults and 23% of older adults with Medicare use apps for this purpose. Public demand for these tools is also quantified, with 63% of older adults wanting more availability.

2. For SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)

   • Implied Indicator for Target 9.5: Evidence of public-private partnerships in health technology. The article explicitly mentions the “Make Health Tech Great Again” initiative and CMS securing “commitments from healthcare and technology firms that will partner with the government.”
   • Implied Indicator for Target 9.c: Proportion of individuals using digital health tools, broken down by demographic and geographic factors. The article provides this data: “at least six in ten adults across education, income, race and ethnicity, and age groups” have used these tools. It also specifies usage rates by location: “urban areas (76%), suburban areas (79%), and rural areas (78%).”

3. For SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

   • Implied Indicator for Target 10.2: Disparities in the use of digital health tools across different racial and socioeconomic groups. The article quantifies these inequalities: “eight in ten White adults say they’ve ever used an online tool… in the past year, compared to seven in ten Black adults, and about two-thirds of Hispanic adults.” It also notes disparities by income and education level.

4. For SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions)

   • Implied Indicator for Target 16.6: Public trust and concern regarding the management of personal data by institutions. The article measures this directly: “Majorities of adults are concerned about the privacy of their information… regardless of whether the app is managed by the government (78%), a private technology company (75%), or a health insurance company (64%).” Trust in AI is also measured, with only 32% trusting it to access medical records.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs	Targets	Indicators (Mentioned or Implied in the Article)
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	3.8: Achieve universal health coverage and access to quality essential health-care services. 3.d: Strengthen capacity for management of health risks.	– Percentage of adults using health apps for services: accessing records (71%), making appointments (61%), managing prescriptions (59%). – Percentage of adults using apps to manage chronic conditions (21%). – Percentage of older adults who see increasing availability of chronic condition management apps as a priority (63%).
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure	9.5: Upgrade technological capabilities and encourage innovation. 9.c: Increase access to information and communications technology (ICT).	– Existence of public-private partnerships to create better health technology (e.g., CMS partnering with tech firms). – Percentage of US adults who have used a health app in the past year (75%). – Usage rates across locations: urban (76%), suburban (79%), rural (78%).
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities	10.2: Empower and promote the social inclusion of all, irrespective of race, ethnicity, or economic status.	– Disparities in app usage by race: White adults (80%), Black adults (70%), Hispanic adults (approx. 66%). – Lower usage rates among individuals with lower incomes and less than a college degree.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions	16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions.	– Percentage of the public concerned about data privacy on apps managed by: government (78%), private tech company (75%), health insurance company (64%), hospital/provider (52%). – Percentage of the public trusting AI to access medical records and provide advice (32%).

Source: kff.org