The DISC (Digital Inequalities in South Asians with Cardiometabolic Disease) Study is looking at inequalities in the use of digital health interventions, such as websites and phone apps, for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The study is being organised by Professor Amitava Banerjee from the Institute of Health Informatics at University College London (UCL) and is funded by the UK National Institute of Health Research.
The study group has launched a new online survey to understand how and why people from South Asian backgrounds use health technology for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, in order to understand how patient care in this area can be improved.
Dr Lydia Poole is a research fellow in mixed methods and a Chartered Psychologist working in the Institute of Health Informatics at UCL. Dr Mel Ramasawmy is a qualitative researcher, with a background in health policy, also working at the Institute of Health Informatics at UCL.
In an exclusive interview with Asian Voice, Dr Lydia Poole and Dr Mel Ramasawmy spoke about this project.
Q - Please briefly describe the premise of the study.
The DISC Study is trying to understand the use of digital health interventions among South Asians with heart disease and diabetes. We know that South Asians are more likely to be diagnosed with heart disease and diabetes than other ethnic groups, so it is important that we deliver healthcare effectively in this group. We are asking questions such as – do people from a South Asian background use digital health interventions? Are digital health interventions useful, and if so, how?
Q - Could you elaborate on what you mean by "inequalities in the use of digital health interventions"?
Digital health interventions are apps, websites and other technologies that are used to deliver healthcare to patients remotely. We are seeing increasing reliance on digital health interventions in the NHS. But we know not everyone uses these interventions; sometimes this is due to a lack of access to a digital device (such as a smartphone or a laptop). Unequal access has the potential to maintain existing inequalities, where some sectors of society are more likely to experience avoidable differences in health.
Q - Once you get the result of your online survey that aims to understand how and why people from South Asian backgrounds use digital health interventions for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, in order to understand how patient care in this area can be improved, what would be the next steps?
The results of the online survey will help inform other parts of research which is taking place as part of the DISC study. We are also trying to understand people’s experiences of digital health interventions during the coronavirus pandemic. Furthermore, we are conducting interviews with patients and healthcare professionals, which together with the results of the online survey will help us draw up some policy recommendations for how to improve digital health interventions for patients from an ethnic minority background.
Q - How can the community address inequalities in the use of digital health interventions and also where does one draw a line to the usage of technology where there might be a dangerously high dependence on digital than meeting an expert in person?
We wish to engage with South Asian communities across the UK so that, together, we can understand what has and hasn’t worked with digital health interventions and come up with workable solutions, so that we can make recommendations at a national level.Despite their benefits, not every patient will want to use digital health interventions. This might be because they prefer to speak to their doctor in person, but it might also be because they don’t know how to use digital devices, or because they don’t have the financial resources to access a digital device. Through our research, we want to understand how digital health interventions should be implemented to make sure they are accessible to those who would like to use them.
Q - How challenging is it to secure funding for such research?
The Principal Investigator on this grant is Professor Amitava Banerjee, who is leading this large NIHR-funded grant. You can read more about the DISC study here [https://www.doctorasdatascientist.org/the-disc-study]. Gaining grant funding can be tricky, and only a small proportion of applications will be accepted. We are lucky to be working in a strong team with expertise across clinical and non-clinical research, with a focus on combining both qualitative and quantitative methods.
Q - What do you finally aim to conclude or derive from this study?
By answering our research questions we hope to come up with policy recommendations to ensure digital health interventions are rolled out to the benefit of all patient groups.
