The Second-Level Digital Divide in Healthcare

Abstract Which socioeconomic and demographic groups face the greatest disparities in health-related internet uses and how have the disparities changed since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic? This article found significant disparities in internet use for healthcare among online US adults across socioeconomic and demographic groups, emphasizing the need for digital inclusion initiatives that support equitable access to healthcare. Education, gender, and urbanization are the strongest predictors across all types of health-related internet uses. Disparities in telehealth use by disability, education, and sexual orientation increased over time, while the disparities across economic levels remained unchanged.