Can mHealth Interventions Reduce Health Disparities among Vulnerable Populations?

Abstract

Disparities in healthcare and health outcomes are pervasive and pernicious. Such disparities exist between persons living in high-income countries in comparison to those in low to middle-income countries (LMICs), between whites and racial/ ethnic minorities, between those with substantial differences in literacy/numeracy, between high-income and low-income persons, and between other advantaged groups compared to disadvantaged or vulnerable groups. This is particularly true for chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and globally and a disease with significant economic and societal costs as well. For example, within the U.S., racial/ethnic minorities have 2-4 times the rate of diabetes-related microvascular complications (e.g. limb amputations, end-stage renal disease and blindness) in comparison to whites.