Introduction
Healthcare disparities continue to be a significant challenge for minority populations, including African Americans, in the United States. These disparities are deeply rooted in systemic racism and historical exclusion, forming part of broader structural violence. Recent studies have suggested that leveraging health technology could help address these disparities by improving access to care, enhancing its quality, and reducing inequities. However, the relationship between health technology access, its use, socioeconomic status (SES), and healthcare disparities among African Americans remains underexplored.
Methodology
This study analyzed data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) Wave 6 dataset, focusing on a sample of 815 African Americans. The analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The research aimed to investigate the associations between technology access, healthcare technology use, socioeconomic status, and health disparities among African Americans.
Key Findings
The study revealed several significant findings:
- Technology access had a positive effect on healthcare technology use (β = 0.260, p < 0.000).
- Both technology access (β = -0.086, p = 0.034) and healthcare technology use (β = -0.180, p < 0.001) showed a negative effect on healthcare disparities.
- Socioeconomic status (SES) had a significant positive effect on technology access (β = 0.424, p < 0.001).
- SES was found to significantly moderate the relationship between technology access and healthcare disparities, indicating variability in the impact of technology access based on SES levels among African Americans.
Conclusion
The findings highlight the potential of technology in mitigating healthcare disparities among African Americans. By promoting enhanced health technology access and utilization, particularly in lower SES populations, healthcare outcomes for vulnerable communities can be significantly improved. The study encourages policymakers, healthcare providers, and technology developers to collaborate in creating conducive conditions for the adoption and use of technology to advance healthcare equity.
The original research was published in Frontiers in Public Health, Section Life-Course Epidemiology and Social Inequalities in Health, Volume 13 – 2025, with DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1547189.
