Nordic eHealth survey

The Nordic eHealth Research Network (NeRN), a subgroup of the Nordic Council of Ministers and the eHealth group, has conducted a study on the experiences, usage, and attitudes of Nordic citizens towards digital health systems.

The survey was conducted with over 5000 respondents in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland in February and March 2023.

• Read the full report: A Nordic survey to monitor citizens use and experience with eHealth

How do Nordic citizens use eHealth?

The study primarily aimed to investigate the experiences and perspectives of Nordic citizens regarding digital health, examining their access and utilization of these services as well as health data management. This research offers an initial assessment in terms of alignment with the strategies and objectives set forth by the Nordic Council of Ministers, which emphasize sustainable welfare states, health promotion, and the inclusion of vulnerable populations.

"The findings are intriguing. While there are noticeable similarities in digital trends across the Nordic countries, we also observe some notable differences. A significant portion of the population is already digitally engaged, yet it's crucial to support the non-digital individuals to prevent digital exclusion from widening disparities," comments Espen Nordheim, research coordinator at the Norwegian Centre for E-health Research, in the department for patient pathways.

What are the key findings of the survey?

The survey uncovers overarching trends, indicating that a substantial majority of citizens utilize digital health services. Nonetheless, it highlights that approximately 10 percent of participants either require support to engage with digital solutions or do not use digital eHealth options whatsoever.

Regarding the question of whether they feel they have adequate access to their digital health data online, responses from citizens across the Nordic countries varied as follows:

• Finland - 89%
• Denmark - 83%
• Sweden - 79%
• Norway - 77%
• Iceland - 67%

The report reveals that about two-thirds of Finnish and Icelandic citizens are confident that digitalizing the healthcare system could address its structural challenges. In contrast, this optimism is somewhat less prevalent in the Scandinavian countries, where the sentiment ranges between 42% and 54%.

Sharing of Health Data

The study's findings on the willingness of citizens to share personal health data are particularly noteworthy, especially for treatment and research purposes. Generally, there's at least a 10-percentage point difference in the readiness to share data for research compared to individual treatment.

In terms of research utilization, the average percentage of the population willing to share various types of digital health data is as follows: medical history (59%), diagnoses (57%), medications/prescriptions (60%), test results/laboratory data (56%), vaccinations (60%), and allergies (52%).

On average, there is a lower willingness to share data pertaining to referrals, online bookings, and health data personally collected/generated. This suggests that people are more inclined to share data that might be crucial for their treatment. Notably, across the surveyed countries, 11% of Norwegian citizens and 15% of Finns are unwilling to share any digital health data for research purposes.

"We are keen to examine these findings further, particularly in the context of the European Health Data Space (EHDS) initiative. This aims to facilitate secure access to and exchange of health data across national borders," explains Nordheim.

Norwegians less engaged in using digital health data compared to Nordic counterparts

The report indicates that among the Nordic nations, Finns are the leading users of their own health data for enhancing their health understanding. Conversely, Norwegians rank lowest in terms of benefiting from access to digital health data for understanding and managing their health.

Survey Question: "Has accessing my digital health data contributed to a better understanding of my health?"

• Finland - 58%
• Denmark - 46%
• Iceland - 44%
• Sweden - 43%
• Norway - 33%

Survey Query: "Has having access to digital health data improved my ability to manage my health?"

• Finland - 44%
• Denmark - 38%
• Iceland - 36%
• Sweden - 35%
• Norway - 29%

The survey highlights notable variations in attitudes towards digital health services among the Nordic countries, especially in terms of views on how digitalization impacts health inequality, quality, and accessibility.

This research offers critical insights for policymakers and adds meaningful discourse to the conversation on digitalizing the Nordic healthcare system.

Referanse:
Solbakken Nordheim, Espen. Pedersen, Rune. Lintvedt, Ove, et al.
A Nordic survey to monitor citizens use and experience with eHealth
DOI: 10.6027/temanord2023-541