Power, paradox and pessimism: On the unintended consequences of digital health technologies in primary care

Sue Ziebland, Emma Hyde and John Powell

Social Science & Medicine, 2021, vol. 289, issue C

Abstract: We consider what might be learned from the unintended, apparently unanticipated, consequences of the use of digital health (including alternatives to face to face consultations, electronic medical records, use of apps and online monitoring) in primary care. We chose a conceptual literature review method, to seek a higher order understanding of the nuanced patterning of unintended consequences of digital health technologies (for people, relationships, organisations and ways of working) which are rarely simply positive or negative. The approach is informed by realist review, which recognises that experiences and outcomes of interventions work (or fail) in different ways in particular contexts.

Keywords: Unintended consequences; Digital health; Primary care; Conceptual literature review; Dark logic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114419

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