Digital divide among individuals with acquired brain injury: a scoping review protocol

Abstract

Objective: This scoping review will identify literature pertaining to individuals with an acquired brain injury and digital divide; specifically, examining personal access and use of internet-enabled information and communication technologies. The review will identify the information and communication technologies used by individuals with an acquired brain injury as well as the determinants of technology use. The review will also identify and create a taxonomy of information and communication technologies utilized in relation to cognitive and psychosocial outcomes for individuals with an acquired brain injury in community and outpatient settings. Introduction: Internet-enabled technologies are increasingly central to all aspects of living, including health care and community participation; however, gaps in the access to and use of information and communication technologies among individuals with an acquired brain injury may limit the utility of a digitalized society. Inclusion criteria: Studies that focus on access to or use of internet-enabled information and communication technologies among individuals with an acquired brain injury (including stroke, infection, tumor, disease, hypoxia, or traumatic brain injury) will be considered in this review. Methods: Primary peer-reviewed studies published in English from 2001 onward will be considered for inclusion. Six electronic databases will be searched: Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science Core Collection, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and APA PsycINFO. Gray literature searches for government and nongovernment organization reports and data, and dissertation theses will be conducted via advanced Google searches. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts, and full texts of articles based on the “population, concept, context” inclusion criteria. Relevant data will be reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR).

Digital participation in traumatic brain injury: scoping review about assessment tools for computer-mediated communication

“…In contrast to CMC and e-services, which mean a broad range of self-served technologies used by the general public, the term assistive technology refers to means that are specifically targeted toward individuals with cognitive or other impairments (Evald, 2015;Eghdam et al, 2016;Chuah et al, 2022). Building on the possibilities and challenges of technology use in patient populations such as the TBI population, there have been considerations about which tools can be utilized for therapy interventions or rehabilitation (Wong et al, 2017).…”

“…Additionally, person-related factors such as "low levels of skill, confidence, knowledge, and interest" (Chuah et al, 2022) were discussed to account for lower rates of internet or social media use in TBI. Both cognitive and communicative abilities can have an impact on CMC and digital participation.…”

“…Benefits and potential of CMC for individuals with TBI Individuals with TBI may have a greater risk of encountering difficulties in CMC use due to linguistic or cognitive impairment, and of therefore becoming affected by the digital divide. At the same time, technology provides the potential to overcome barriers and constraints (Chuah et al, 2022). The benefits of availability, mobility, flexibility, and rapidity not only apply to users overall, but also to the use of CMC in TBI (Eghdam et al, 2016).…”

“…Individuals can use communication technologies at a comparably low financial expense and can interact independently of their geographic location. Content-wise, communication technologies allow individuals with TBI to interact with online communities and groups of interest according to their needs, which allows them to get information or (peer) support in stigma-free environments (Brunner et al, 2015;Morrow et al, 2021b;Chuah et al, 2022). Especially younger individuals who engage in social networks rely on the use of CMC technologies (Bedell et al, 2017).…”

“…The term "digital divide" describes the differences in access to and use of information and communication technologies, especially the Internet, between different population groups that result from technical, socioeconomic and individual factors (Rogers, 2001). The digital divide was described on different levels: general access to the necessary technologies (first level), inequalities in actual use (e.g., scope, variety, and type of use) (second level), and inequalities in the utility gained (third level), i.e., how individuals benefit from participating in the digital world (Chuah et al, 2022).…”