6 Use of Digital Healthcare Services – Communication and Devices

6.1 Communication with Healthcare Professionals

The next question, question 11, concerns citizens' use of IT devices when communicating digitally with healthcare professionals. The participants' answers are shown in Table 6.1.a and Figure 6.1.a.

Table 6.1.a When communicating digitally with healthcare professionals, which type of IT-devices are you then using?

	Denmark		Finland		Iceland		Norway		Sweden
	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
Computer	703	69	649	64	678	67	558	55	449	44
Smartphone	733	72	734	72	710	70	789	78	751	74
iPad/tablet	256	25	141	14	136	13	163	16	134	13
Other types of devices	3	0	2	0	0	0	2	0	3	0
I do not communicate digitally with healthcare professionals	38	4	45	4	63	6	69	7	105	10
Don't know	3	0	7	1	6	1	2	0	4	0
N	1017		1015		1013		1016		1017

Figure 6.1.a When communicating digitally with healthcare professionals, which type of IT-devices are you then using?

The numbers in Figure 6.1.a. show that the use of Smartphones is a typical approach across the five countries, as 73% on average communicate digitally with healthcare professionals in this way. Computers are also used by the citizens, most often in Denmark (69%) and less often in Sweden (44%). iPad/tablets are not used that frequently; however, these devices seem to be relatively popular in a Danish context, where 25% of the population use these devices to communicate with healthcare professionals, which is 9 to 12 percentage points more than in the other countries. Noticeable is also the number of citizens who are not communicating digitally with healthcare professionals, which varies from 4 to 10% between the countries.

Cross tables – Denmark

Table 6.1.b When communicating digitally with healthcare professionals, which type of IT-devices are you then using? Danish answers crossed with age, gender, educational level, and need for assistance when using digital health services.

	Computer			Smartphone		iPad/tablet		Other types of devices		I do not communicate digitally with healthcare professionals		Don't know
Age	Freq	%		Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
18–29 years	105	10		154	15	11	1			7	1	2	0
30–39 years	93	9		122	12	26	3	1	0	5	0	1	0
40–49 years	123	12		139	14	32	3	1	0	6	1
50–59 years	124	12		120	12	66	6			7	1
60–69 years	116	11		92	9	54	5			6	1
70 years or more	142	14		106	10	67	7	1	0	7	1
	Computer			Smartphone		iPad/tablet		Other types of devices		I do not communicate digitally with healthcare professionals		Don't know
Gender	Freq		%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
Female	332		33	382	38	140	14	1	0	17	2	1	0
Male	370		36	350	34	116	11	2	0	21	2	2	0
Do not wish to share that information	1		0	1	0
	Computer			Smartphone		iPad/tablet		Other types of devices		I do not communicate digitally with healthcare professionals		Don't know
Education level	Freq		%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
Primary school	24		2	30	3	6	1			4	0
Secondary education (Matriculation exam etc.)	57		6	77	8	16	2			2	0	1	0
Vocational education	81		8	92	9	31	3	1	0	7	1	1	0
Short higher education (less than 3 years)	68		7	70	7	30	3			4	0
Medium-length higher education (3–4 years)	216		21	224	22	102	10	2	0	9	1
Longer higher education (over 4 years)	229		23	219	22	67	7			11	1	1	0
PhD	28		3	21	2	4	0			1	0
	Computer			Smartphone		iPad/tablet		Other types of devices		I do not communicate digitally with healthcare professionals		Don't know
Need for assistance when using digital health services	Freq		%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
Always	7		1	3	0	2	0			2	0
Often	9		1	8	1	1	0
Sometimes	24		2	22	2	11	1			2	0
Rarely	96		9	78	8	36	4	1	0	2	0	2	0
Never	563		55	621	61	206	20	2	0	22	2	1	0
Not relevant, I do not use digital health services	2		0	1	0					8	1
Don't know/do not remember	2		0							2	0
N = 1017

Cross tables – Finland

Table 6.1.c When communicating digitally with healthcare professionals, which type of IT-devices are you then using? Finnish answers crossed with age, gender, educational level, and need for assistance when using digital health services.

	Computer		Smartphone		iPad/tablet		Other types of devices		I do not communicate digitally with healthcare professionals		Don't know
Age	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
18–29 years	108	11	158	16	11	1	1	0	7	1	4	0
30–39 years	85	8	142	14	9	1			5	0	1	0
40–49 years	92	9	130	13	18	2			2	0
50–59 years	121	12	120	12	29	3			4	0	1	0
60–69 years	111	11	86	8	39	4			7	1
70 years or more	132	13	98	10	35	3	1	0	20	2	1	0
	Computer		Smartphone		iPad/tablet		Other types of devices		I do not communicate digitally with healthcare professionals		Don't know
Gender	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
Female	297	29	399	39	64	6			23	2	3	0
Male	339	33	322	32	76	7	2	0	22	2	3	0
Non-binary	9	1	9	1
Do not wish to share that information	4	0	4	0	1	0					1	0
	Computer		Smartphone		iPad/tablet		Other types of devices		I do not communicate digitally with healthcare professionals		Don't know
Education level	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
Primary school	55	5	50	5	9	1			14	1
Secondary education (Matriculation exam etc.)	67	7	84	8	8	1			2	0	1	0
Vocational education	149	15	202	20	36	4	1	0	12	1	3	0
Short higher education (less than 3 years)	90	9	89	9	31	3	1	0	8	1	1	0
Medium-length higher education (3–4 years)	148	15	175	17	21	2			4	0	1	0
Longer higher education (over 4 years)	126	12	128	13	32	3			4	0	1	0
PhD	14	1	6	1	4	0			1	0
	Computer		Smartphone		iPad/tablet		Other types of devices		I do not communicate digitally with healthcare professionals		Don't know
Need for assistance when using digital health services	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
Always	7	1	8	1	1	0			4	0
Often	14	1	12	1	4	0			2	0
Sometimes	40	4	36	4	8	1			4	0
Rarely	134	13	155	15	28	3			4	0	3	0
Never	442	44	511	50	97	10	2	0	11	1	1	0
Not relevant, I do not use digital health services	5	0	4	0	2	0			18	2
Don't know/do not remember	7	1	8	1	1	0			2	0	3	0
N = 1015

Cross tables – Iceland

Table 6.1.d When communicating digitally with healthcare professionals, which type of IT-devices are you then using? Icelandic answers crossed with age, gender, educational level, and need for assistance when using digital health services.

	Computer		Smartphone		iPad/tablet		I do not communicate digitally with healthcare professionals		Don't know
Age	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
18–29 years	135	13	179	18	13	1	12	1	1	0
30–39 years	129	13	166	16	15	1	7	1	2	0
40–49 years	114	11	135	13	13	1	9	1	1	0
50–59 years	112	11	104	10	27	3	8	1	1	0
60–69 years	104	10	72	7	32	3	12	1	1	0
70 years or more	84	8	54	5	36	4	15	1
	Strongly agree		Agree		Neutral		Disagree		Strongly disagree
Gender	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
Female	330	33	401	40	74	7	29	3	2	0
Male	341	34	304	30	61	6	33	3	4	0
Non-binary	6	1	5	0	1	0
Do not wish to share that information	1	0					1	0
	Strongly agree		Agree		Neutral		Disagree		Strongly disagree
Education level	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
Primary school	46	5	66	7	5	0	9	1	1	0
Youth education	32	3	35	3	11	1	6	1
Vocational education	28	3	30	3	9	1	4	0
Master’s degree in industrial industry	33	3	27	3	12	1	5	0	1	0
Matriculation exam	91	9	118	12	14	1	4	0	1	0
Secondary education, other than Matriculation exam	55	5	52	5	17	2	11	1	1	0
Secondary education, technical school examination	25	2	22	2	7	1	2	0	1	0
Bachelor’s degree (BSc)	181	18	188	19	37	4	10	1
Master’s degree, MSc	176	17	161	16	22	2	11	1	1	0
PhD	11	1	11	1	2	0	1	0
	Strongly agree		Agree		Neutral		Disagree		Strongly disagree
Need for assistance when using digital health services	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
Always	3	0	3	0			1	0	1	0
Often	10	1	9	1	3	0	1	0	1	0
Sometimes	28	3	31	3	8	1	5	0
Rarely	76	8	78	8	10	1	6	1
Never	553	55	582	57	114	11	30	3	4	0
Not relevant, I do not use digital health services	7	1	4	0	1	0	17	2
Don't know/do not remember	1	0	3	0			3	0
N = 1013

Cross tables – Norway

Table 6.1.e When communicating digitally with healthcare professionals, which type of IT-devices are you then using? Norwegian answers crossed with age, gender, educational level, and need for assistance when using digital health services.

	Computer		Smartphone		iPad/tablet		Other types of devices		I do not communicate digitally with healthcare professionals		Don't know
Age	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
18–29 years	120	12	165	16	14	1	2	0	17	2
30–39 years	91	9	155	15	9	1			8	1	1	0
40–49 years	85	8	145	14	15	1			12	1
50–59 years	91	9	137	13	33	3			13	1
60–69 years	83	8	103	10	45	4			11	1	1	0
70 years or more	88	9	84	8	47	5			8	1
	Computer		Smartphone		iPad/tablet		Other types of devices		I do not communicate digitally with healthcare professionals		Don't know
Gender	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
Female	244	24	406	40	73	7			31	3	1	0
Male	311	31	381	38	90	9	2	0	37	4	1	0
Non-binary	2	0	1	0
Do not wish to share that information	1	0	1	0					1	0
	Computer		Smartphone		iPad/tablet		Other types of devices		I do not communicate digitally with healthcare professionals		Don't know
Education level	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
Primary school	23	2	33	3	4	0			6	1
Secondary education (Matriculation exam etc.)	64	6	103	10	19	2	2	0	10	1
Upper secondary school - vocational subjects	42	4	85	8	16	2			13	1
Vocational training (skilled worker, craftsman)	65	6	110	11	28	3			13	1	1	0
Medium-length higher education (3–4 years)	192	19	243	24	58	6			10	1	1	0
Longer higher education (over 4 years)	161	16	205	20	35	3			16	2
PhD	11	1	10	1	3	0			1	0
	Computer		Smartphone		iPad/tablet		Other types of devices		I do not communicate digitally with healthcare professionals		Don't know
Need for assistance when using digital health services	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
Always	3	0	3	0			1	0	2	0
Often	2	0	4	0	1	0			2	0
Sometimes	28	3	44	4	13	1			9	1
Rarely	87	9	127	13	32	3			9	1
Never	432	43	606	60	116	11	1	0	36	4	2	0
Not relevant, I do not use digital health services	4	0	4	0	1	0			10	1
Don't know/do not remember	2	0	1	0					1	0
N = 1016

Cross tables – Sweden

Table 6.1.f When communicating digitally with healthcare professionals, which type of IT-devices are you then using? Swedish answers crossed with age, gender, educational level, and need for assistance when using digital health services

	Computer		Smartphone		iPad/tablet		Other types of devices		I do not communicate digitally with healthcare professionals		Don't know
Age	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
18–29 years	67	7	117	12	1	0			13	1	1	0
30–39 years	66	6	92	9	1	0	1	0	9	1	1	0
40–49 years	65	6	85	8	1	0			13	1	2	0
50–59 years	73	7	67	7	7	1			15	1
60–69 years	77	8	40	4	7	1			24	2
70 years or more	101	10	30	3	10	1			31	3
	Computer		Smartphone		iPad/tablet		Other types of devices		I do not communicate digitally with healthcare professionals		Don't know
Gender	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
Female	191	19	252	25	19	2			42	4	1	0
Male	255	25	174	17	7	1	1	0	63	6	3	0
Non-binary	1	0	3	0	1	0
Do not wish to share that information	2	0	2	0

	Computer		Smartphone		iPad/tablet		Other types of devices		I do not communicate digitally with healthcare professionals		Don't know
Education level	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
Elementary school	28	3	28	3	3	0			19	2
Secondary school	187	18	209	21	13	1	1	0	37	4	2	0
University/College	224	22	193	19	10	1			46	5	2	0
PhD	10	1	1	0	1	0			3	0
	Computer		Smartphone		iPad/tablet		Other types of devices		I do not communicate digitally with healthcare professionals		Don't know
Need for assistance when using digital health services	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%
Always	2	0	2	0					1	0
Often	8	1	12	1	3	0			2	0
Sometimes	23	2	30	3	1	0			4	0	1	0
Rarely	60	6	64	6	5	0	1	0	15	1	1	0
Never	352	35	319	31	18	2			69	7
Not relevant, I do not use digital health services	4	0	2	0					9	1	1	0
Don't know/do not remember			2	0					5	0	1	0
N = 1017

6 Use of Digital Healthcare Services – Communi­cation and Devices