The Nordic eHealth Research Network (NeRN), a subgroup of the Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) and the eHealth group, has conducted a study to examine Nordic citizens' experiences, use, and attitudes towards digital healthcare systems.
In developing the survey questionnaire for this study, relevant indicators were created to enable comparisons across Nordic countries. This approach facilitates the identification of similarities and differences among these countries and supports the study's aim of producing generalizable data applicable to policymakers, decision-makers, and other stakeholders. In essence, the data presented in this report has the potential to facilitate the development of evidence-informed digital healthcare policies in Nordic countries.
The questionnaire was meticulously developed through an iterative process by the NeRN researchers. This process considered national differences within healthcare and the diversity among Nordic languages to ensure accurate translations and content consistency. The questions were informed by the researchers' knowledge of digital healthcare systems in the five countries; the prevailing policies and strategies in the Nordic region and the NCM; and former questionnaires used to examine the subject field, ensuring a study based on solid background knowledge and alignment with the study's objectives.
The survey was conducted by MEGAFON in February and March 2023, comprising 5,078 interviews, including 4,567 internet interviews and 511 phone interviews.
The study's findings indicate general trends across the countries, with a majority of citizens utilizing digital healthcare services. However, approximately 10% of citizens require assistance when using these services, and some do not use them at all. Differences between countries become particularly evident when scrutinizing citizens' attitudes toward digital healthcare services. Notably, citizens' perceptions of how digitalization impacts health equity, quality, and accessibility vary significantly. Another interesting finding pertains to citizens' willingness to share their health data, with most willing to do so for treatment but slightly fewer for research purposes within a Nordic healthcare context.