Digitally excluded in a highly digitalized country: An investigation of Swedish outpatients with psychotic disorders and functional impairments

Abstract

Access to digital devices and digital services increases accessibility to mental health services. We investigated access to smartphones and digital identification methods (digital-IDs) in an outpatient unit focusing on patients with psychotic disorders and functional impairments. Patients’ case managers completed an online anonymous survey. Most patients (85%) did not have digitalIDs, which is required in Sweden to access digital health care. High age and living in assisted living facilities influenced patients' access to smartphones and digitalID negatively. Even in a highly digitalized society, outpatients with psychotic disorders and functional impairments have much less access to digital technology than the population on average.