7 General Discussion 137 knowledge sharing (Chapter 4), and considerations for the design and design processes (Chapters 5 and 6). We conclude by presenting an overview of the main themes distilled from these implications that could guide and inspire future research and practice endeavors in design for eHealth equity. 7.4.1 Implications for addressing the diversity in needs In this dissertation, we discussed that the low-SEP demographic is not homogenous; it consists of various subgroups, each with distinct attitudes and needs. For instance, a well-educated migrant may have the necessary health literacy but struggles to navigate the healthcare system due to language barriers. In addition, a person can live in generally good conditions yet exhibit a disinterest in health matters, thus demonstrating low health literacy. While a health gap linked to education and income levels is evident, we should focus on a more nuanced understanding of diverse subgroup needs. Based on the findings in this dissertation, I propose three low-SEP attitude subgroups that hold different implications for eHealth design. In chapter 2, we delved into two of these subgroups, characterized as the “Optimistically Engaged” and the “Doubtfully Disadvantaged.” The third subgroup, the “Complexly Challenged”, could be connected to the remaining “Detached” and “Indifferent” attitude profiles. 7.4.1.1 Optimistically Engaged The “Optimistically Engaged” subgroup already demonstrates awareness of the health behavior’s benefits. Despite the lower education and working in below-average paying jobs, their resilience and access to supportive resources (e.g., social networks) afford them to engage actively with health and eHealth initiatives. A standout value for this group is maintaining dependent, personal, and meaningful relationships with their healthcare providers. Although eHealth interventions largely meet their needs, these interventions could be further aligned by implementing a blended system that maintains the essential personal connection with healthcare providers. 7.4.1.2 Doubtfully Disadvantaged According to our findings, the “Doubtfully Disadvantaged” subgroup is open to making use of eHealth interventions. They recognize the value of healthy behavior and eHealth interventions but struggle with consistent engagement due to difficulties in comprehending health advice or using demanding and complex eHealth interventions. I argue that efforts for design for eHealth equity can best be directed toward this group, for whom eHealth has the potential to bridge the health gap. This could be done, for
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