Challenges in implementing cultural adaptations of digital health interventions

Challenges in implementing cultural adaptations of digital health interventions

2024 | Vasileios Nittas, Paola Daniore, Sarah J. Chavez & Tyler B. Wray
The article discusses the challenges in implementing cultural adaptations of digital health interventions (DHIs). Cultural adaptations are defined as systematic modifications of existing interventions to align with the cultural norms, beliefs, and values of the target audience. While the goal is to increase the reach and engagement of traditionally underserved cultural groups, the evidence on whether and how this is achieved is limited. The article highlights several critical challenges in this process, including defining culture in the context of health and technology, understanding and integrating subcultures, justifying adaptations, balancing planning, iteration, and stakeholder interests, ensuring intervention fidelity, and understanding the interaction between health, technology, and culture. The authors emphasize the need for technology-specific frameworks that address when and how to culturally adapt DHIs. They also note that while cultural adaptations have the potential to reduce the digital divide, the current evidence is insufficient to confirm their effectiveness. The article calls for further research to better understand the challenges in designing and implementing cultural adaptations of DHIs and to identify ways to mitigate them. It also stresses the importance of involving stakeholders, including members of the target culture, in the adaptation process to ensure that the interventions are culturally relevant and effective. The authors conclude that cultural adaptations remain an emerging field with significant potential to address the digital divide, but more research is needed to establish best practices and ensure that interventions are both culturally appropriate and effective.The article discusses the challenges in implementing cultural adaptations of digital health interventions (DHIs). Cultural adaptations are defined as systematic modifications of existing interventions to align with the cultural norms, beliefs, and values of the target audience. While the goal is to increase the reach and engagement of traditionally underserved cultural groups, the evidence on whether and how this is achieved is limited. The article highlights several critical challenges in this process, including defining culture in the context of health and technology, understanding and integrating subcultures, justifying adaptations, balancing planning, iteration, and stakeholder interests, ensuring intervention fidelity, and understanding the interaction between health, technology, and culture. The authors emphasize the need for technology-specific frameworks that address when and how to culturally adapt DHIs. They also note that while cultural adaptations have the potential to reduce the digital divide, the current evidence is insufficient to confirm their effectiveness. The article calls for further research to better understand the challenges in designing and implementing cultural adaptations of DHIs and to identify ways to mitigate them. It also stresses the importance of involving stakeholders, including members of the target culture, in the adaptation process to ensure that the interventions are culturally relevant and effective. The authors conclude that cultural adaptations remain an emerging field with significant potential to address the digital divide, but more research is needed to establish best practices and ensure that interventions are both culturally appropriate and effective.
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Understanding Challenges in implementing cultural adaptations of digital health interventions