Use and barriers to the use of telehealth services in the Arab population in Israel: a cross sectional survey.

Background: Studies conducted in Israel and in other countries show that minority populations typically underuse telehealth services notwithstanding the advantages inherent in the use of these services. The goal of this study was to examine telehealth use patterns and the barriers to the use of telehealth services in the Arab population in Israel, which is a culturally and ethnically varied minority population with a unique language and culture.

Methods: A telephone survey was conducted among a representative sample of the adult Arab population in Israel from October 29 to November 4, 2020.

Israel's response to the COVID-19 pandemic: tailoring measures for vulnerable cultural minority populations.

Every country has vulnerable populations that require special attention from policymakers in their response to a pandemic. This is because those populations may have specific characteristics, culture and behaviours that can accelerate the spread of the virus, and they usually have less access to healthcare, particularly in times of crisis. In order to carry out a comprehensive national intervention plan, policy makers should be sensitive to the needs and lifestyles of these groups, while taking into account structural and cultural gaps.