Blockchain Technology in Digital Health and Medical Technologies.

Designing digital health applications for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The field of healthcare has undergone a paradigm shift with the integration of telemedicine and digital health technologies. This paper delves into recent breakthroughs in these domains, exploring how advancements have reshaped patient care, accessibility, and overall health outcomes. Additionally, the paper envisions the future potential of these technologies, outlining a roadmap towards a more connected, efficient, and patient-centric healthcare system. Telemedicine and Digital Health have emerged as transformative forces in contemporary healthcare, revolutionizing the way medical services are delivered and experienced. This paper provides a succinct overview of recent advances in these domains and envisions their future potential. Recent breakthroughs in telemedicine have propelled healthcare beyond traditional boundaries. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) technologies, including wearable devices and smart sensors, enable real-time data collection, empowering healthcare providers to monitor patients remotely. Teleconsultations and virtual visits have become integral, providing accessible alternatives to in-person consultations. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is playing a pivotal role in diagnostics, enhancing precision through the analysis of medical imaging and diagnostic tests. In parallel, Digital Health innovations are reshaping patient engagement and health management. Mobile Health Applications empower individuals to actively participate in their well-being, facilitating self-monitoring, medication adherence, and lifestyle modifications. Blockchain technology ensures the security and interoperability of health data, while the Internet of Things (IoT) facilitates continuous data collection through connected devices. Looking forward, the future potential of telemedicine and digital health is promising. Enhanced patient engagement through interactive platforms and virtual communities is anticipated, promoting active participation in healthcare. Predictive analytics, fueled by AI, is poised to enable proactive and preventive care interventions, leveraging large datasets to identify patterns and risk factors. Telemedicine is expected to bridge healthcare disparities by expanding access to specialized care in underserved regions, fostering remote consultations and tele-education initiatives. Furthermore, the integration of Virtual Reality (VR) in therapy is envisioned to transform mental health interventions, rehabilitation, and pain management. The synergy between telemedicine and digital health represents a dynamic evolution in healthcare delivery. The reviewed advances and future potential highlight a trajectory towards a more connected, patient-centric, and efficient healthcare system. Embracing these innovations promises to redefine the future of healthcare, transcending geographical constraints and fostering a holistic approach to well-being.

BackgroundArtificial intelligence (AI) and digital health technological innovations from startup companies used in clinical practice can yield better health outcomes, reduce health care costs, and improve patients' experience. However, the integration, translation, and adoption of these technologies into clinical practice are plagued with many challenges and are lagging. Furthermore, explanations of the impediments to clinical translation are largely unknown and have not been systematically studied from the perspective of AI and digital health care startup founders and executives.ObjectiveThe aim of this paper is to describe the barriers to integrating early-stage technologies in clinical practice and health care systems from the perspectives of digital health and health care AI founders and executives.MethodsA stakeholder focus group workshop was conducted with a sample of 10 early-stage digital health and health care AI founders and executives. Digital health, health care AI, digital health–focused venture capitalists, and physician executives were represented. Using an inductive thematic analysis approach, transcripts were organized, queried, and analyzed for thematic convergence.ResultsWe identified the following four categories of barriers in the integration of early-stage digital health innovations into clinical practice and health care systems: (1) lack of knowledge of health system technology procurement protocols and best practices, (2) demanding regulatory and validation requirements, (3) challenges within the health system technology procurement process, and (4) disadvantages of early-stage digital health companies compared to large technology conglomerates. Recommendations from the study participants were also synthesized to create a road map to mitigate the barriers to integrating early-stage or novel digital health technologies in clinical practice.ConclusionsEarly-stage digital health and health care AI entrepreneurs identified numerous barriers to integrating digital health solutions into clinical practice. Mitigation initiatives should create opportunities for early-stage digital health technology companies and health care providers to interact, develop relationships, and use evidence-based research and best practices during health care technology procurement and evaluation processes.

Digital health technologies can potentially reduce health disparities in cancer care. However, the benefits of digital health technology depend partly on users' digital health literacy, that is, "capabilities and resources required for individuals to use and benefit from digital health resources," which combines health and digital literacy. We examined issues for digital health technology implementation in cancer care regarding digital health literacy, via stakeholder consultation. Consumers, health care professionals, researchers, developers, nongovernment and government/policy stakeholders (N=51) participated in focus groups/interviews discussing barriers, enablers, needs and opportunities for digital health implementation in cancer care. Researchers applied framework analysis to identify themes of digital health literacy in the context of disparity and inclusion. Limited digital and traditional health literacy were identified as barriers to digital technology engagement, with a range of difficulties identified for older, younger and socio-economically or geographically disadvantaged groups. Digital health technology was a potential enabler of health care access and literacy, affording opportunities to increase reach and engagement. Education combined with targeted design and implementation were identified means of addressing health and digital literacy to effectively implement digital health in cancer care. Implementing digital health in cancer care must address the variability of digital health literacy in recipients, including groups living with disadvantage and older and younger people, in order to be effective. SO WHAT?: If cancer outcome disparity is to be reduced via digital health technologies, they must be implemented strategically to address digital health literacy needs. Health policy should reflect this approach.

Digital health and artificial intelligence technologies such as telemedicine, mobile health applications, clinical decision support systems, and predictive analytics are rapidly transforming healthcare delivery across diverse global settings. Although these innovations offer substantial potential to improve efficiency, expand coverage, and enhance clinical outcomes, growing concern remains that they may unintentionally reinforce or worsen existing health inequities affecting underserved populations. Because digital and artificial intelligence health research spans multiple disciplines, this narrative review synthesizes evidence from global health, health equity frameworks, artificial intelligence ethics, and sociotechnical systems to examine how digital transformation shapes equitable health outcomes. The findings show that digital and artificial intelligence tools can improve access to healthcare services, reduce geographic and logistical barriers, and enhance diagnostic accuracy. However, these benefits are not evenly distributed. Persistent disparities related to digital connectivity, affordability, digital literacy, data representation, and algorithmic performance may result in exclusion or harm among marginalized groups. To systematically explain these patterns, this review introduces the Equity Pathways Model, which identifies three interconnected mechanisms through which digital health and artificial intelligence influence equity outcomes. The Access pathway explains how digital tools can reduce traditional barriers to care while simultaneously creating new forms of exclusion linked to technology access and digital skills. The Quality of Care pathway highlights how artificial intelligence systems may enhance clinical decision making but also produce biased or unreliable outcomes for underrepresented populations. The System Structural pathway emphasizes how governance arrangements, political economy, institutional capacity, and sociocultural context shape whether digital innovations mitigate or reinforce structural inequities. Together, these pathways provide a framework for distinguishing digital health and artificial intelligence interventions that enhance equity, those that have neutral effects, and those that exacerbate disparities. The review offers an international perspective and proposes equity by design principles to guide researchers, policymakers, and technology developers in ensuring that digital health and artificial intelligence innovations contribute to the advancement of global health equity, particularly in low resource and underserved settings.

Digital health technologies and health-care privatisation

The capacity to promote and disseminate the best evidence-based practices in terms of digital health innovations and technologies represents an important goal for countries and governments. To support the digital health maturity across countries the Global Digital Health Partnership (GDHP) was established in 2019. The mission of the GDHP is to facilitate global collaboration and knowledge-sharing in the design of digital health services, through the administration of surveys and white papers. The scope of this study is to critically analyze and discuss results from the Evidence and Evaluation GDHP Work Stream's survey, understand how governments and countries intend to address main obstacles to the digital health implementation, identify their strategies for a communication of effective digital health services, and promote the sharing of international based best practices on digital health. This survey followed a cross-sectional study approach. A multiple-choice questionnaire was designed to gather data. Choices were extracted from research publications retrieved through a rapid review. Out of 29 countries receiving the survey, 10 returned it. On a scale from 1 to 5, eHealth systems/platforms (mean = 3.56) were indicated as the most important tool for centralized infrastructure to collect information on digital health, while primary care (mean = 4.0) represented the most voted item for healthcare services to collect information on digital health. Seven Countries out of 10 identified lack of organization, skepticism of clinicians, and accessibility of the population as a barriers to adopt digital health implementation, resulting to be the most voted items. Finally, the most endorsed priorities in digital health for Countries were the adoption of data-driven approaches (6 Countries), and telehealth (5 Countries). This survey highlighted the main tools and obstacles for countries to promote the implementation of evidence-based digital health innovations. Identifying strategies that would communicate the value of health care information technology to healthcare professionals are particularly imperative. Effective communication programs for clinicians and the general population in addition to improved digital health literacy (both for clinicians and citizens) will be the key for the real implementation of future digital health technologies.

Digital health and artificial intelligence innovations for oncology in sub-Saharan Africa.

Introduction: Abuja, Nigeria, has a serious HIV pandemic amid high urban density, with 1.9 million individuals living with HIV. Traditional paper-based surveillance is insufficient for tracking quick transmission, whereas digital methods like electronic reporting, GIS mapping, and AI-driven models allow real-time monitoring and enhanced data accuracy. Yet, constraints like as infrastructure restrictions, interoperability problems, limited human resources, and data security concerns hamper full-scale application. This paper investigates these digital technologies to increase HIV monitoring in Abuja and presents policy suggestions for optimal incorporation into public health policies. Materials and Methods: This research adopted a PRISMA-compliant systematic review to achieve a controlled and exact investigation. Multiple electronic databases including Web of Science, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and Google Scholar were searched using Boolean operators with terms such as "HIV disease surveillance," "digital health innovations," "electronic reporting system," "geospatial mapping," and "AI-driven perspective modelling." Inclusion criteria centred on peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, and book chapters published in English between 2011 and 2021, whereas opinion pieces and research unrelated to the primary emphasis were removed. An initial pool of 1,519 papers was reduced to 1,143 after eliminating duplicates, and additional title, abstract, and full-text evaluations by independent reviewers further restricted the pool to 154 final sources. Data from these studies were retrieved using a standardized pro forma and analyzed by theme and narrative synthesis, with study quality validated via the CASP checklist and MMAT, and inter-rater reliability guaranteed using Cohen’s κ coefficient and consensus discussions. Results: HIV disease surveillance includes the systematic gathering, analysis, and interpretation of data to monitor transmission patterns, assess treatments, and drive public health policy. Traditional approaches in Nigeria such as case reporting, sentinel monitoring, and behavioral surveys have produced useful insights but are sometimes constrained by delayed reporting and inadequate data. The integration of digital health technology, including electronic reporting systems, GIS mapping, and AI-driven predictive modeling, offers real-time monitoring, better accuracy, and more effective resource allocation, particularly in high-density metropolitan areas like Abuja. Despite these developments, problems like as infrastructure restrictions, interoperability issues, and data security concerns remain important impediments. Nigeria’s comprehensive surveillance plan, which includes utilizes integrated biological and behavioral surveys and modern infection testing algorithms, intends to solve these difficulties and increase targeted measures for reducing the HIV pandemic. Discussion: HIV monitoring in Abuja confronts severe problems, including insufficient budget, inadequate access to care for high-risk groups, geographical inequities, fast changing demographics, and fragmented data systems owing to poor stakeholder cooperation. These challenges have typically prevented timely and reliable data gathering, important for successful HIV care. Digital health innovations such as electronic reporting systems, mobile health apps, GIS mapping, and AI-driven analytics offer promise advances by allowing real-time monitoring and increased data accuracy. However, its adoption is limited by infrastructure shortcomings, insufficient digital literacy among healthcare professionals and patients, high prices, and data security issues. To overcome these challenges, strategies such as strengthening data management systems (e.g., using DHIS2), integrating mobile health technologies, building capacity through training, enhancing community engagement, ensuring robust data privacy measures, and securing sustainable financing are proposed. These combined approaches seek to develop a more responsive and effective HIV monitoring system in Abuja, eventually leading to improved public health outcomes. Conclusion: Utilizing digital health technologies gives a unique potential to increase HIV disease monitoring in Abuja. By solving implementation issues and supporting supportive policies, Abuja may establish a more responsive and data-driven HIV monitoring system. Future research and sustained investment in technology-driven solutions will be vital for attaining lasting public health gains in HIV management

The Council for Cardiology Practice of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), in collaboration with the Digital Health Committee (DHC), undertook an electronic survey with 15 question multiple-choice questionnaire sent to 32 461 members of the ESC with the aim to assess the knowledge and usage of digital health (DH) technologies (DHTs) by office-based cardiologists. Of 559 respondents, 57% graded their knowledge about DH as ‘fair’ and three quarters identified the correct definition of DH. Clinical information systems, mHealth Apps, and telemedicine were the most frequently used DHTs, but 41% of respondents had concerns about their ethical and data transparency. Lack of legal clarity, low patient motivation, limited DH literacy, and poor access to DH were perceived as the main barriers to the adoption of DH. Seventy percent of the respondents were aware of the DH pages on the ESC website and 76% of the educational sessions in the DH area during the ESC Congress 2019. Only 16% had not read articles on DH. Eight-eight percent of responders declared that they would ‘probably’ or definitely attend future educational initiatives on DHT.

Has traditional medicine had its day? The need to redefine academic medicine

For nearly two decades, mobile health or (m-Health) was hailed as the most innovative and enabling area for the digital transformation of healthcare globally. However, this profound vision became a fleeting view since the inception and domination of smart phones, and the reorientation of the concept towards the exclusivity of global smart phone application markets and services. The global consumerization of m-Health in numerous disciplines of healthcare, fitness and wellness areas is unprecedented. However, this divergence between ‘mobile health capitalism’ and the ‘science of mobile health’ led to the creation of the ‘m-Health schism’. This schism was sustained by the continued domination of the former on the expense of the latter. This also led to increased global m-Health inequality and divide between the much-perceived health and patient benefits and the markets of m-Health. This divergence was more evident in low and middle income (LMIC) countries compared to the developed world. This powerful yet misguided evolution of the m-Health was driven essentially by complex factors. These are presented in this paper as the ‘known unknowns’ or ‘the obvious but sanctioned facts’ of m-Health. These issues had surreptitiously contributed to this reorientation and the widening schism of m-Health. The collateral damage of this process was the increased shift towards understanding ‘digital health’ as a conjecture term associated with mobile health. However, to date, no clear or scientific views are discussed or analyzed on the actual differences and correlation aspects between digital and mobile health. This particular ‘known unknown’ is presented in detail in order to provide a rapprochement framework of this correlation and valid presentations between the two areas. The framework correlates digital health with the other standard ICT for the healthcare domains of telemedicine, telehealth and e-health. These are also increasingly used in conjunction with digital health, without clear distinctions between these terms and digital health. These critical issues have become timelier and more important to discuss and present, particularly after the world has been caught off guard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The much hyped and the profiteering digital health solutions developed in response of this pandemic provided a modest impact, and the benefits were mostly inadequate in mitigating the massive health, human, and economic impact of this pandemic. This largely commercial reorientation of mobile health was unable not only to predict the severity of the pandemic, but also unable to provide adequate digital tools or effective pre-emptive digital epidemiological shielding and guarding mechanisms against this devastating pandemic. There are many lessons to be learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic from the mobile and digital health perspectives, and lessons must be learnt from the past and to address the critical aspects discussed in this paper for better understanding of mobile health and effective tackling of future global healthcare challenges.

Digital health technologies can potentially increase the efficiency and quality of pediatric palliative care (PPC), yet their use in home-based PPC remains limited. Limited digital health care literacy and inadequate training can reduce confidence and foster negative attitudes, whereas positive experiences and basic digital health care literacy may encourage adoption. This study aims to explore the use of digital health technologies by Norwegian health care personnel in home-based PPC and examine the association between their digital health care literacy and their attitudes toward digital health. A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2023 to May 2024, with an online survey targeting health care personnel involved in home-based PPC through primary or specialist health care services. Data were collected using selected items from the Norwegian Healthcare Personnel Survey on eHealth 2022, the Digital Health Care Literacy Scale (DHLS), and the Information Technology Attitude Scales for Health (ITASH), alongside demographic characteristics. Higher DHLS scores indicate greater digital health care literacy, while higher ITASH scores reflect more positive attitudes toward digital health technologies. Pearson correlation, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to comprehensively explore the relationships and associations among the variables. Health care personnel (n=148) from diverse health care services responded to the survey. Half of the respondents (72/144, 50%) had experience with real-time video consultation, while phone calls were the primary communication method (138/145, 95.2%). Additionally, 55.6% (79/142) of the respondents had limited or minimal access to electronic health records from other health care services. Health care personnel perceived digital health technologies for remote PPC as a supplement (126/135, 93.3%) rather than a replacement for in-person care. Mean digital health care literacy was 18.29 (SD 3.8) on a scale from 0 to 23. On a scale from 1 to 4, the highest recorded scores pertained to attitudes toward digital health technologies in supporting care (mean 3.17, SD 0.39) and the perceived need for training (mean 3.16, SD 0.43). A statistically significant association was found between the respondents' level of digital health care literacy and their attitudes toward digital health technologies in supporting care (β=0.030, 95% CI 0.014-0.047; P<.001). This study examined the use of digital health technologies by Norwegian health care personnel in home-based PPC, their digital health care literacy, and attitudes toward digital health. Despite positive attitudes and high digital health care literacy, use of digital health technologies was limited, suggesting that inadequate digital health solutions may hinder effective implementation. Addressing these barriers is crucial to enhancing the implementation of digital health in home-based PPC. Future research should focus on integrating digital health technologies into existing infrastructure and workflows while exploring their impact on personalized care to ensure high-quality home-based PPC.

No AccessMar 2023How Digital Health Technology Is Transforming Health Care for Older AdultsAuthors/Editors: Gabriel Catan Burlac, Xiaohui HouGabriel Catan BurlacSearch for more papers by this author, Xiaohui HouSearch for more papers by this authorhttps://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1958-2_ch4AboutView ChaptersPDF (0.5 MB) ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareFacebookTwitterLinked In Abstract: Documents how digital health innovations may improve health and well-being for older people, including in lower-income settings. Digital health can transform care for older populations, but many older adults face access gaps. Digital technologies support older people’s health through clinical applications, information integration, and case management applications and by enabling healthier lifestyles. Key digital health access barriers for older people reflect technology design, affordability, and ease of use. A senior-centric design approach can optimize digital technologies for older adult care. Assessing older adults’ preferences, capabilities, and challenges with digital health technology presents a first step for effective policy. To promote older people’s use of digital health, governments and partners can enlist families and caregivers as key allies. Countries can leverage new business models for digital health in older populations, including public-private partnerships, by offering financial incentives and an enabling ecosystem that can foster local start-ups and expand this promising market. Previous chapterNext chapter FiguresreferencesRecommendeddetails View Published: March 2023ISBN: 978-1-4648-1958-2e-ISBN: 978-1-4648-1965-0 Copyright & Permissions Related TopicsHealth Nutrition and PopulationInformation and Communication Technologies KeywordsAGING POPULATIONPRIMARY HEALTH CAREACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICESHEALTH POLICYHEALTH CARE REFORMHEALTH OUTCOMESQUALITY OF HEALTH CAREDIGITAL DEVELOPMENTHEALTH INFORMATIONHEALTH MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMHMISPUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS PDF DownloadLoading ...

BackgroundHealth systems are increasingly looking toward the private sector to provide digital solutions to address health care demands. Innovation in digital health is largely driven by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), yet these companies experience significant barriers to entry, especially in public health systems. Complex and fragmented care models, alongside a myriad of relevant stakeholders (eg, purchasers, providers, and producers of health care products), make developing value propositions for digital solutions highly challenging.ObjectiveThis study aims to identify areas for health system improvement to promote the integration of innovative digital health technologies developed by SMEs.MethodsThis paper qualitatively analyzes a series of case studies to identify health system barriers faced by SMEs developing digital health technologies in Canada and proposed solutions to encourage a more innovative ecosystem. The Women’s College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care established a consultation program for SMEs to help them increase their innovation capacity and take their ideas to market. The consultation involved the SME filling out an onboarding form and review of this information by an expert advisory committee using guided considerations, leading to a recommendation report provided to the SME. This paper reports on the characteristics of 25 SMEs who completed the program and qualitatively analyzed their recommendation reports to identify common barriers to digital health innovation.ResultsA total of 2 central themes were identified, each with 3 subthemes. First, a common barrier to system integration was the lack of formal evaluation, with SMEs having limited resources and opportunities to conduct such an evaluation. Second, the health system’s current structure does not create incentives for clinicians to use digital technologies, which threatens the sustainability of SMEs’ business models. SMEs faced significant challenges in engaging users and payers from the public system due to perverse economic incentives. Physicians are compensated by in-person visits, which actively works against the goals of many digital health solutions of keeping patients out of clinics and hospitals.ConclusionsThere is a significant disconnect between the economic incentives that drive clinical behaviors and the use of digital technologies that would benefit patients’ well-being. To encourage the use of digital health technologies, publicly funded health systems need to dedicate funding for the evaluation of digital solutions and streamlined pathways for clinical integration.