User experiences and perceptions on the use of digital health technologies in the management of type 2 diabetes: an integrative systematic review.

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.

BackgroundDigital health technologies are increasingly used by healthcare professionals working in pediatric hospital and rehabilitation settings. Multiple factors may affect the implementation and use of digital health technologies in these settings. However, such factors have not been identified in a multidisciplinary, pediatric context. The objective of this study was to describe actual use and to identify the factors that promote or hinder the intention to use digital health technologies (mobile learning applications, virtual/augmented reality, serious games, robotic devices, telehealth applications, computerized assessment tools, and wearables) among pediatric healthcare professionals.MethodsAn online survey evaluating opinions, current use, and future intentions to use digital health technologies was completed by 108 professionals at one of Canada’s largest pediatric institutes. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare the attitudes of healthcare professionals who intend to increase their use of digital health technologies and those who do not. Linear regression analyses were used to determine predictors of usage success.ResultsHealthcare professionals reported mostly using mobile and tablet learning applications (n = 43, 38.1%), telehealth applications (n = 49, 43.4%), and computerized assessment tools (n = 33, 29.2%). Attitudes promoting the intention to increase the use of digital health technologies varied according to technology type. Healthcare professionals who wished to increase their use of digital health technologies reported a more positive attitude regarding benefits in clinical practice and patient care, but were also more critical of potential negative impacts on patient-professional relationships. Ease of use (β = 0.374; p = 0.020) was a significant predictor of more favorable usage success. The range of obstacles encountered was also a significant predictor (β = 0.342; p = 0.032) of less favorable evaluation of usage success. Specific factors that hinder successful usage are lack of training (β = 0.303; p = 0.033) and inadequate infrastructure (β = 0.342; p = 0.032).ConclusionsWhen working with children, incorporating digital health technologies can be effective for motivation and adherence. However, it is crucial to ensure these tools are implemented properly. The findings of this study underscore the importance of addressing training and infrastructure needs when elaborating technology-specific strategies for multidisciplinary adoption of digital health technologies in pediatric settings.

BackgroundDespite the benefits of digital health technology use, older adults with cancer (ie, aged 65 years) have reported challenges to technology adoption. However, there has been a lack of a good understanding of their digital health technology use patterns and the associated influential factors in the past few years.ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the trends in and factors associated with digital health technology use among older adults with cancer.MethodsThe National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) data set is a national longitudinal cohort study with annual survey waves of Medicare beneficiaries 65 years and older. Participants were community-dwelling older adults who self-reported previous or current cancer diagnoses in each round. The study sample size of each round ranged from 1996 (2015) to 1131 (2021). Digital health technology use was defined as using the internet or online in the last month to order or refill prescriptions, contact medical providers, handle Medicare or other insurance matters, or get information about their health conditions. The association of sociodemographics, clinical factors (self-rated health, chronic conditions, difficulties in activities of daily living, dementia, anxiety, and depression), and physical function (Short Physical Performance Battery and grip strength) with digital health technology use was examined using design-based logistic regression. All statistical analyses accounted for the complex sample design.ResultsThe prevalence of any digital health technology use increased from 36% in 2015 to 45% in 2019. In 2020-2021, which was amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it ranged from 51% to 52%. In terms of each digital health technology use behavior, in 2015, overall, 28% of older cancer survivors used digital health technology to obtain health information, followed by contacting clinicians (19%), filling prescriptions (14%), and handling insurance (11%). Greater use of digital health technology was associated with younger age, being White, having a college or higher education, having a higher income, having more comorbidities, nondementia, and having a higher gait speed.ConclusionsDigital health technology use in older adults with cancer has gradually increased, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, socioeconomic and racial disparities have remained in older cancer survivors. Additionally, older adults with cancer may have some unique features associated with digital health technology use; for example, their use of digital health may be increased by their comorbidities (ie, health care needs) and reduced by their frailty.

Digital health interventions for COVID-19 in China: a retrospective analysis

The use of digital technologies within health care rapidly increased as services transferred to web-based platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inequalities in digital health across the domains of equity are not routinely examined; yet, the long-term integration of digitally delivered services needs to consider such inequalities to ensure equitable benefits. This scoping review aimed to map inequities in access, use, and engagement with digital health technologies across equity domains. We searched 4 electronic databases (MEDLINE, ASSIA, PsycINFO, and Scopus) for quantitative and mixed methods reviews and meta-analyses published between January 2016 and May 2022. Reviews were limited to those that included studies from the World Health Organization's European region. Extracted data were mapped against Cochrane's PROGRESS PLUS (place of residence, race, ethnicity, culture, and language, occupation, gender and sex, religion, education, socioeconomic status, social capital, and other characteristics) dimensions of equity. In total, 404 unique citations were identified from the searches, and 2 citations were identified from other sources. After eligibility assessment, 22 reviews were included. Consistent evidence was found showing higher access to digital health technologies among patients who were of White ethnicity, were English speaking, and had no disability. There were no reviews that explored differences in access to digital health care by age, gender and sex, occupation, education, or homeless or substance misuse. Higher use of digital health technologies was observed among populations that were White, English speaking, younger, with a higher level of education, of higher economic status, and residents in urban areas. No clear evidence of differences in the use of digital technologies by occupation, gender and sex, disability, or homeless or substance misuse was found, nor was clear evidence found in the included reviews on inequalities in the engagement with digital technologies. Finally, no reviews were identified that explored differences by place of residence. Despite awareness of the potential impact of inequalities in digital health, there are important evidence gaps across multiple equity domains. The development of a common framework for evaluating digital health equity in new health initiatives and consistency in reporting findings is needed.

The use of digital technology amongst people living with a range of long-term health conditions to support self-management has increased dramatically. More recently, digital health technologies to share and exchange personal health data with others have been investigated. Sharing personal health data with others is not without its risks: sharing data creates threats to the privacy and security of personal data and plays a role in trust, adoption and continued use of digital health technology. Our work aims to inform the design of these digital health technologies by investigating the reported intentions of sharing health data with others, the associated user experiences when using these digital health technologies and the trust, identity, privacy and security (TIPS) considerations for designing digital health technologies that support the trusted sharing of personal health data to support the self-management of long-term health conditions. To address these aims, we conducted a scoping review, analysing over 12,000 papers in the area of digital health technologies. We conducted a reflexive thematic analysis of 17 papers that described digital health technologies that support sharing of personal health data, and extracted design implications that could enhance the future development of trusted, private and secure digital health technologies.

The development and use of digital health technology have increased during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital tools have been increasingly used to diagnose and screen for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Digital technology, in the form of mobile phone applications (apps), has been adopted by several countries to track infected individuals as infection prevention and surveillance measures. Global best practice guidelines, technology approvals, and patient care models have only recently begun to catch up with the developments in digital technology. In 2021, the WHO published a global strategy on digital health (eHealth) and mobile health (mHealth) for 2020 to 2025. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) now evaluates software as a medical device (SaMD) and software that is in a medical device (SiMD) through the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF). This Editorial aims to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has driven global initiatives to support the use and regulation of digital health technology and the requirements for digital health evidence frameworks and new approaches to regulatory approvals.

Digital technology for delivering and monitoring exercise programs for people with cystic fibrosis.

Compassionate nursing care and the use of digital health technologies: A scoping review

BackgroundNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of communicable diseases that principally impact the world’s poorest people. The use of digital health technologies is an emerging and promising way to improve disease prevention, diagnosis, case detection, treatment delivery, and patient follow-up and facilitating health facility appointments thereby improving health outcomes. While the growing implementation of digital health technologies is evident, there is a lack of comprehensive evidence on the impact of digital health technologies in the control of NTDs. The main objective of this review was to map different pieces of evidence on the use of digital health technologies for case detection, management, and treatment outcome of the neglected tropical diseases.MethodsWe conducted a scoping review guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. The studies were searched using electronic databases like MEDLINE (PubMed), Science Direct, Cochrane Library, and manual searching engines. Two authors extracted the data and compared the results. Discrepancies were resolved by discussion or the third reviewer made the decision. We produced the distribution of geographical locations, residents (setting), types of publications, and digital health technologies used on neglected tropical diseases using tables and graphs.FindingsA total of 996 potentially relevant studies were generated from the initial search, and six studies were found to satisfy all the inclusion criteria and included in the final review. The review found that telehealth, eHealth, mHealth, telemedicine, and electronic health record were used digital health technologies to assess their impact on case detection, disease management, and treatment outcome of neglected tropical diseases. Mobile health was a feasible digital health technology for lymphatic filariasis patient identification and mHealth, eHealth, and electronic health records found to improve the service access, outcomes, and monitoring of visceral leishmaniasis at the community health system.ConclusionThe scoping review identified that there were limited studies to see the impact of digital health technologies on case detection, management, and treatment outcomes for neglected tropical diseases. We also found that digital health technologies like ehealth, electronic medical linkage, telemed, and telehealth were practicable for patient identification, for treatment and diagnosis through contact with health professionals and teleconsultation, and support in improving health service delivery at the community-health system for managing the disease in both rural and urban settings.

BackgroundA rapidly aging population, a shifting disease burden and the ongoing threat of infectious disease outbreaks pose major concerns for Vietnam’s health care system. Health disparities are evident in many parts of the country, especially in rural areas, and the population faces inequitable access to patient-centered health care. Vietnam must therefore explore and implement advanced solutions to the provision of patient-centered care, with a view to reducing pressures on the health care system simultaneously. The use of digital health technologies (DHTs) may be one of these solutions.ObjectiveThis study aimed to identify the application of DHTs to support the provision of patient-centered care in low- and middle-income countries in the Asia-Pacific region (APR) and to draw lessons for Vietnam.MethodsA scoping review was undertaken. Systematic searches of 7 databases were conducted in January 2022 to identify publications on DHTs and patient-centered care in the APR. Thematic analysis was conducted, and DHTs were classified using the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence evidence standards framework for DHTs (tiers A, B, and C). Reporting was in line with the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines.ResultsOf the 264 publications identified, 45 (17%) met the inclusion criteria. The majority of the DHTs were classified as tier C (15/33, 45%), followed by tier B (14/33, 42%) and tier A (4/33, 12%). At an individual level, DHTs increased accessibility of health care and health-related information, supported individuals in self-management, and led to improvements in clinical and quality-of-life outcomes. At a systems level, DHTs supported patient-centered outcomes by increasing efficiency, reducing strain on health care resources, and supporting patient-centered clinical practice. The most frequently reported enablers for the use of DHTs for patient-centered care included alignment of DHTs with users’ individual needs, ease of use, availability of direct support from health care professionals, provision of technical support as well as user education and training, appropriate governance of privacy and security, and cross-sectorial collaboration. Common barriers included low user literacy and digital literacy, limited user access to DHT infrastructure, and a lack of policies and protocols to guide the implementation and use of DHTs.ConclusionsThe use of DHTs is a viable option to increase equitable access to quality, patient-centered care across Vietnam and simultaneously reduce pressures on the health care system. Vietnam can take advantage of the lessons learned by other low- and middle-income countries in the APR when developing a national road map to digital health transformation. Recommendations that Vietnamese policy makers may consider include emphasizing stakeholder engagement, strengthening digital literacy, supporting the improvement of DHT infrastructure, increasing cross-sectorial collaboration, strengthening governance of cybersecurity, and leading the way in DHT uptake.

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.

Even though Germany is an industrialised country, health inequalities exist between individuals or population groups due to unequal access to scarce social resources such as money or knowledge. This case study illustrates the extent of the digital divide in access and use of digital health technologies. Data from the Liter@te study, in which 96 adults aged 18-64 years with low reading and writing skills living in Germany were asked about their digital health technology use and their digital health literacy, were compared with two parallel conducted population surveys in Germany (i.e., nationwide telephone survey on digitalisation and health with 1020 internet users aged 18 years and above, online survey on digitalisation in health care with 1839 adults aged 18-80 years insured at a statutory health insurance company). Adults with low reading and writing skills used digital devices in the health context such as computers (23% vs. 71%) or activity trackers (21% vs. 35%) less frequently than the general population, whereas no differences were reported in the use of smartphones (79% vs. 70%). In addition, 18% of adults with low reading and writing skills and 4% of the general population stated that they do not use digital health technologies. Other digital health technologies such as online appointment scheduling (25% vs. 81%) or health websites (32% vs. 45%) were also used less frequently by adults with low reading and writing skills compared to the general population. Participants in the Liter@te study who do not use digital health technologies reported more frequent access problems (e.g., no suitable device, technical problems, poor internet connection) than participants in the population survey. 35% of participants in the Liter@te study have a low digital health literacy (eHEALS score between 8-19/40 points), compared to only 8% in the population survey.

The use of digital health technologies could offer promising ways for sustainable health opportunities. However, the accessibility and use of such technologies differs between groups in society. Previous research indicates that differences in people’s socioeconomic position are associated with the degree to which they have access to and use digital health technology. Inequality in socioeconomic position is often operationalised as differences in economic capital. A more comprehensive definition of inequality that also encompasses differences in social, cultural and person capital provides a richer understanding of the interplay between inequality and the accessibility and use of digital health technology. In this paper we provide a theoretical rationale for the examination of access and use of digital health technology from a social inequality perspective. Specifically, we examine how variations in multiple types of capital may affect one of the leading models on the use of health technology (the UTAUT model) and its predictors. By doing so, we discuss the model in light of social inequalities and aim to contribute to bridging the gap between the literature on the acceptance and use of digital health technology, the digital divide, and social inequality.

ObjectivesTo examine the association between physicians’ use of digital health technology and their job satisfaction and work–life balance.DesignA cross-sectional nationally representative survey of physicians and probit regression models were used...