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General Practitioners' Perspective on eHealth and Lifestyle Change: Qualitative Interview Study
Carl Joakim Brandt1,2, Gabrielle Isidora Søgaard1, Jane Clemensen2,3
1Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
JMIR Mhealth and Uhealth
|April 19, 2018
Summary
General practitioners (GPs) use electronic health (eHealth) frequently for personal lifestyle support but infrequently for patients. GPs are ready to integrate eHealth for patient lifestyle changes if optimized for clinical workflows.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- General Practice
- Lifestyle Medicine
Background:
- Increasing use of wearables and apps for lifestyle management.
- General practitioners (GPs) in Denmark utilize digital health records and eHealth consultations daily.
- Need to explore GP perceptions of eHealth for lifestyle support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate GPs' views on eHealth devices and apps.
- To understand the role of eHealth in supporting patient and self-lifestyle behavior.
- To explore current and future applications of eHealth in general practice.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative, semistructured interviews with 10 GPs in Southern Denmark.
- Explored GPs' use of eHealth/mHealth for lifestyle challenges in patients and themselves.
- Investigated current treatment of lifestyle-challenged patients and future eHealth potential.
Main Results:
- All interviewed GPs use smartphones/tablets and communicate with patients via eHealth daily.
- Identified three key themes: eHealth use for patients, GPs' personal eHealth/lifestyle experience, and coaching techniques for eHealth.
- GPs utilize eHealth more for personal lifestyle improvement than for patient support.
Conclusions:
- GPs frequently use eHealth for personal benefit but infrequently for patient care.
- GPs are receptive to using behavioral change techniques within eHealth, provided it optimizes, not hinders, treatment.
- Future implementation requires GP education and recognition of patient eHealth capabilities and preferences for healthy living.