Digitally engaged physicians about the digital health transition

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Medical Informatics
• Physician-Patient Relationship

Background:

• Digitalization impacts 90% of healthcare, bringing cultural and social changes.
• Digital health reshapes physician and patient roles and their relationship.
• Increased chronic patients and life expectancy challenge the medical workforce.

Purpose of the Study:

• Explore digitally engaged physicians' knowledge and attitudes toward digital health.
• Investigate perceptions of digital health technologies' impact on the doctor-patient relationship.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 11 physicians from 9 countries.
• Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to analyze interview data.
• Identified themes: past experiences, present challenges, doctor-patient relationship, and future competencies.

Main Results:

• Physicians believe digital health can deepen the doctor-patient relationship by creating more involved patients.
• Future physicians may act as guides through digital health information.
• Current digital transition benefits patients more than physicians.

Conclusions:

• Digitally engaged physicians show enthusiasm for digital opportunities alongside awareness of associated difficulties.
• The study highlights a dichotomy in physicians' experiences with digital health.