Empowering Patients One App at a Time: An Introduction to Digital Therapeutics

Area of Science:

• Digital health innovations
• Evidence-based interventions

Background:

• The digital health market is expanding with app-based solutions.
• Many commercial solutions lack therapeutic validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore digital therapeutics (DTx) as a distinct category of digital health solutions.
• To inform medical and health science librarians about DTx.
• To guide librarians in identifying high-quality, evidence-based DTx for patrons.

Main Methods:

• Exploration of the definition and characteristics of DTx.
• Analysis of the regulatory status (FDA-cleared) differentiating DTx.
• Review of common DTx types and their applications.

Main Results:

• DTx are defined as evidence-based and FDA-cleared digital interventions.
• DTx are distinguished from general health apps by their therapeutic claims and regulatory approval.
• Understanding DTx qualifications, types, and use cases is crucial for effective patron guidance.

Conclusions:

• Medical and health science librarians play a vital role in navigating the digital health landscape.
• Recognizing DTx enables librarians to connect patrons with validated therapeutic tools.
• DTx represent a growing area of digital health with significant potential for patient care.