Transforming the Patient-Provider Relationship Through Digitalized Peer Support in Japan

The recent explosion in online dissemination of health-related information, and its availability to more and more people around the world, has led to a situation in which both healthcare providers and patients are accepting new roles. This paper examines the transformations toward new roles for healthcare professionals and patients, with a focus on Japan, based on the assumption that one of the driving forces accelerating these changes may be the digitalization of patient peer support. The methods used in this study were: 1) questionnaires and interviews with patients and healthcare providers asking about their participation in peer support and the effectiveness of its implementation; and 2) observations, questionnaires, and interviews with three patient groups about the experience of digitalizing peer support (via implementation of peer support in a virtual reality space). Analysis of the data showed that peer support by patient groups has both challenges and benefits, and that peer support in virtual spaces has certain positive effects. The empowerment of patients through digitalized peer support is transforming the relationship between healthcare providers and patients, changing it from a traditional asymmetrical relationship (in which the healthcare professionals are in a dominant position) to a cooperative relationship on a more equal footing.