Person-Centered Care in Digital Health Interventions for Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Chronic Disease Management
• Person-Centered Care (PCC)

Background:

• Digital health interventions are increasingly utilized for person-centered care (PCC) in chronic disease management.
• The specific PCC components supported by digital tools and their impact on outcomes require further clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize evidence on digitally supported PCC for adults with chronic conditions.
• To examine how digital interventions operationalize PCC and their reported clinical, patient-reported, and implementation outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A structured literature synthesis adhering to PRISMA guidelines was performed.
• The review encompassed a diverse evidence base, including randomized trials, pragmatic trials, observational studies, qualitative studies, and systematic reviews.
• The review protocol was pre-registered on OSF Registries.

Main Results:

• Digital solutions consistently supported PCC through enhanced situational awareness (self-monitoring), strengthened partnerships (communication, coaching), and reinforced shared documentation (co-created health plans).
• Benefits were most consistently observed for process and experience outcomes like perceived support, engagement, and empowerment.
• Evidence for sustained clinical improvements was mixed, often limited by short follow-up and variable intervention integration.

Conclusions:

• Digitalization can enhance PCC when integrated into relational care models and workflows that translate patient data into actionable insights.
• Future research should focus on clearer PCC operationalization, extended follow-up periods, routine reporting of equity outcomes, and training for healthcare professionals in digital PCC delivery.