From Solution Traps to Solution Patchwork: Easing Tensions in Designing Digital Health in the Global Context

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Digital Health
• Sociotechnical Systems

Background:

• Digital technologies have significantly advanced health management and delivery, increasing consumer access to health tools and data.
• Despite advancements, a gap persists between the potential of digital health and its integration into everyday clinical practice due to adoption barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the overlooked problem of incompatible coexisting solutions in complex sociotechnical contexts within medical informatics.
• To conceptualize the "solution trap" and propose "solution patchwork" as a pragmatic approach to navigate these challenges.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of medical informatics and design-oriented research approaches.
• Identification and problematization of underlying assumptions leading to the "solution trap".

Main Results:

• The "solution trap" occurs when new solutions are introduced without considering existing ones, creating tensions in sociotechnical practices.
• "Solution patchwork" is proposed as a coordination strategy to integrate new artifacts into established practices for system compatibility.

Conclusions:

• A nuanced understanding of context unevenness is crucial for successful digital health implementation.
• Solution patchwork sensitizes researchers and designers to navigate complex health system landscapes, promoting broader adoption of digital health tools.