KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Digital health technology has the capacity to greatly improve outcomes for patients, but several barriers must be overcome before its full potential is unlocked.
- Early and consistent patient engagement is critical for developing digital health solutions that meet patient’s needs and preferences.
Digital health is recognised by the WHO as an essential strategy for improving health outcomes, yet significant challenges exist that limit its adoption. In a recent commentary in Therapeutic Innovation & Regulatory Science, Popa et al highlight the clear unmet need for digital health solutions designed with patients for patients.
There is a clear unmet need for digital health solutions designed with patients for patients.
Barriers to delivering digital health solutions that truly meet patients’ needs
The group identified several barriers that stand in the way of digital health solutions fulfilling their potential to improve health outcomes:
- Low patient engagement. Many developers do not appreciate the value of adopting a patient-centric approach early and throughout development, with patient involvement often limited to beta-testing during later stages, and digital health solutions not reflecting patients’ needs.
- Fragmentation. Siloed initiatives developed by large numbers of stakeholders (not necessarily including patients) have created a complex, disconnected digital landscape.
- Inefficient regulation. Traditional regulatory systems lack the agility to effectively process fast-paced digital development.
- Poor data transparency. Poor transparency around data sharing contributes to mistrust and reduced adoption of digital health solutions by patients.
- No best practice. Lack of process for best practice sharing or formal validation has led to digital health solutions that are not properly vetted to match patients’ needs.
- Poor education. Insufficient patient education has led to reduced understanding among patients of how to access and engage with digital healthcare solutions.
Engaging patients to break down barriers in digital health development
The authors propose a strategy that places patient engagement at the heart of digital health development, as decision-making partners throughout the life cycle of digital health initiatives. They predict that this has the power to:
- facilitate a more cohesive digital landscape following improved co-operation between developers and patients;
- speed up regulation, with patient co-designers serving as integrators between digital and traditional regulatory processes;
- improve data transparency by involving patient co-designers in data management plans that include FAIR and encourage data sharing;
- deliver products that truly match patients’ needs;
- enhance patient education through identification of relevant modes of communication.
Popa et al call for “early, meaningful, and sustained engagement” between digital developers and patients to ensure digital health solutions are aligned with patients’ needs and improve health outcomes.
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