Game-changing trends in the development of digital health tools from physician-centered to patient-centered care

Background and aims: Probably the most important technology trend in digital health is therapid and unprecedented expansion of smartphones. One in four people now owns a smartphoneworldwide. This widespread access to personal computing power is the foundation of digitalhealthcare. Healthcare data from sources such as electronic health records, genetic data and generalhealth, and research and behavioral information are accumulating at an unprecedented rate.This volume of information can only be managed with the help of technology. Patient-centeredapplications are defined as systems that enable a partnership among practitioners, patients, andtheir families to ensure that procedures and decisions respect patients’ needs and preferences. Ongoingadvances in smartphone technology and healthcare apps and devices should expand theirutility for enhancing patient-centered care in the future. The aim of this paper is to evaluate theimpact of digital health tools from physician-centered to patient-centered careMethod: A single case study design was used. The qualitative data consisted of semi-structuredinterviews and library searches, covering the time period ۲۰۱۷–۲۰۲۱. Inclusion criteria includedpeople who had experience working with a digital health application or had used telehealth services.The data were analyzed using conventional content analysis, complemented with documentanalyses.Results: Applications that use artificial intelligence can provide reliable information to“health-conscious people”. These applications lighten the responsibility of general practitionersand hospital accident and emergency departments by enabling the examination of minor ailments.Mobile applications and websites that provide remote consultation and care address the challengesof cost, accessibility, and convenience. Websites that connect people to medical personnel,businesses, and colleagues, facilitate the patient journey and enable access to information andsupport.Conclusion: Our experience shows that digital health can dramatically improve organizationalproductivity and deliver benefits in both patient outcomes and the bottom line, respectively. Thismeans that if the costs of digital healthcare solutions become affordable, digital health can be ananswer to the existing challenges to achieve sustainable growth in developed countries in order toprovide quality, affordable and patient-centered care. However, more research is needed.

کلیدواژه ها:

Artificial intelligence ، digital health ، technology