Digital health interventions
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Digital healthcare interventions or digital health interventions, commonly referenced as DHIs in scientific articles, have emerged as a new solution in healthcare to improve health outcomes, enhance healthcare delivery, and empower patients [1]. These interventions may utilise various digital technologies and applications targeting several health-related subjects. DHIs represent a broad spectrum of tools and services that use information and communication technologies to support and enhance healthcare delivery. DHIs have many similarities with computer-assisted interventions, although, in general lines, DHIs have a stronger emphasis on patient autonomy.
DHIs have a wide range of applications across various aspects of healthcare:
- Self-management tools: applications and platforms that help patients manage chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension [2].
- Self-education and health promotion tools: educational material designed to leverage the population's knowledge regarding one specific health topic and promote healthy behaviours.
- Digital therapeutics: Software-based interventions designed to prevent, manage, or treat medical disorders.
Digital healthcare interventions have shown the potential to:
- Improve access to healthcare services, especially in underserved areas.
- Reduce healthcare costs through improved efficiency and prevention.
- Empower patients to take a more active role in their health management.
- Facilitate more personalised medical treatments.
While DHIs offer significant benefits, there are also challenges to consider. The digital divide is one of the most common ones, and it concerns disparities in access to technology and digital literacy. Data privacy and security are another issue, as protecting sensitive health information may be challenging and subject to changes in laws and governmental regulations.
Digital health interventions represent a rapidly evolving field with the potential to revolutionise healthcare delivery and improve health outcomes. As technology advances, the integration of DHIs into mainstream healthcare practices will likely accelerate, offering new opportunities for innovation and improved patient care.