On Digital Health Research Priorities

From Telemedicine to Telehealth

Abstract

The present-day digital health grew out of telemedicine developed for the provision of health services to patients in remote locations (e.g., seafarers, astronauts). The great potential of the digital and remote services was soon noticed, and technological developments followed, accelerating rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The easing of the pandemic is a moment for a reassessment and an interdisciplinary reflection on the progress in digital health. Several researchers addressed the barriers and facilitators for the adoption of digital health solutions. The research on AI developments in the processing of big clinical databases is featured in numerous scientific publications. However, the big data approach may have de-emphasised the research on individual care paths of patients. Therefore, it seems a priority to refocus again on patients’ individual paths and outcomes. This may entail more interdisciplinary research on the legal aspects of data privacy protection

The telehealth services changed the degree of social presence in patient-provider interactions, and thus affected the social contract which was the pillar of therapeutic encounters. Many researchers are pointing in the direction of patient satisfaction as a key factor affecting the adoption of digital solutions [1]. Hence the next priority is the research on digital solutions and care management procedures that would improve patients’ acceptance and satisfaction. Considering the shortage of medical practitioners, also more research is needed on the integrated care systems and the involvement of more groups of medical and care specialists.

The key groups of stakeholders’ shaping the landscape of digital health are venture capitalists, digital health companies, payers, and health care system providers or leaders. Their priorities and goals need to be aligned for the digital transformation to become fully adopted in health care systems [2]. The cross-sectional research involving various groups of stakeholders in digital health is yet another priority.