The Challenges of Digital Patient Engagement in Healthcare
Healthcare has become increasingly more digitized over the past decade and it has greatly accelerated since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This shift from more traditional healthcare practices has improved outcomes, yet the implementation of healthcare technology hasn’t met all expectations. Many practices have been met with resistance from patients as they try to navigate the technological world and leverage digital health solutions.
What is Digital Patient Engagement?
Patient engagement entails how well patients engage with all aspects of their healthcare. Digital patient engagement involves patients’ ability to engage with digital healthcare, specifically through accessing their Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and partaking in remote patient monitoring applications, telemedicine and wearable technologies.
This autonomy is essential for digital health to reach its full potential and in creating a more personalized approach. The importance of digital healthcare also lies within the opportunity for enhanced care experiences while helping to contain spiraling healthcare costs. But, why are practitioners and patients alike finding it difficult to fully integrate digital healthcare?
Challenges of Digital Patient Engagement
Lack of Motivation and Information
Patient resistance to digital health can stem from a lack of motivation as well as a lack of information from healthcare providers. Digital health requires active participation from patients, and they may be less motivated to use remote monitoring devices or applications because of a fear of not receiving the same quality of care. A lack of trust of technological systems and privacy and security measures may also be present, especially for senior patients.
In short, patients need to be provided with extensive information on how to go about using digital health tools such as smartphone applications, EHR patient web portals and personal health monitoring devices. This information can range from reassurance about technologies that are being recommended, to clear instructions on how to install and use mobile health applications, user authentication, and wearable monitoring devices. Practitioners also need to be trained to help patients implement these technologies with ease and confidence.
Difficult User Interface Design
From a patient perspective, simple and clear user experience and interface design make or break most digital health technologies. Levels of digital literacy can vary, meaning that not everyone has the same ability to navigate and communicate information in digital forms. Interfaces need to be tailored to each specific demographic, with aspects such as font size and single use login systems kept in mind for senior patients, for example.
Researching how patients react to different healthcare technologies can make a huge difference in how they are designed. Evidence-based mobile health applications, where patient focus groups participate in application design, are far more likely to be successful. Practitioners and stakeholders should also be involved in the early stages of digital health product development in order for the product’s focus to be on what really matters to produce positive patient engagement and health outcomes.
The Solution
With the implementation of practitioner training programs, as well as the distribution of key information to patients, motivation and trust can be increased. Digital health can then continue to make healthcare more comprehensive, personalized, and efficacious. Tailored user interfaces which take into account target patient demographics also greatly improve the effectiveness and engagement related to patient-focused digital health solutions.
SRG’s Digital Approach
SRG works closely with our customer partners to design and implement optimal user experience to enhance user digital engagement. We have also worked with third-party consulting organizations that specialize in designing for patient digital engagement. SRG leverages deep and contemporary experience in the development of digital health and care management applications, which are focused on patients, clinicians, and healthcare stakeholders.
