Empowering Patients Through Digital Technologies

Author(s):  
Cristina Trocin ◽  
Enrica Croda

Mobile health initiatives aim to give patients more medical information and to empower them over their medical treatments. However, information overload and lack of digital literacy may hinder patient empowerment. This chapter investigates opportunities and challenges of patient empowerment and mobile health. The authors analyze the different definitions used in the literature to characterize patient empowerment and mobile health, discussing implications for all the care actors involved. Although the adoption rate of mobile technologies is at its infant stage and challenges still outweigh the benefits of patient empowerment, mobile health apps can foster the progress towards patient-centered care.

Author(s):  
Cristina Trocin ◽  
Enrica Croda

Mobile health initiatives aim to give patients more medical information and to empower them over their medical treatments. However, information overload and lack of digital literacy may hinder patient empowerment. This chapter investigates opportunities and challenges of patient empowerment and mobile health. The authors analyze the different definitions used in the literature to characterize patient empowerment and mobile health, discussing implications for all the care actors involved. Although the adoption rate of mobile technologies is at its infant stage and challenges still outweigh the benefits of patient empowerment, mobile health apps can foster the progress towards patient-centered care.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying-Li Lee ◽  
Yan-Yan Cui ◽  
Ming-Hsiang Tu ◽  
Yu-Chi Chen ◽  
Polun Chang

BACKGROUND Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health problem with a high economic burden, which is particularly prevalent in Taiwan. Mobile health apps have been widely used to maintain continuity of patient care for various chronic diseases. To slow the progression of CKD, continuity of care is vital for patients’ self-management and cooperation with health care professionals. However, the literature provides a limited understanding of the use of mobile health apps to maintain continuity of patient-centered care for CKD. OBJECTIVE This study identified apps related to the continuity of patient-centered care for CKD on the App Store, Google Play, and 360 Mobile Assistant, and explored the information and frequency of changes in these apps available to the public on different platforms. App functionalities, like patient self-management and patient management support for health care professionals, were also examined. METHODS We used the CKD-related keywords “kidney,” “renal,” “nephro,” “chronic kidney disease,” “CKD,” and “kidney disease” in traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, and English to search 3 app platforms: App Store, Google Play, and 360 Mobile Assistant. A total of 2 reviewers reached consensus on coding guidelines and coded the contents and functionalities of the apps through content analysis. After coding, Microsoft Office Excel 2016 was used to calculate Cohen kappa coefficients and analyze the contents and functionalities of the apps. RESULTS A total of 177 apps related to patient-centered care for CKD in any language were included. On the basis of their functionality and content, 67 apps were recommended for patients. Among them, the most common functionalities were CKD information and CKD self-management (38/67, 57%), e-consultation (17/67, 25%), CKD nutrition education (16/67, 24%), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculators (13/67, 19%). In addition, 67 apps were recommended for health care professionals. The most common functionalities of these apps were comprehensive clinical calculators (including eGFR; 30/67; 45%), CKD medical professional information (16/67, 24%), stand-alone eGFR calculators (14/67, 21%), and CKD clinical decision support (14/67, 21%). A total of 43 apps with single- or multiple-indicator calculators were found to be suitable for health care professionals and patients. The aspects of patient care apps intended to support self-management of CKD patients were encouraging patients to actively participate in health care (92/110, 83.6%), recognizing and effectively responding to symptoms (56/110, 50.9%), and disease-specific knowledge (53/110, 48.2%). Only 13 apps contained consulting management functions, patient management functions or teleconsultation functions designed to support health care professionals in CKD patient management. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed that the continuity of patient-centered care for CKD provided by mobile health apps is inadequate for both CKD self-management by patients and patient care support for health care professionals. More comprehensive solutions are required to enhance the continuity of patient-centered care for CKD.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 567-570
Author(s):  
Radost Assenova ◽  
Levena Kireva ◽  
Gergana Foreva

Introduction: The European definition of WONCA of general practice introduces the determinant elements of person-centered care regarding four important, interrelated characteristics: continuity of care, patient "empowerment", patient-centred approach, and doctor-patient relationship. The application of person-centred care in general practice refers to the GP's ability to master the patient-centered approach when working with patients and their problems in the respective context; use the general practice consultation to develop an effective doctor–patient relationship, with respect to patient’s autonomy; communicate, set priorities and establish a partnership when solving health problems; provide long-lasting care tailored to the needs of the patient and coordinate overall patient care. This means that GPs are expected to develop their knowledge and skills to use this key competence. Aim: The aim of this study is to make a preliminary assessment of the knowledge and attitudes of general practitioners regarding person-centered care. Material and methods: The opinion of 54 GPs was investigated through an original questionnaire, including closed questions, with more than one answer. The study involved each GP who has agreed to take part in organised training in person-centered care. The results were processed through the SPSS 17.0 version using descriptive statistics. Results: The distribution of respondents according to their sex is predominantly female - 34 (62.9%). It was found that GPs investigated by us highly appreciate the patient's ability to take responsibility, noting that it is important for them to communicate and establish a partnership with the patient - 37 (68.5%). One third of the respondents 34 (62.9%) stated the need to use the GP consultation to establish an effective doctor-patient relationship. The adoption of the patient-centered approach at work is important to 24 (44.4%) GPs. Provision of long-term care has been considered by 19 (35,2%). From the possible benefits of implementing person-centered care, GPs have indicated achieving more effective health outcomes in the first place - 46 (85.2%). Conclusion: Family doctors are aware of the elements of person-centered care, but in order to validate and fully implement this competence model, targeted GP training is required.


2020 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Timmermans

The patient–doctor interaction has changed profoundly in the past decades. In reaction to paternalistic communication patterns, health policy makers have advocated for patient-centered care and shared decision-making. Although these models of medical communication remain still aspirational, patients have become more engaged in advocating for their own health in encounters with physicians. I argue that the engaged patient is a more accurate conceptualization of the changing role of the patient than patient consumerism, the empowered, or expert patient. I examine how the emergence of engaged patients influences the autonomy of health professionals, relates to the rise of the internet as an alternative source of medical information, centers the role of the patient–doctor interaction in public health epidemics, and contributes to health inequities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 976-980
Author(s):  
Madison Milne-Ives ◽  
Michelle Helena van Velthoven ◽  
Edward Meinert

Abstract The use of real-world evidence for health care research and evaluation is growing. Mobile health apps have often-overlooked potential to contribute valuable real-world data that are not captured by other sources and could provide data that are more cost-effective and generalizable than can randomized controlled trials. However, there are several challenges that must be overcome to realize the potential value of patient-used mobile health app real-world data, including data quality, motivation for long-term use, privacy and security, methods of analysis, and standardization and integration. Addressing these challenges will increase the value of data from mobile health apps to inform real-world evidence and improve patient empowerment, clinical management, disease research, and treatment development.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Chad Amato ◽  
Zain Sayeed ◽  
Mark Lane ◽  
Muhammad T. Padela ◽  
Enrique Feria-Arias ◽  
...  

Population health is a concept that emerged from the desire of providers to care for patients in a manner that produces the best possible outcomes while minimizing cost. It may be defined as the study of medical data of large groups of people in order to recognize and investigate patterns. This information is then used to create disease management guidelines that streamline care and regulate practice patterns. Whereas population health looks to recognize commonalities in data, the concept of patient-centered care focuses on embracing individualization and increasing the involvement of each patient within their treatment planning. Combining both perspectives creates a challenge for providers and patients to strike the proper balance between adhering to standardized guidelines based on the treatment methods and outcomes recognized in populations and applying it clinically to individual patients. A significant contribution of population health studies is the identification of risk factors associated with increased rates of complications following total joint arthroplasty as well as preventative measures for conditions such as osteoarthritis. However, to employ these findings in a patient-centered manner orthopaedic surgeons must take this a step further and also evaluate a patient’s ability to adhere to the recommendations by exploring factors such as home environment and socioeconomic factors, thus proactively addressing issues that could hinder patient compliance. With focused collection methods of acquiring data, these two practices of care will hopefully begin to see less divergence when it comes to applying data derived from population health initiatives to individual patients in a patient-centered manner.


2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (01) ◽  
pp. 137-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Bamidis ◽  
C. Bond ◽  
E. Gabarron ◽  
M. Househ ◽  
A. Y. S. Lau ◽  
...  

Summary Objective: Social media, web and mobile technologies are increasingly used in healthcare and directly support patient-centered care. Patients benefit from disease self-management tools, contact to others, and closer monitoring. Researchers study drug efficiency, or recruit patients for clinical studies via these technologies. However, low communication barriers in social-media, limited privacy and security issues lead to problems from an ethical perspective. This paper summarizes the ethical issues to be considered when social media is exploited in healthcare contexts. Methods: Starting from our experiences in social-media research, we collected ethical issues for selected social-media use cases in the context of patient-centered care. Results were enriched by collecting and analyzing relevant literature and were discussed and interpreted by members of the IMIA Social Media Working Group. Results: Most relevant issues in social-media applications are confidence and privacy that need to be carefully preserved. The patient-physician relationship can suffer from the new information gain on both sides since private information of both healthcare provider and consumer may be accessible through the Internet. Physicians need to ensure they keep the borders between private and professional intact. Beyond, preserving patient anonymity when citing Internet content is crucial for research studies. Conclusion: Exploiting medical social-media in healthcare applications requires a careful reflection of roles and responsibilities. Availability of data and information can be useful in many settings, but the abuse of data needs to be prevented. Preserving privacy and confidentiality of online users is a main issue, as well as providing means for patients or Internet users to express concerns on data usage.


Author(s):  
Mark D. Sullivan

The history of proposals for patient-centered medicine begins with Michael Balint’s proposal for patient-centered medicine as an alternative to illness-centered medicine. This has been weakened in more recent calls for patient-centered care from clinicians, foundations, and professional organizations. It is argued that patient-centeredness consists of both taking the patient’s perspective and activating the patient. Taking the patient’s perspective involves communication skills and may involve developing a “shared mind” with the patient. Two programs for activating patients are contrasted, 1) the Expert Patient program based on the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program of Lorig and Holman and 2) the Patient-Centered Medical Home based on the Chronic Care Model developed by Wagner and colleagues. Patient empowerment involves activating patients on their own behalf and in service of their own goals. A truly patient-centered chronic care model aims not only for patient empowerment, but also for patient capability to pursue health and other vital goals.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Elise Verot ◽  
Véronique Régnier-Denois ◽  
Dominique Feld ◽  
Romain Rivoirard ◽  
Franck Chauvin

Objective: France is experiencing a shift in health policy. The purpose of this article is to describe how cancer care health professionals define patient empowerment, describe modalities of care of the cancer patient treated by intravenous means and identify avenues for reflection on the specific challenges facing patient-centered care, from the perspective of changes in practices in the cancer care pathway.Methods: 19 individual, semi-structured interviews with health professionals working in cancer care facilities were analyzed in a qualitative study, using the Theoretical Domain Framework linked to the COM-B model.Results: The organization of care is governed by three factors. First of all, the cancer care system focuses on the strictly curative aspect of this disease. All devices lead to management centered on the pathology, and not on the patient as a whole. Secondly, the fact that the patient suffers from cancer modifies the attitudes and representations of caregivers towards the patient. Cancer introduces a relational bias in each of the stakeholders. Thirdly, the current organization of nursing care maintains paternalistic and prescriptive care in the cancer care pathway. Only new nursing jobs (coordinating nurses or pivot nurses) suggest the possibility of switching to patient-centered care. The analysis from TDF linked to the COM-B model shows that the strategy of implementing a new tool to measure the level of patient engagement, in routine nursing care, must focus on the reflective opportunity and motivation of the stakeholders.Conclusions: Caregivers should be acculturated to patient empowerment. TDF linked to the COM-B model can make it possible to think about how to prepare and adapt this change in practice at several sites of cancer treatment. Training adapted to the context to familiarize current caregivers with this new form of care is currently being implemented. To succeed, acculturating current health care providers to this new form of care, while offering them a tool to objectively assess the level of patient empowerment would undoubtedly foster their involvement in supporting patient empowerment, while allowing them to evaluate the time required to integrate this type of care.


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