About this Research Topic
Digital health applications (DHAs) are increasingly being used in patient care in various healthcare systems around the world. In some countries, such as Belgium and Germany, legal frameworks already allow for DHA integration into standard care, and their prescription and uniform reimbursement via the patient´s health insurance. In many other European countries and the USA, such a process is still in development.
DHAs are primarily used by patients themselves, but also in consultation with physicians, therapists, or other healthcare providers. They offer the potential for improved health outcomes, and increased access to health services, especially in rural areas, and may lead to an overall improvement in the quality of care.
The validity of studies on the effects of DHAs on patients and health care systems, in general, is currently limited since study methods applied do often not allow for drawing causal relationships, and most studies focus only on patient outcomes but do not assess how traditional care processes need to be adapted so that DHAs can be effective. Therefore, unambiguous evidence on which patient-relevant outcomes can be improved, specifically as a result of integrating DHA into the process of care, is currently lacking.
In addition, patient populations studied in the DHA-trials often differ from actual users in real-world healthcare practice, which is why questions arise concerning the transferability of the effects (patient-relevant outcomes and costs) observed. Differences between the effects of DHA-studies and DHAs in real-world settings are often related to patient and physician acceptance of these new healthcare products. There have been few studies to date on the extent to which patients and physicians trust the functionality and effect of DHAs, but this aspect is crucial in order to unleash the potential that DHAs bring with them.
The goal of this special edition Research Topic is to present strong evidence on the effects of DHAs on patient outcomes, and also to give best practice approaches on how care processes should be modified to successfully integrate DHAs in real-world patient care. Studies should consider the user's/patient's perspective as well as the prescriber's/doctor's perspective.
This call for submissions seeks out original articles (quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods) and systematic reviews (incl. meta-analyses) on topics that include but are by no means limited to:
• Studies assessing the evidence regarding benefits in terms of improved patient outcomes
• The acceptance of DHAs in various healthcare systems by patients and medical professionals
• Improvement in treatment processes
• Studies assessing potential savings and cost-effectiveness of DHAs
DHAs are primarily used by patients themselves, but also in consultation with physicians, therapists, or other healthcare providers. They offer the potential for improved health outcomes, and increased access to health services, especially in rural areas, and may lead to an overall improvement in the quality of care.
The validity of studies on the effects of DHAs on patients and health care systems, in general, is currently limited since study methods applied do often not allow for drawing causal relationships, and most studies focus only on patient outcomes but do not assess how traditional care processes need to be adapted so that DHAs can be effective. Therefore, unambiguous evidence on which patient-relevant outcomes can be improved, specifically as a result of integrating DHA into the process of care, is currently lacking.
In addition, patient populations studied in the DHA-trials often differ from actual users in real-world healthcare practice, which is why questions arise concerning the transferability of the effects (patient-relevant outcomes and costs) observed. Differences between the effects of DHA-studies and DHAs in real-world settings are often related to patient and physician acceptance of these new healthcare products. There have been few studies to date on the extent to which patients and physicians trust the functionality and effect of DHAs, but this aspect is crucial in order to unleash the potential that DHAs bring with them.
The goal of this special edition Research Topic is to present strong evidence on the effects of DHAs on patient outcomes, and also to give best practice approaches on how care processes should be modified to successfully integrate DHAs in real-world patient care. Studies should consider the user's/patient's perspective as well as the prescriber's/doctor's perspective.
This call for submissions seeks out original articles (quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods) and systematic reviews (incl. meta-analyses) on topics that include but are by no means limited to:
• Studies assessing the evidence regarding benefits in terms of improved patient outcomes
• The acceptance of DHAs in various healthcare systems by patients and medical professionals
• Improvement in treatment processes
• Studies assessing potential savings and cost-effectiveness of DHAs
Keywords: digital health applications, digital health technology, health technology, technology acceptance, telemedicine, mhealth, ehealth, apps, outcome and process assessment, patient reported outcomes
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
