Strengthening and promoting digital health practice: results from a Global Digital Health Partnership’s survey

Background and objectiveThe capacity to promote and disseminate the best evidence-based practices in terms of digital health innovations and technologies represents an important goal for countries and governments. To support the digital health maturity across countries the Global Digital Health Part...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fidelia Cascini, Andrea Gentili, Francesco Andrea Causio, Gerardo Altamura, Andriy Melnyk, Flavia Beccia, Ciro Pappalardo, Alberto Lontano, Walter Ricciardi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1147210/full
_version_ 1797800904472133632
author Fidelia Cascini
Andrea Gentili
Francesco Andrea Causio
Gerardo Altamura
Andriy Melnyk
Flavia Beccia
Ciro Pappalardo
Alberto Lontano
Walter Ricciardi
author_facet Fidelia Cascini
Andrea Gentili
Francesco Andrea Causio
Gerardo Altamura
Andriy Melnyk
Flavia Beccia
Ciro Pappalardo
Alberto Lontano
Walter Ricciardi
author_sort Fidelia Cascini
collection DOAJ
description Background and objectiveThe capacity to promote and disseminate the best evidence-based practices in terms of digital health innovations and technologies represents an important goal for countries and governments. To support the digital health maturity across countries the Global Digital Health Partnership (GDHP) was established in 2019. The mission of the GDHP is to facilitate global collaboration and knowledge-sharing in the design of digital health services, through the administration of surveys and white papers.ObjectiveThe scope of this study is to critically analyze and discuss results from the Evidence and Evaluation GDHP Work Stream’s survey, understand how governments and countries intend to address main obstacles to the digital health implementation, identify their strategies for a communication of effective digital health services, and promote the sharing of international based best practices on digital health.MethodsThis survey followed a cross-sectional study approach. A multiple-choice questionnaire was designed to gather data. Choices were extracted from research publications retrieved through a rapid review.ResultsOut of 29 countries receiving the survey, 10 returned it. On a scale from 1 to 5, eHealth systems/platforms (mean = 3.56) were indicated as the most important tool for centralized infrastructure to collect information on digital health, while primary care (mean = 4.0) represented the most voted item for healthcare services to collect information on digital health. Seven Countries out of 10 identified lack of organization, skepticism of clinicians, and accessibility of the population as a barriers to adopt digital health implementation, resulting to be the most voted items. Finally, the most endorsed priorities in digital health for Countries were the adoption of data-driven approaches (6 Countries), and telehealth (5 Countries).ConclusionThis survey highlighted the main tools and obstacles for countries to promote the implementation of evidence-based digital health innovations. Identifying strategies that would communicate the value of health care information technology to healthcare professionals are particularly imperative. Effective communication programs for clinicians and the general population in addition to improved digital health literacy (both for clinicians and citizens) will be the key for the real implementation of future digital health technologies.
first_indexed 2024-03-13T04:42:16Z
format Article
id doaj.art-4943d630a5e74fc7874d437a35bbf03f
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2296-2565
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-13T04:42:16Z
publishDate 2023-06-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Public Health
spelling doaj.art-4943d630a5e74fc7874d437a35bbf03f2023-06-19T05:20:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652023-06-011110.3389/fpubh.2023.11472101147210Strengthening and promoting digital health practice: results from a Global Digital Health Partnership’s surveyFidelia CasciniAndrea GentiliFrancesco Andrea CausioGerardo AltamuraAndriy MelnykFlavia BecciaCiro PappalardoAlberto LontanoWalter RicciardiBackground and objectiveThe capacity to promote and disseminate the best evidence-based practices in terms of digital health innovations and technologies represents an important goal for countries and governments. To support the digital health maturity across countries the Global Digital Health Partnership (GDHP) was established in 2019. The mission of the GDHP is to facilitate global collaboration and knowledge-sharing in the design of digital health services, through the administration of surveys and white papers.ObjectiveThe scope of this study is to critically analyze and discuss results from the Evidence and Evaluation GDHP Work Stream’s survey, understand how governments and countries intend to address main obstacles to the digital health implementation, identify their strategies for a communication of effective digital health services, and promote the sharing of international based best practices on digital health.MethodsThis survey followed a cross-sectional study approach. A multiple-choice questionnaire was designed to gather data. Choices were extracted from research publications retrieved through a rapid review.ResultsOut of 29 countries receiving the survey, 10 returned it. On a scale from 1 to 5, eHealth systems/platforms (mean = 3.56) were indicated as the most important tool for centralized infrastructure to collect information on digital health, while primary care (mean = 4.0) represented the most voted item for healthcare services to collect information on digital health. Seven Countries out of 10 identified lack of organization, skepticism of clinicians, and accessibility of the population as a barriers to adopt digital health implementation, resulting to be the most voted items. Finally, the most endorsed priorities in digital health for Countries were the adoption of data-driven approaches (6 Countries), and telehealth (5 Countries).ConclusionThis survey highlighted the main tools and obstacles for countries to promote the implementation of evidence-based digital health innovations. Identifying strategies that would communicate the value of health care information technology to healthcare professionals are particularly imperative. Effective communication programs for clinicians and the general population in addition to improved digital health literacy (both for clinicians and citizens) will be the key for the real implementation of future digital health technologies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1147210/fullhealth systemsdigital healthgovernancecommunicationpromotiontelehealth
spellingShingle Fidelia Cascini
Andrea Gentili
Francesco Andrea Causio
Gerardo Altamura
Andriy Melnyk
Flavia Beccia
Ciro Pappalardo
Alberto Lontano
Walter Ricciardi
Strengthening and promoting digital health practice: results from a Global Digital Health Partnership’s survey
Frontiers in Public Health
health systems
digital health
governance
communication
promotion
telehealth
title Strengthening and promoting digital health practice: results from a Global Digital Health Partnership’s survey
title_full Strengthening and promoting digital health practice: results from a Global Digital Health Partnership’s survey
title_fullStr Strengthening and promoting digital health practice: results from a Global Digital Health Partnership’s survey
title_full_unstemmed Strengthening and promoting digital health practice: results from a Global Digital Health Partnership’s survey
title_short Strengthening and promoting digital health practice: results from a Global Digital Health Partnership’s survey
title_sort strengthening and promoting digital health practice results from a global digital health partnership s survey
topic health systems
digital health
governance
communication
promotion
telehealth
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1147210/full
work_keys_str_mv AT fideliacascini strengtheningandpromotingdigitalhealthpracticeresultsfromaglobaldigitalhealthpartnershipssurvey
AT andreagentili strengtheningandpromotingdigitalhealthpracticeresultsfromaglobaldigitalhealthpartnershipssurvey
AT francescoandreacausio strengtheningandpromotingdigitalhealthpracticeresultsfromaglobaldigitalhealthpartnershipssurvey
AT gerardoaltamura strengtheningandpromotingdigitalhealthpracticeresultsfromaglobaldigitalhealthpartnershipssurvey
AT andriymelnyk strengtheningandpromotingdigitalhealthpracticeresultsfromaglobaldigitalhealthpartnershipssurvey
AT flaviabeccia strengtheningandpromotingdigitalhealthpracticeresultsfromaglobaldigitalhealthpartnershipssurvey
AT ciropappalardo strengtheningandpromotingdigitalhealthpracticeresultsfromaglobaldigitalhealthpartnershipssurvey
AT albertolontano strengtheningandpromotingdigitalhealthpracticeresultsfromaglobaldigitalhealthpartnershipssurvey
AT walterricciardi strengtheningandpromotingdigitalhealthpracticeresultsfromaglobaldigitalhealthpartnershipssurvey