An Overview: Consumer Facing Digital Health Technology: What Is It and What Are The Challenges? Ted Vickey MSc, PhD (ABD) President FitWell LLC Institute of Medicine Roundtable on Health Literacy Washington, DC - March 2015
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Can consumer facing digital health technology really help people live healthier lives?
What is Consumer Facing Digital Health Technology?
WHAT IS IT? Apps Wearables Websites
Digital Health innovation takes longer than you think and happens faster than you think at the same exact time." Unity Stoakes
We keep our phones within arms reach 91% of the time
There are more users of fitness apps than there are members of health clubs
73% of users say they are healthier today because of their app Mobiquity, 2014
69% of mobile health users think tracking their health and fitness on their smartphone is more important than using it for social networking or online shopping
46% say tracking has changed their overall approach to maintaining their health or the health of another
40% of trackers say it has led them to ask a health professional new questions or to get a second opinion
34% say it has affected a decision about how to treat an illness or condition.
the world suggests a different story. and then there is the rest of the story.
Age adjusted Prevalence of Obesity and Diagnosed Diabetes Among U.S. Adults Aged 18 Years or Older Obesity (BMI 30 kg/m 2 ) 1994 2000 2010 No Data <14.0% 14.0% 17.9% 18.0% 21.9% 22.0% 25.9% 26.0% Diabetes 1994 2000 2010 No Data <4.5% 4.5% 5.9% 6.0% 7.4% 7.5% 8.9% >9.0% CDC s Division of Diabetes Translation. National Diabetes Surveillance System available at http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics
Consider the following: An increasing number of people with chronic disease account for a disproportionate percentage of overall health costs. 84% of national healthcare dollars approximately 99% of Medicare spending Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2006 and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Chronic Care: Making the Case for Ongoing Care, February 2010
Projections are it could get worse Nearly half of the U.S. population suffers from one or more chronic diseases By 2020, the number of Americans suffering from multiple chronic diseases is expected to reach 81 million, up from 63 million in 2005. Source: Bodenheimer, T., E. Chen, and H.D. Bennett. Reorganizing Care: Confronting the Growing Burden Of Chronic Disease: Can the U.S. Health Care Workforce Do the Job? Health Affairs. January/February 2009. 28:164
Users love apps, but providers hesitant Only 16% of healthcare providers are using mhealth apps in their with patients, Almost half of healthcare providers expect to use them to their practice within the next five years, While healthcare providers are well aware of the benefits, most are still reluctant to jump in. Source: 2015 Research Now Survey - 500 healthcare professionals and 1,000 health app users
Primary reasons for U.S. internet users to access mobile health and fitness apps as of March 2014 Share of respondents 0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0% 30.0% 35.0% Goal tracking Awareness of health issues Motivation 28% 27% 30% Identifying unhealthy habits 7% Medication adherence 5% Connecting with an expert Competition 2% 2% Source: Research Now; Website (Mobiquity); emarketer; ID 298033
Groups more likely to use smartphone to gather health info Latino African American Smartphones Ages 18-49 College Degree Pew Mobile Health 2012
We are in the middle of a perfect storm Convergence of technology and health Smartphone usage Tech Savvy users Peer to peer healthcare The Big Three
Smartphone usage
Tech savvy senior users want tech access to their health Self-care: More than two-in-three seniors prefer to use self-care technology to independently manage their health. Wearables: More than three-in-five seniors are willing to wear a health-monitoring device to track vital signs, such as heart rate and blood pressure. Online Communities: Three-in-five seniors are somewhat or very likely to turn to online communities, (Patient Like Me) for reactions to a doctor s recommendation before acting on it. Navigating Healthcare: A third of seniors would prefer to work with a patient navigator to manage their healthcare. Health Record Management: A quarter of seniors regularly use electronic health records for managing their health, projected to grow to 42% in five years, as consumer-facing tools increase.
The Big Three Microsoft Google Apple
Challenge: Privacy
Privacy Who owns the data? Who has access to the data? What will they do with the data?
Challenge: Lack of Standards
Recap: Consumer facing digital health technologies This area of tech is growing and changing Problems remain with access and equity Missing link Health Literacy?
Question: How can Health Literacy create the behavior change needed in Consumer Facing Health Technologies?
For further interaction: vickey@fitwellinc.com @tedvickey www.linkedin.com/in/tedvickey