Advancing Digital Health Technology for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Through my studies, I have become aware of the gaps in our healthcare system, starting with the principal focus on disease management over health promotion and prevention. The need to re-focus on health promotion is not a new concept for Canadians. Back in 2010, the Ministers of Health and of Health Promotion/Healthy Living of Canada, made a declaration that health promotion and prevention of disease must be the top priority to sustain our healthcare system (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2017). Indeed, there has been a rising focus on health promotion over the years, and Public Health agencies across Canada have ramped up their disease prevention strategies and health education programs. Plus, with the advancements in health technology, individuals are taking control of their own health. Wearable fitness watches, for example, have shown to promote physical activity, thereby helping to reduce obesity and prevent diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes. In a study by Laranjo et al. (2020), they found that interventions using smartphone apps or physical activity trackers have a small to moderate effect in increasing physical activity. Wearable fitness watches are just one example of digital technology that is helping promote active living and disease prevention. The following video provides other examples of emerging digital health technologies that will benefit health promotion and disease prevention:

https://youtu.be/cM4aep7VXb8?feature=shared

As I reviewed articles about the use of digital technology to support individual health, it was apparent that the number of people using digital health technology, like smartphone apps, has increased from year to year. A recent study showed that “approximately 40% of Canadians track one or more aspect of their health using connected care technologies” (Jaana, 2021b). Researching the benefits of digital health tools, Abernethy et al. (2022) stated that “digital health tools have the potential to improve the identification, measurement, and modification of the root sources of illness, health, and well-being.” Using artificial intelligence to detect diseases, such as diabetes or cancer, will support more timely and accurate diagnosis, and is more cost-effective for our healthcare system (Abernethy at al., 2022).

Digital technology can also be successfully used to monitor patients’ treatments. For example, digital inhaler sensors have been used to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment on asthma symptoms, and the inhaler automatically adjusts the dosage of medication to meet the individual’s needs. The use of digital inhaler sensors has shown to be “associated with a reduction in rescue inhaler use, an improvement in symptom-free days for individuals, and a reduction in healthcare resource utilization” (Merchant et al., 2013). Consider, for instance, the benefits of developing a wearable device or biometric scanner that can measure your vitamin and mineral levels, and alert you when they are low? I expect that the creation of new digital health technology to self-monitor and self-screen for health issues will continue to expand. Can you think of other uses for digital technology to support health promotion and disease prevention strategies?

WORKS CITED

Abernethy, A., Adams, L., Barrett, M., Bechtel, C., Brennan, P., Butte, A., Faulkner, J., Fontaine, E., Friedhoff, S., Halamka, J., Howell, M., Johnson, K., Long, P., McGraw, D., Miller, R., Lee, P., Perlin, J., Rucker, D., Sandy, L., Savage, L., … Valdes, K. (2022). The Promise of Digital Health: Then, Now, and the Future. NAM perspectives, 2022, 10.31478/202206e. https://doi.org/10.31478/202206e

Jaana, M. (2021, May 28). When will Canadian health care fully ride the digital connectivity wave? Policy Options. https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/may-2021/when-will-canadian-health-care-fully-ride-the-digital-connectivity-wave/

Laranjo, L., Ding, D., Heleno, B., Kocaballı, A. B., Quiroz, J. C., Tong, H. L., Chahwan, B., Neves, A. L., Gabarrón, E., Dao, K. P., Rodrigues, D., Neves, G. C., Da Luz Antunes, M., Coiera, E., & Bates, D. W. (2020). Do smartphone applications and activity trackers increase physical activity in adults? Systematic review, meta-analysis and metaregression. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 55(8), 422–432. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-102892

Merchant, R., Szefler, S. J., Bender, B. G., Tuffli, M., Barrett, M. A., Gondalia, R., Kaye, L., Van Sickle, D., & Stempel, D. A. (2018). Impact of a digital health intervention on asthma resource utilization. World Allergy Organization Journal, 11, 28. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40413-018-0209-0

Public Health Agency of Canada. (2010, September 7). Creating a healthier Canada: making prevention a priority. Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/healthy-living/creating-a-healthier-canada-making-prevention-a-priority.html

World Governments Summit. (2017, April 13). How is technology changing the healthcare sector? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM4aep7VXb8