Saatja: EFA Team <
[email protected]>
Saadetud: 15.06.2022 13:10
Adressaat: SM Info <
[email protected]>
Teema: New European report on digital health in chronic respiratory disease
NEW REPORT
New European report on digital health in chronic respiratory
disease
Dear Ministry of Social Affairs, Estonia,
A new publication reveals that patients worry about data privacy and security, as
well as loss of contact with healthcare providers when using digital health tools and
services. Policymakers must ensure digital health policies, including the European
Health Data Space (EHDS) and the WHO Europe Empowerment Through Digital
Health Flagship Initiative, are co-designed with those who will use digital
technologies for health: patients.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a catalyst for the digital transition in healthcare. Higher
numbers of patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) used
remote consultations and other online tools to ensure continuity of care at a moment of
crisis.
EFA’s new report, DIG_IT: Asthma and COPD patients’ digital journey, set out to
understand chronic respiratory disease patients’ experiences, needs, and use of digital
technologies in diagnosis and care. Through a survey of over 900 patients in five
European countries, the initiative provides a deeper understanding of the benefits, barriers
and concerns around digital health, providing powerful insights into the patient digital
journey in respiratory health.
Highlights
Tech-savvy patients routinely use digital tools in their daily lives, but
awareness/use of highly innovative tools, such as smart inhalers, is low.
Patients who have used digital tools view them favourably, which the report
found that this attitude has increased since the impact of COVID-19, as well as
the use of digital services.
Some patients prefer not to use digital tools due to lack of familiarity with
technologies; healthcare providers need time and skills to coach patients.
Asthma patients are more likely than COPD patients to engage with technology;
this may be due to the lower average age in this patient population.
National differences in uptake of digital health technology exist across Europe.
Key factors include access to digital health, prior investment and
reimbursement.
Patients in all countries expressed data privacy and security concerns.
The DIGIT report provides a series of tailored recommendations for
policymakers, healthcare providers, patients and the digital sector.
Call to action: involve patients today to ensure digital tools meet their
needs.
Susanna Palkonen, Director of the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases
Patients’ Associations, said:
‘This data-rich report shows that patients will use digital tools that make their lives easier
and that are freely accessible. The best way to ensure new tools address the needs of
patients is for policymakers and industry to include them in the conversation from the
beginning. The patient voice must be heard – let’s start now.’
Notes to editors:
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease affecting 30 million people in
Europe under 45 years of age, including up to 1 in 5 children and is among the top
causes for hospitalisation among children.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an irreversible disease that
makes breathing more difficult. It mainly affects people over the age of 40 and is
the third leading cause of death worldwide.
DIG_IT: The asthma and COPD patients’ digital journey in Europe, was conducted
by the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients'
Associations (EFA) in the summer of 2021.
Survey sample: the DIGIT project surveyed 970 patients – 506 with asthma and
464 with COPD – in Belgium, Norway, Spain, Ireland and the Czech Republic.
The EFA’s DIG_IT Project, survey, charter, and survey report have been funded
with unrestricted grants from EFA's Sustainable Funding Partners Astra Zeneca,
Chiesi, MSD, OM Pharma and Roche.
Read the report
The European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients’
Associations (EFA) is a network of 45 allergy, asthma and COPD patients’ organisations
in 26 European countries and it works for European patients with allergy, asthma and
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to live uncompromised lives, have the right
and access to the best quality care and a safe environment.
For more information contact EFA Director of Policy and Communications:
[email protected] / +32 (0) 2 227 2712
Rue de Congrès 35
Brussels, 1000
Belgium
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