Never fear, Dr Google is near
Today there’s always a doctor in the house as digital technology revolutionises our health care
DIGITAL technology shapes every aspect of the way we live. In health care, technology is evolving dramatically and affecting the way healthcare professionals and patients engage. We live in the age of “Dr Google”, with more and more people going online to research their ailments before visiting a medical practitioner. And health care professionals are also accessing the wealth of information available on the internet to support their diagnostic tools and treatment options.
There are thousands of health and medical websites covering every condition. Would-be patients are accessing popular sites such as Wikipedia, WebMD or the Mayo Clinic to research injuries and ailments and their symptoms, causes and treatments to self-diagnose before they visit a doctor.
Independent Community Pharmacy Association chief executive Jackie Maiman cautions: “While we support self-care and wellness, people need to be careful – first about the source of the information, and second, on how to interpret the profusion of information on the internet.
“Self-diagnosis and self-medication based on a Google search can be confusing, overwhelming, misleading and dangerous – you really need to talk to an experienced medical professional and be properly examined for an accurate diagnosis.
“A good starting point is to talk to your local pharmacist about your symptoms and they will be able to suggest a range of cost-effective treatment solutions to relieve the symptoms of minor ailments.
“If your condition is more serious, your pharmacist will refer you to your doctor or local hospital. Most pharmacies also have clinics staffed with nurses who give advice and do basic health checks.”
Many medical websites are linked to comment platforms, social media pages and online health groups, where audiences can engage with experts and others about their issues. These can offer valuable support, especially for patients with chronic or rare illnesses, and new parents navigating the path of parenthood. Video content is becoming increasingly popular because it is more engaging and can explain medical conditions and treatments in a more accessible way.
“Patients are no longer passive – they want to take an active role in managing their health. Medical professionals have to recognise this and accept that patients will turn to the internet and support groups to supplement and verify the care they receive,” says Maiman.
“As pharmacists, we are moving towards preventative medicine, helping our customers manage and supplement their lifestyles to improve their health – the new consumer is far more informed and often researches the medicines and supplements they take. We need to support and guide customers on this journey to wellness.”
Health care trends in our cyber-age have led to a whole new field of medicine, “digital health care”, defined by Wikipedia as “the use of technology to assist health-care professionals to manage illnesses and health risks as well as to promote preventative health and wellness”.
Telemedicine has become standard practice in many countries, thanks to mobile phone and video-conferencing technology.
“Patients can video call a medical website, doctor or pharmacist to access high-quality medical advice remotely – it doesn’t take the place of a physical examination, but with visuals it can, in certain circumstances, provide enough information to make an initial diagnosis and recommend treatment and medication.
“However, it is no substitute for a full consultation with your health care professional,” says Maimin.
Mobile health apps, diagnostics and wearables also provide users with immediate feedback and ongoing information to help patients manage health conditions in partnership with their doctors. Tech tools that measure heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar enable patients to monitor their own health and they become useful immediate indicators for treatment.
Wellness apps, smart watches and activity trackers such as the Apple watch, FitBit, Strava, MyFitnessPal, and various food, activity and nutrition diaries which are internet-connected also help consumers to track, monitor and incentivise a healthier lifestyle. And they provide a huge amount of individual data, which can give valuable insight into a person’s lifestyle, health status and habits. A number of wellness programmes in South Africa are just beginning to harness this wealth of information to assist patients to change behaviour through rewarding healthier lifestyles.
“We believe in harnessing technology to improve accessibility to health,” says Maimin. “In pharmacies, this could take the form of an app linked back to the pharmacy and their medical service providers, that helps the consumer record their health profile and medications, track their vitals, and provide customised health advice.”
Mobile diagnostic technologies which can measure a person’s vision and another that allows doctors to diagnose heart ailments through a person’s voice (with vocal biomarkers), are leading the way in synthesising health tracking into mobile devices.
Games and the gamification of health apps is changing the way children manage their health. For example, there is an app for diabetic children which plugs into a gaming console and awards gaming bonuses for good insulin monitoring and habits, improving their adherence to their medications.
“Digital health care developments, such as the gamification of health apps, improves the overall fitness of patients while providing a social and interactive experience,” says Maimin.
“Take for instance the Zombie exercise app, which is downloaded and activated by the user while out jogging, and is connected via earphones or Bluetooth earpiece to the phone. The app uses thrilling voice messaging and sound effects to motivate bursts of speed.
“The app also monitors (through GPS) where other joggers are (in relation to the user’s location) who are logged on to the same programme, and alerts you to their location – allowing for a fun and interactive exercise option where groups of friends can exercise together.”
Maimin says that a new generation of patients is emerging with the digital revolution, and health-care professionals need to keep up with technological advances and play a role in embracing and engaging in digital technologies to improve patient care and patient outcomes.
“Pharmacies and pharmacists are not exempt and digital developments offer an exciting future that will enhance the delivery of medicine. South Africa, as a developing country, must harness the efficiencies technology can offer as we need to treat more people, more effectively and efficiently, often with limited resources. The ICPA hopes to guide the pharmacy sector as we move forward,” concludes Maimin.
Issued on behalf of the ICPA.
PATIENTS ARE NO LONGER PASSIVE – THEY WANT TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN MANAGING THEIR HEALTH. MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS HAVE TO RECOGNISE THIS AND ACCEPT IT