Did you know the patient need to be more connected?

March 13, 2019

The Institute Mines Telecom Business School in France unveiled Wednesday, February 20, 2019 the results of a study on the consequences of new technologies on the living conditions of chronically ill. Their conclusion: If patients do not perceive real benefits to their health, they feel more involved in managing their treatment.The more the patient is connected, the more he is involved in the treatment of his illness. They need to be more connected .

Digital technologies encourage patients to become more involved in managing and monitoring their treatment. This is the conclusion of the survey conducted by the Institut Mines Telecom Business School (IMT) in cooperation with the collective Impatients, Chroniques et Associés (ICA), made public Wednesday, February 20, 2019. The researchers studied the behaviors of chronically ill and their loved ones, and noted that “the more connected the patient is, the more he or she feels empowered to act”.

Be more connected

In the past, the scientific literature has already shown that social networks and other forums are particularly solicited by patients as soon as they are diagnosed. The study of the IMT presents the originality of being interested in multiple technologies and uses. Hyperconnected patients (from four to six web connections per week, but also one to three uses of dedicated mobile applications per week and daily use of connected objects), biconnected (from four to six uses of the Internet and mobile applications dedicated per week) and hypoconnected (largely the majority, they represent more than 70% of patients and use the Internet only one to three times a month only). First surprise: the biggest users of technology are not necessarily the youngest, since 40% of 50-70 year olds would be hyper-connected compared to only 20% of 25-34 year olds.

AN INCREASED INVOLVEMENT OF THE SICK IN HIS TREATMENT

Whatever the category of patients, the real benefits of digital technologies on health should be put into perspective. According to our results, they would not affect the way in which a patient experiences or perceives his illness,. on the other hand, the merit of arousing commitment. “

In other words, new technologies would allow better information to the patient and strengthen his ability to act autonomously. The Web is an important source of information for a patient, whether it is about his treatment or the course of care. The study notes that the most connected among them, including users of dedicated mobile applications, are also those who participate the most in decision-making. It should be noted that 60% of chronically ill people believe that the Internet also makes it possible to escape isolation.

POTENTIAL STILL UNUSED FOR CONNECTED OBJECTS

The Web has become commonplace and remains fairly well perceived by patients, who are nevertheless aware of its limitations. However, the added value of connected objects on treatment is still very limited.This is largely due to the lack of specialized applications in disease monitoring.However, we know their potential: connected insulin pumps have for example been proven in the follow-up of the treatment of diabetics. Overall, the study of the ITM points a weak attraction of the patients for the connected objects … but those who use them appreciate them. “A quarter of hyperconnected respondents consider that the frequency of consultations and risks related to the disease can be reduced,” says the study.

From the report, the digital technologies seem to be an ally, rather than a threat, for the monitoring and care of patients, but calls for better data security, intimate and confidential. as well as the adaptation of institutions and health personnel to the use made by patients of new technologies.