Leveraging Digital Health Tools for Better Management and Care

Abstract

Chronic diseases pose a significant burden on patients, their informal caregivers, and healthcare systems. Patients with chronic diseases, such as heart failure (HF), diabetes, and cancer, can get involved in their health and practice self-care through the help of digital health tools (DHTs) while also improving access to care and patient outcomes.

Family physicians (FPs) are vital stakeholders when creating and implementing DHTs. However, their attitudes and needs are often overlooked.

To investigate this further, we conducted a rapid review to explore FP’s attitudes and needs regarding DHTs for patients with chronic diseases. Supplementary to this, we also interviewed FPs in Ontario to gather their feedback and integrate it into a HF DHT, CorLibra.

The findings from both studies are crucial to better understanding the needs of FPs as they play a pivotal role in supporting patients with chronic diseases utilizing DHTs.