[Patients' Use of Digital Innovations in the Care Process: A Scoping Review]

[Transparency and Efficiency through Digital Healthcare? Results of a Survey of Generation Y]

BACKGROUND

Generation Y represents a special target group in healthcare. Young, healthy and digitally socialized with integration of technologies into everyday life, they have specific needs. In the context of societal challenges such as demographic change and securing a skilled workforce, taking these needs into account, especially for maintaining health, should be the goal of public health as well as specific actors such as health insurers and employers.

AIM OF THE WORK

The research was intended to test and deepen the findings of two previous stages of work, specifically a qualitative survey. In this way, two research questions were to be answered: I: the importance of transparency and efficiency in the use of digital health innovations by Generation Y and II: the influence of socio-demographic and technology-associated factors on the use of digital health innovations by Generation Y in addition to the needs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

As a conclusion of a sequential approach, assessments of transparency- and efficiency-associated needs in context of the use of digital health innovations of persons from Generation Y were collected in a quantitative online survey. 355 fully completed data sets were analyzed using SPSS software. An ordinal regression analysis was used to test the influence of predictors from six previously formulated hypotheses.

RESULTS

The study was able to describe influences of the constructs transparency and efficiency on the use of apps and smart devices. The need for a sense of control had a significantly negative effect, while the need for structuring and seamless integration into everyday life had a significantly positive effect. Gender and technology readiness also had an impact. According to the data analysis, efficiency and thus a concrete everyday benefit from digital health innovations seems to be more relevant for Generation Y than autonomous empowerment and thus transparency.

CONCLUSION

By taking into account the needs described as well as corresponding preferences, the target group could be addressed and usage could potentially be increased. Prevention and health promotion, as well as their organization, should be able to be incorporated into everyday life at a low threshold, and everyday life should be positively supplemented and efficiently supported.

[Digital transformation of German healthcare organizations : Current status and existing challenges from the perspective of quality management]

INTRODUCTION

Digital transformation includes, among other things, the project planning and implementation of digital applications, technologies, and measures and currently represents the day-to-day business of all organizations and institutions in the healthcare sector. In this article, the current activities of digital transformation in healthcare facilities from the perspective of quality management are presented.

METHODS

A Germany-wide survey among 141 members of the Society for Quality Management in Healthcare (physicians in private practice, hospitals, health insurers, and other healthcare institutions) was conducted on all fields of digital technologies, existing projects, and digital technologies that are currently being implemented. Based on six thematic modules, the participants evaluated the chronological sequence and the relevance of the content for their organization.

RESULTS

Of the survey participants, 82% stated that digital transformation influences or changes their everyday workplace. The most frequent projects include topics from process and interface management (53%) and improving patient safety (52%). The most frequent concrete projects are electronic patient files and topics that were commissioned as part of the Krankenhauszukunftsgesetz.

DISCUSSION

According to the respondents, digital transformation is changing the structures and processes of healthcare facilities and requires additional competencies so that digital technologies can be implemented in a targeted and sustainable manner. A structured coordination of the competencies of all professions in a healthcare facility is required to anchor digital technologies in the everyday life of healthcare facilities.

[Expectations of generation Y for digital health innovations]

BACKGROUND AND AIM

"Generation Y" is the term used to describe younger adults born between approximately 1980 and 2000. The generation is attributed with being digitally savvy and technically adept. It can thus be assumed that there is an increased desire among these people to use digital healthcare innovations when needed. However, the exact expectations in this regard are largely unknown. The aim of this study is to examine the expectations and needs of Generation Y in more detail.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For data collection, five focus group interviews were conducted in April 2021, each with six people between 23 and 36 years of age, with three people per group working in the health sector. The interview material was analyzed using content analysis according to Mayring.

RESULTS

One of the expectations among respondents was to use low-threshold digital healthcare innovations. There was also a great demand for health information. The focus was on increasing efficiency in everyday life, in particular a reduction in the amount of time required. Influences of the corona pandemic on expectations were observed.

DISCUSSION

Three functions of digital applications emerge as particularly relevant: "administration," "tracking," and "information." For these, preference profiles of Generation Y were created. Customized solutions offered by digital innovations could help to implement target-group-specific health promotion and prevention more concretely and generate added value for Generation Y. Since the everyday life of the target group is already characterized by digitization and digital innovations, there is great potential here.