Quick Summary
The King’s Fund emphasizes the importance of genuine patient engagement in the development of digital health technologies. The organization argues that without meaningful involvement, the government’s goal of transitioning from traditional to digital healthcare will not be realized.
Key Insights from the Report
- The report titled “Designing inclusive and trusted digital services with people and communities,” released on January 30, 2025, highlights challenges faced by NHS patients in accessing digital healthcare.
- Issues identified include:
- Multiple apps with disconnected records
- Fragmented digital services
- Lack of digital options
- Insufficient accessibility features
- The report states that current approaches to digital transformation often overlook user involvement, resulting in unmet patient needs.
Recommendations for Improvement
- The King’s Fund suggests taking practical steps to address digital exclusion, particularly for:
- Socio-economically disadvantaged groups
- Socially excluded individuals
- Older adults
- Building public confidence in digital solutions is crucial, as user involvement in service design is not consistently practiced.
- Previous findings indicate that even digitally confident individuals may struggle with digital services.
Strategies for Effective Engagement
- The report outlines five key areas to ensure collaborative service design with the public, emphasizing the need to avoid superficial engagement.
- Meaningful user involvement is essential to meet user needs effectively.
- Time and budget constraints often lead to rushed engagement processes that do not include diverse voices.
- It is vital to create an inclusive environment where participants feel valued and respected.
Addressing Power Dynamics
- The report highlights the need to balance power dynamics in digital service design, which can hinder patient engagement.
- Complex technological aspects may intimidate less digitally literate individuals, making them hesitant to participate.
- Involving patients from the project’s inception and meeting them in familiar settings can enhance engagement.
Support for Staff Engagement
- Staff should receive support and training from leadership to effectively engage with patients.
- Training on engagement methods and facilitation skills is essential for successful collaboration.
Conclusion
The King’s Fund’s report underscores the necessity of involving patients in the design of digital health services to ensure they meet the needs of all users. By prioritizing genuine engagement, the healthcare system can better serve its patients and improve overall health outcomes.
Sources
- Engaging patients and citizens in digital health technology development through the virtual space – PMC
- Patient engagement and the design of digital health – PMC
- What Is Digital Patient Engagement? – Medbridge
- 20 Examples of Patient Engagement Tools – Upfront Healthcare
- Patients’ perspectives on digital health tools – ScienceDirect