Digital health promise not yet realised, says BMJ Future Health Commission report
A new report from the BMJ Future Health Commission, a joint initiative between BMJ Group and independent assurance and risk management provider DNV, shows that healthcare professionals (HCPs) feel digital health technologies fail to help them deliver more care with fewer resources.
According to the survey, less than half (47%) think digital technology has eased administrative tasks, just 38% say that it has reduced clinical workload, and only 44% believe that it has contributed to decreasing the cost of delivering healthcare.
Sector professionals have not given up on healthcare's digital transformation, however. 80% say that digital tools have enabled better care delivery, and three-quarters (76%) are optimistic about healthcare's digital future.
The findings have been published in Building Trust for Digital Transformation in Healthcare and are based on a survey of more than 300 HCPs across Northern Europe, alongside in-depth interviews with clinicians and administrative staff across a broad range of healthcare settings.
- BMJ Future Health Commission survey shows healthcare professionals in Europe support digital transformation, but have yet to feel productivity and efficiency gains
- Three-quarters (76%) of healthcare professionals are optimistic about the future of digital transformation
- 59% trust digital health technologies, while 41% are hesitant or doubtful
- Less than half (47%) feel its introduction has eased administrative tasks, and just 38% say clinical workload has reduced
- Experts say improving training and involving clinicians earlier in the digital transformation and adoption process is needed to feel the benefits
The report comes at a time when European countries are boosting digital investment in a bid to create more sustainable healthcare systems. The UK Government's new 10 year plan for the National Health Service sets an agenda for shifting away from analogue systems.
While 59% of HCPs indicate that they actively trust digital health solutions, a further 41% are hesitant or doubtful. Experts interviewed by the BMJ Future Health Commission are calling for greater focus on building trust in digital transformation to scale technology adoption faster.
"Trust is the critical currency of digital health and operates on two essential layers. Foundational trust is earned through rigorous, transparent standards and regulation, which set a non-negotiable safety floor for every platform. Just as vital is operational trust earned on the ward, where frontline clinicians help design, select, and train on certified tools, ensuring technologies fit real-world workflows.
Together, these are effective accelerators of digital transformation in healthcare, building clinical confidence, closing the gap between expectations and implementation. These insights show that too few healthcare professionals think these technologies help them deliver more care with fewer resources."
Stephen McAdam
Segment Director, Digital Health, DNV
Those who frequently use electronic health records (EHRs), the most broadly adopted technology according to the survey, are less likely to believe that digital solutions reduce administrative burden and ease the workload of clinical staff, 14 percentage points less than those who do not. The concern is that poor experiences with EHR systems do little to motivate HCPs to trust and support the scaling of other solutions with transformative potential, such as predictive analytics, remote monitoring systems, patient flow management and ambient listening.
The need for greater trust, combined with the culmination of challenging experiences, shows that building confidence in technology is dependent on healthcare organisations strengthening the processes that connect and implement these tools, while actively managing change among the people who use them.
Poor interoperability, which allows computer systems or software to exchange and make use of information, appears as the second-highest barrier to adoption, according to HCPs, coming narrowly behind funding constraints.
Healthcare professionals surveyed highlight that earlier clinical involvement and enhanced training can be key drivers in overcoming challenges. Over half (54%) agree that digital solutions gain stronger adoption when endorsed by clinical staff, while nearly two-thirds (61%) see an opportunity to increase HCP participation in technology investment decisions. Training emerges as the most valuable factor for effective implementation, and with greater focus, more clinicians (45%) and non-clinical healthcare workers (43%) can be supported in building confidence and capability in using digital tools.
"Although healthcare professionals are optimistic about digital health's potential, many remain sceptical about its impact on efficiency, workload, and costs. Building trust, improving interoperability, enhancing training, and involving clinicians more directly are critical to realising its benefits."
Dr Helen Surana
Associate Director, BMJ Events
The BMJ Future Health Commission report concludes by setting out five recommendations, developed in collaboration with an advisory board of European experts, for healthcare organisations seeking to scale adoption of technology:
- Evaluate organisational confidence in EHR systems
- Implement standards for system interoperability
- Commit to long term staff training
- Involve clinicians, citizens, and patients in technology design and implementation
- Boost investment in managing emergent risks
