That the digitization In the health sector it can represent a model to define the future of processes and data management, in addition to promoting the improvement of the systems responses, it appears clear. But to what extent you can focus on telemedicinetechnology and optimal management of technological resources at the expense of the human relationship between doctor and patient, who remains the architrave of the same medical profession?
According to patients, the interaction based on personal dynamics is and will be indispensable. And you have to focus on the‘optimal integration of technology and humanity. To report it is the Prosafe studio, which analyzes the relationship of patients with proximity medicine and the digitization of care. The project, supported by Roche in collaboration with the University of Verona and the patient associations of the Patient Safety Council (Friends – National Association for Chronic Inflammatory Diseases of the Atestine; Fedemo – Federation of Hemophilic Associations; the Aladdin lamp; Walce – Women Against Lung Cancer in Europe), aims to explore The opinions of citizens and patients on crucial issues related to the evolution and implementation of proximity assistance and the integration of digital care, with a particular focus on the new challenges on Safety in pharmacological care.
The importance of managing chronicity
The diffusion of chronic non -transmissible diseases, from cardiovascular ones to respiratory, renal, neurological and tumor ones, requires one reinterpretation of health modelswith an increasing attention to the social aspect as well as health. Which tends to move the organizational models to the territory, also in light of the needs of assistance of an increasingly older population.
It therefore becomes fundamental to develop new organizational models capable of guaranteeing at a territorial level a taking charge of the fair, personalized and appropriate chronic. Which presupposes one reorganization of the assistance network Founded on integrated proximity multidisciplinary paths, on the promotion of home care, on the strengthening of intermediate care structures and on digitization including telemedicine.
The Prosafe project
From the collaboration between industry, universities and patients, therefore the Prosafe projectto which 417 participants contributed, of which 81% with a pathology and, among these, 45% with comorbilities and 70% in drug polytherapy, a situation that exposes greater risk of problems inherent in safety.
“The knowledge emerged from the Prosafe project is not only scientifically valid, thanks to the rigorous methodological approach on which the university has based research, but also directly relevant and aligned to the needs and priorities of the community that has actively contributed to developing them. His strength lies in this: we are talking about one participatory research In which the patients themselves, through their representative associations, played a leading role in the construction of the questionnaire, from the choice of issues to the development of the applications, to the spread of the questionnaire to the interpretation of the results “
Reports Francesca Moretti, scientific manager of the study.
Continuity of care from hospital to territory
The questionnaire in a first part concerned the relationship between the hospital and the territory concentrating on the perception towards the territorial network of proximity assistance. This network is perceived by the sample as insufficient compared to needs, with 56% of the interviewees that signal difficulties in the home management of illness reacing and 42% which reports that they have experienced an early hospital discharge.
It should be noted that almost one out of three interviewees (31%) said she had met obstacles in the continuity of pharmacological care after resignation.
As for the transfer of the administration of some drugs normally paid in the hospital setting to home, 85% of the sample considers it a useful change.
However, the need to guarantee adequate both practical and relational support by health workers emerges as a priority. Just more than half of the interviewees recognizes an advantage in the management of therapy in a less stressful family environment, while beyond 60% fear to receive insufficient support In the path of care and manifest concern for the side effects of drugs. 50% of the respondents express the fear of a negative impact on the medical-patient relationship.
Telemedicine to improve
On the digitization of care front, the study shows that despite four respondents out of five declare they possess everything you need for a visit to Telemedicinaabout 40% report not to use these tools daily and 30% do not know how to access their electronic healthcare file. Tools like the pharmacological dossier and the telemedicine They are positively perceived by most of the sample even if about 30% of respondents have doubts that these technologies can really guarantee greater control in the safe management of drug therapy. Indicative is the example of digital monitoring: seven out of ten people do not consider it advantageous and more personalized than monitoring in presence.
In general,
- 20% of respondents fear that the use of digital tools in home care can reduce patient involvement in the therapeutic path
- 30% believe that it can compromise their autonomy
- 43% expresses concern for the excessive responsibility that would fall on the patient himself.
Finally, on the issue of the safety of the treatment path, it emerges that 82.1% give full confidence to the doctor In choosing the best therapeutic option and that almost all the sample wants to be involved in the process, above all regarding information on any side effects.
“Approaching care to the patient and promoting distance monitoring is a positive and necessary change but it is necessary strengthen and make the structure effective of proximity medicine and digital care that replaces the perceived relationship in the hospital care path; This is the most evident result of Prosafe. The patient wants to be informed and involved in his own care path and the development of proximity solutions could be perceived as an abandonment by the health system, potentially canceling the recognized advantages, such as the reduction of prolonged hospitals, the medical-patient relationship and the maintenance of social ties and the environment of usual life. The community of patients wants to overcome “hospital hundred and decentral culture” but, compared to the healthy population, in this paradigm change is the bearer of specific needs to which we must meet in the construction of a network of taking charge that sees the patient as one of the key actors of the care path “
They indicate patients of Patient Safety Council (Amici, Fedemo, the Aladdin lamp, Walce).
