A new report shows the public may well be willing to embrace digital health to help the NHS, both in the long term and during any fresh coronavirus outbreaks.

Research by OnePoll for ORCHA, the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps, found respondents not only prepared to try health technology – but also reporting high rates of satisfaction when they did.

The NHS Long Term plan sets out national targets for the adoption of digital health, which healthcare providers are working towards.

The research found that: 65 per cent of respondents agreed that they’d be willing to use more technology, such as health apps, as part of a fresh approach; 49 per cent even agreed that doctors should be able to prescribe health apps just like they prescribe traditional medicines.

Additionally, of the 38 per cent who had already used a health app, a striking 87 per cent said they were satisfied with the experience (nearly 40 per cent of those were strongly satisfied).

Respondents were most likely to use health apps: to track and monitor symptoms, such as those associated long-term conditions; to help support lifestyle changes like smoking or diet; to be alert to potential conditions such as skin cancer; to self-educate on a condition prior to an appointment with a doctor or clinician; and to help recovery from surgery, such as following physiotherapy programmes.

The research also shows that Londoners appear far more tech savvy than residents elsewhere. Eighty per cent are advocates of health apps and 69 per cent have used digital health previously. Usage stands much lower in other regions, such as the North West, where only 33 per cent of people have used a health app.
 
As may be anticipated, support for digital technology is highest amongst the younger age groups aged between 18 and 44. However, more than half (52 per cent) of those aged 65 years and older also support the move to digital health. These older residents are most willing to use health apps for self-monitoring and tracking symptoms (30 per cent), to aid in recovery following surgery (27 per cent), and to be alert to a potential health condition (26 per cent).
 
The research indicates that, of those who have used a health app, half had their app recommended by a health or care staff member.  However, hospital clinicians had only recommended the app in eight per cent of cases.
 
Dr Lloyd Humphreys, managing director of ORCHA, said: “This involvement by NHS staff is important, as in an unregulated market it is important that digital health choices are being made safely, with professional recommendations. ORCHA tested almost 9,000 digital health products available in app stores and found that only 20 per cent meet quality thresholds.

“More broadly, using health apps is only part of the answer to our future healthcare, but there’s increasing evidence that the more we citizens embrace technology and the self-management of our health, the more we will help ourselves and our NHS.

“For example, research has shown that breathing apps help users correct 98 per cent of inhaler errors – and one cancer support app reduced A&E admissions by 38 per cent because users were able to monitor symptoms and manage their medication regimes correctly.  Every improved patient outcome can be translated into a cost saving for our NHS.”

With no regulation and 80 per cent of health apps falling below quality levels, ORCHA, which supports 70 per cent of NHS regions with libraries of high-quality health apps, also monitors the national demand for digital health. Medical app downloads in the UK grew by 50 per cent year-on-year in 2020 and global downloads surpassed 3.2 billion.