Digital Technologies and Hybrid Model of Healthcare: Perception and Utilization

Abstract

“Health is wealth” is a very ancient proverb. Social health and community medicine are new areas that have influenced the healthcare approach and health research globally in the last few decades. Health is influenced by various factors such as environmental, biological/genetic, economic, socio-cultural, personal behavior, health care infrastructure, research and development, and existing policies and government schemes. Nowadays, digital health is one new area on which the public as well as private sector has started working. Digital health is the “use of digital equipment to monitor/measure health parameters, accessing online health tips and guides, using health and fitness mobile apps and gadgets (such as Arogya-Setu app, smartwatch, etc.), getting online medicines and assistive devices, online appointment, doctor’s consultancy, etc”. During and post covid 19, digital technology turned out to be very popular and useful. Various digital gadgets were already in use such as thermometers, oximeters, blood pressure, and many others. In this background, the present study aims to understand the use of digital health and the perception of the health care system in India. The study is based on the secondary as well as primary data. A primary survey of students (under graduation and above and also faculty members, both male and female) was conducted in January 2023 through the online questionnaire. In recent times, digital health has emerged as a new frontier that both the public and private sectors have begun to explore. Digital health involves the use of digital equipment to monitor and measure health parameters, access online health advice and guidance, utilize health and fitness mobile apps and devices (such as the Arogya Setu app and smartwatches), obtain medications and assistive devices online, schedule appointments for online consultations with doctors, and more. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly boosted the popularity and usefulness of digital technology. Although various digital gadgets, such as thermometers, oximeters, and blood pressure monitors, were already in use, the pandemic accelerated their adoption. Against this backdrop, the primary objective of the present study is to examine the utilization of digital health and its impact on the healthcare system in India. The study relies on both secondary and primary data sources. A primary survey involving students (undergraduates and above) as well as faculty members of both genders was conducted in January 2023 using an online questionnaire.

Now a days, the digital health is one new area on which public as well as private sector has started working on. Digital health is “use of digital equipment to monitor/measure health parameters, accessing online health tips and guide, using health and fitness mobile apps and gadgets (such as Arogya-setu app, smart watch etc.), getting online medicines and assistive devices, online appointment, doctor’s consultancy etc”. During and post covid 19, digital technology turn out to be very popular and useful. Though various digital gadgets were already in the use such as thermometer, oximeter, blood pressure, and many others. In this background, the aim of the present study is to understand the use of digital health and perception on health care system in India. The study is based on the secondary as well as primary data. Primary survey of students (under graduation and above and also faculty members, both male and female) conducted in January 2023 through online questionnaire. In recent times, digital health has emerged as a new frontier that both the public and private sectors have begun to explore. Digital health involves the use of digital equipment to monitor and measure health parameters, access online health advice and guidance, utilize health and fitness mobile apps and devices (such as the Arogya Setu app and smartwatches), obtain medications and assistive devices online, schedule appointments for online consultations with doctors, and more. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly boosted the popularity and usefulness of digital technology. Although various digital gadgets, such as thermometers, oximeters, and blood pressure monitors, were already in use, the pandemic accelerated their adoption. Against this backdrop, the primary objective of the present study is to examine the utilization of digital health and its impact on the healthcare system in India. The study relies on both secondary and primary data sources. A primary survey involving students (undergraduates and above) as well as faculty members of both genders was conducted in January 2023 using an online questionnaire.