Digitale Gesundheitsanwendungen in der hausärztlichen Versorgung: eine Diskussionsgrundlage zur Förderung informierter Nutzungsentscheidungen

Integrating digital health applications on prescription (DTx) into routine care and strengthening digital health literacy are objectives of the German Federal Ministry of Health’s digitization strategy. So far, it has become apparent that it is challenging for health professionals to support patients due to online healthcare seeking. This situation can hinder DTx integration in ambulatory care. Based on the perspectives of primary care physicians and patients, we aim to identify approaches to support informed DTx use in the primary care setting.

In all, 34 semi-structured, guided interviews with general practitioners (GPs; n = 17) and patients with mild to moderate depression were conducted, fully transcribed, and qualitatively analyzed for content.

GPs’ and patients’ perspectives on DTx for depressive disorders differ substantially according to opportunities and potential risks: For patients, access to knowledge about available services is important to consider DTx during waiting times. GPs see DTx as an opportunity to increase disease-related knowledge. Patients favor healthcare professionals for information about DTx. To strengthen professional (digital) health literacy, needs and available treatment options should be addressed during consultations.

For patient-oriented DTx-implementation, it is important to promote patients’ and GPs’ understanding to clarify the expectations on DTx use. Based on the findings, the main topics for healthcare consultancy were identified and integrated into a discussion guideline to promote health literacy in consultations. In the next step, this could be tested in healthcare practice.