Integrating Digital Coaching into Cardiac Practice: Strategies to Advance Health Equity

To summarize the promises and pitfalls of the implementation of digital coaching for cardiovascular disease.

Recent studies demonstrate the challenges of implementation of digital coaching for cardiovascular disease. The literature has identified individual- and community-level obstacles to digital coaching that include social and structural factors. A literature has established a best practices approach that incorporates stakeholder engagement to develop and apply digital health technology. Nonetheless, there is potential for digital coaching to exacerbate cardiovascular disparities, particularly for individuals with limited resources. Integration of the results of digital devices and coaching with the electronic health record remains elusive.

Digital coaching has immense promise to improve patient monitoring and advance care for cardiovascular disease. Social and structural challenges remain fundamental obstacles to successful achievement of the promise of digital coaching. Inclusion of patient stakeholders, awareness of structural obstacles (such as redlining), and collaboration between health care systems and industry are essential to advancing digital coaching to realize its contribution to health equity and patient care.