The outlook in the U.S. for the digital health and medical tech industry continues to shine ever brighter. Hospital executives, health insurance leaders, physicians, and patients respond with increasingly positive opinions of health tech in surveys and studies. Consumer interest and trust in health tech have shifted dramatically in just four years since a 2015 Chadwick Martin Bailey (CMB) survey found fewer than half of its consumer respondents indicated interest in wearable health devices.
New research by medical home care solutions company ResMed found American consumers are overwhelmingly positive about digital health technology and more than half currently use at least one digital biometric monitoring device. Granting that the company has a horse in the race, ResMed conducted the survey sample of 3,000 Americans in partnership with Edelman Intelligence, a global research and analytics consultancy firm.
In a news release summarizing the survey’s findings, ResMed noted that eight in ten respondents agree that digital health technology makes seeking treatment easier. Fifty-six percent of the surveyed consumers said they use at least one digital health data collection device or application to monitor their health and 60% used the internet in attempting to diagnose themselves by browsing symptoms. Millennials were the most avid self-diagnosticians, 76% of whom reported using symptom research for that purpose.
Rather than alienating or taking the place of patient-physician relationships, digital health tech strengthens the bond, according to the ResMed survey. More than half of those surveyed agreed that digital health tech improved their relationships with primary care physicians and 68% were in favor of an increased tech role in doctor-patient real-time medical information sharing.
ResMed Chief Medical Officer Carlos M. Nunez, M.D. summarized the survey results said, “Apps and other digital tools now provide easy, secure access to our own health data and our doctors at all times.” “All of these benefits are changing the way we all receive care today, improving the quality of care for millions and increasing healthcare providers’ efficiency,” Nunez continued.
It can be hard to appreciate just how quickly and significantly perception and acceptance of digital health technology have shifted in favor of the new developments. According to ResMed’s survey, the change is real.
