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Analysis

Digital health in primary care: risks and recommendations

Georgina Neve, Molly Fyfe, Benedict Hayhoe and Sonia Kumar
British Journal of General Practice 2020; 70 (701): 609-610. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp20X713837
Georgina Neve
Imperial College London, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, School of Public Health, London.
Roles: GPST4 Academic Clinical Fellow
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Molly Fyfe
Imperial College London, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, School of Public Health, London.
Roles: Senior Academic Fellow
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Benedict Hayhoe
Imperial College London, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, School of Public Health, London.
Roles: Clinical Lecturer in Primary Care
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Sonia Kumar
Director of Undergraduate Primary Care Education and the Medical Education Innovation and Research Centre (MEdIC), Imperial College London, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, School of Public Health, London.
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Growing demand for access to NHS primary care means services are under increasing pressure. Many GP providers are using digital technologies (video/email/other online consultations) to try to improve access and efficiency. Alongside this is rapid growth in health technologies, which collect, measure, or interpret health data, and provide health information or advice. Many technologies have positive potential; however, the speed with which they are becoming available, increasingly blurred boundaries between health and lifestyle technologies and traditional healthcare provision, and the confidence and skills GPs have in using digital health technologies, bring new complexities and concerns.

A NEED FOR TRAINING

Successful adoption of innovative technologies in primary care requires effective preparation of future and current primary care workforce, enabling appropriate use by healthcare professionals, patients, and communities. Although some training programmes do exist, these are not routinely integrated within primary care training. There is a distinct gap in both training and capacity building in this area, and the evidence base to inform development and content of training is limited. In this article we explore risks and challenges of digital technologies in primary care and relate these to training needs for GPs, trainees, and medical students.

In this analysis we draw on literature as well as first-hand experience of practising GPs. In June 2019 we conducted two workshops on digital health with approximately 30 GP teachers who supervise medical students’ placements, which informed our understanding of four key areas of digital health risks and challenges in general practice. Based on risks and challenges identified, we present recommendations for training to support the implementation of digital primary care.

KEY CHALLENGES AND RISKS

Consultation skills

Telephone consultations (TCs) were initially introduced to meet increased patient demand to speak to a doctor. As early as 1978 TCs were described as being as much a part of a doctor’s equipment as a stethoscope, and …

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British Journal of General Practice: 70 (701)
British Journal of General Practice
Vol. 70, Issue 701
December 2020
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Digital health in primary care: risks and recommendations
Georgina Neve, Molly Fyfe, Benedict Hayhoe, Sonia Kumar
British Journal of General Practice 2020; 70 (701): 609-610. DOI: 10.3399/bjgp20X713837

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Digital health in primary care: risks and recommendations
Georgina Neve, Molly Fyfe, Benedict Hayhoe, Sonia Kumar
British Journal of General Practice 2020; 70 (701): 609-610. DOI: 10.3399/bjgp20X713837
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    • A NEED FOR TRAINING
    • KEY CHALLENGES AND RISKS
    • RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING
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More in this TOC Section

  • Focused action is required to protect ethnic minority populations from COVID-19 post-lockdown
  • The multimorbidity dead end: how we got here and possible ways out
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Print ISSN: 0960-1643
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