UK: Is this the end of traditional doctors? A third of over 65s use technology to manage their health
Is this the end of traditional doctors? A third of over
65s use technology to manage their health
As Brits continue to avoid a visit to their GP, new
research reveals a third of over 65s are using technology to keep tabs on their
health and wellbeing
By Saffron Alexander 7:00AM BST 21 Oct 2015
We're living in the age of digital health according to
new research.
In 2014, a study revealed that 65 per cent of people
actively avoid going to their GP, with a further two thirds admitting they
preferred to research health information online. Now new research has revealed
more than half of all Brits use gadgets or technology to manage their health
and wellbeing.
Research from Push Doctor, published in the UK Digital
Health Report, found that checking medical symptoms, monitoring exercise
levels, establishing individual BMI scores, monitoring heart rates and checking
blood pressure are the top five most common ways we are now using technology to
understand and manage our wellbeing.
Half of all adults now use a gadget or some form of
technology to manage their health, with a third of over 65s doing the same.
People are even forgoing a trip to the opticians, now
preferring to test their vision with apps. Dispensing optician for Essilor,
Andy Hepworth, says while apps can be useful, they should not be a replacement
for your regular check-up: "They're a smart way of flagging up when you
need to get scheduled.
"Vision loss could be linked to other health
conditions, so you should never delay booking in with your optician if you've
noticed a significant change in your sight."
The research found that people would firstly Google their
symptoms and then ask their partner for advice before visiting their GP, while
men were more likely than women to book an appointment if they felt ill.
Last year, the number of health searches in the UK
increased by 19 per cent up to an average of 848,820 searches a month.
71 per cent said they felt "positive about using
technology this way to better understand their bodies" and believe it
helps them to be more aware and in control of their health.
Eren Ozagir, CEO and founder of Push Doctor, said: “We
use technology to manage nearly every aspect of our lives - from socialising,
to organising our finances and heating of our homes. The adoption of
health-tech by the general population remains a natural next step; with more
and more people discovering how their health information can be used to guide
and control and enhance their everyday lives.
“Sports and fitness trackers, gave way to more advanced
health-tech monitoring and interpretation tools, and now we have really
applicable digital health tools like blood pressure and glucose applications.
Combined usage can provide a view of individual their past and current health
state, which can be used by you or your doctor to inform what you do next; what
you do day to day to improve your general wellbeing or tackle a range of
conditions working with a clinician to interpret and use this data to take
action to ultimately improve your short, medium and long term health
conditions.”
Medical professionals have begun to take advantage of the
rising popularity in tracking your health with technology and are beginning to
offer online healthcare services.
5.1 per cent of people said they would even share their
symptoms on social media in order to get opinions from their followers. A
further 6.3 per cent said they had shared data with their doctor online so they
could review it remotely, and almost 10 per cent said they had either
participated in an online chat or video consultation with their doctor.
Dr Helen Webberley, who consults patients online through
My Web Doctor, says although we can never replace the physical GP, online
healthcare could soon be the status quo: "Online healthcare is just about
to boom, and people are beginning to trust and use it much more.
"It is surprising these days what can be dealt with
remotely. Advice is easy by email or telephone; mobile phone photos are easy to
upload for looking at spots and rashes; and more detailed looks at the body can
be achieved via real-time video conferencing.
Prescriptions can be arranged and sent out in the post to
home and work.
"Obviously we can never replace the physical GP, but
online healthcare services can still advise on whether you need to see your GP,
and within what time-frame, so the next time the receptionist asks if it is
urgent for today, you will know whether it is or not. The convenience of being
able to access a good doctor from your laptop or mobile phone, at any time of
day, and to be able to receive your medication through the post, has got to be
the way forward."
Comments
Post a Comment