BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 pandemic has catalysed the emergence of digital solutions in all areas of medicine. A pivotal question arises: how can the various stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem adapt to these challenges? Our prior study highlights the crucial role age plays in shaping attitudes towards digital health solutions among medical doctors. The youngest age group presents the highest enthusiasm for integrating digital technologies into medical practices, while familiarity with such technologies decreases significantly as age increases.
OBJECTIVE
The present research question is how under 35-year-old Hungarian doctors relate to digital health solutions, what tools they would like to use and what perceived benefits and drawbacks they see with their utilization.
METHODS
: As part of the ‘E-physicians and E-patients in Hungary’ study, we conducted an online survey among medical practitioners in Hungary from July 2021 to May 2022 (n=1774). The target group of our exploratory research are physicians under 35 years of age: n=399 (25.3%). Besides descriptive statistical analyses, cluster analysis and binary logistic regression were applied to analyse the attitudes of the young medical age group regarding digital health issues.
RESULTS
Our cluster analysis confirmed that younger doctors perceive more advantages (7.07 vs 8.52) and disadvantages (4.06 vs 4.42) of digital health solutions. They also demonstrate greater familiarity with (8.27 vs 9.79) and use of (1.94 vs 2.66) a broader spectrum of technologies. Proficiency and active utilization of diverse technologies correlates with a more comprehensive understanding of both pros and cons, as well as a more realistic self-assessment of areas of further improvement. Doctors under 35 years express a notable demand for significantly increased incentives, both in terms of knowledge transfer/training and infrastructure incentives. Multivariate analyses revealed that young doctors, compared to their older counterparts, perceived enhanced patient adherence as one of the greatest benefits of digital health solutions. Additionally, young doctors expect that digital health solutions could reduce burnout.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings underscore the inevitable transformation of the role of 21st-century physicians: the success of digital health solutions hinges on active patient involvement and management, which requires proper patient education and professional support in navigating the digital space. Young doctors' needs and skills in digital technologies can be an important reference point for older colleagues. Digital health solutions can be a bridge between different generations of doctors, where young people can help their older colleagues navigate the digital world.