Patient Empowerment: how to strengthen health literacy

Patient Empowerment – more self-determination in healthcare

Patient empowerment is more than a trend – it’s a fundamental shift in healthcare. Those who know, understand and can actively use their health data make better decisions and improve their quality of life in the long term. However, many digital health solutions fall short of this aspiration: they are too complicated, insufficiently tailored to individual needs, or make access to reliable information difficult. For digital offerings to truly support patients, they must enable personalised insights, make medical knowledge understandable, and integrate seamlessly into users’ daily lives. Five key aspects are crucial for successfully implementing patient empowerment.

Target group-specific solutions instead of One-Size-Fits-All

Digital patient empowerment can only succeed if the different needs and life realities of patients are taken into account. An app may be suitable for tech-savvy people, but older people without smartphones or with motor impairments need different solutions. The severity and chronicity of a condition also play a decisive role. While an app may not be necessary for high blood pressure, it can be valuable support for severe chronic conditions or cancer. The crucial factor is that digital solutions can be integrated into the everyday lives of those affected.

Trustworthy health information despite information overload

In the era of Dr Google, TikTok and ChatGPT, the ability to distinguish high-quality from inferior or false health information becomes a key competence. Many people are confused and uncertain in the face of the enormous amount of information. Guidance from trustworthy sources such as doctors, hospitals, and reputable health portals is therefore crucial. At the same time, merely referring to these sources is not enough – the information must also be accessible and prepared in an understandable way.

Involvement of patients

Equally important is the involvement of patients in the development of digital health solutions. Too often, applications are developed that miss the actual needs – with the result that they are hardly used after market launch. For example, patients hesitate to question medical decisions or request their treatment documents – often out of concern about annoying medical professionals. Some also have inhibitions about openly addressing when they don’t take medications as prescribed. Digital solutions, such as structured notes in the electronic patient record (ePA), could provide support here and improve communication between patients and doctors.

Another neglected group of people in the development of solutions are family members. They play an important role in the empowerment and therapy of patients and should definitely be considered during development.

In the current healthcare landscape, numerous solutions are emerging from various actors, such as the pharmaceutical industry, health insurance companies, and clinics. This offers opportunities but also poses risks if systems are not compatible or patients lose track. A systematic exchange of experiences is therefore essential to continuously improve new offerings.

Conclusion: patient empowerment as a strategic opportunity for the healthcare system

Digital patient empowerment is much more than a buzzword – it is a fundamental approach that has the potential to sustainably improve the healthcare system. By enabling self-determined management of one’s own health, not only can the quality of care be increased, but the limited resources in the healthcare system can also be used more efficiently. The ePA will play a key role here.

As IBM iX, we see ourselves as partners in this transformation process and support the development of patient-centred digital solutions with our expertise at the interface of design, technology, and strategy.

The approaches presented in the text were developed as part of the Healthcare Experience Meetup, where experts from various areas of healthcare discussed the future of patient empowerment.

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