Technology: Revolutionizing the delivery of health behavior change interventions with integrated care

Abstract

Worldwide, there is increasing demand for healthcare services due to population growth, longevity, and the exponential increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases. The rising rate of chronic diseases is attributable to the quartet of modifiable health risk behaviors of physical inactivity, poor nutrition, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption. In the United States (USA), for example, the burden on the healthcare system has led to a disequilibrium in the demand and supply of healthcare services. As a result, this demand-supply mismatch is paving the way for newer care delivery models. Central to these innovative delivery models is active patient participation which is critical for optimizing clinical outcomes. More recently, there are increasing calls for integration of behavioral services into primary care delivery. The concurrent exponential growth of technological innovations is playing a key role in revolutionizing healthcare delivery. Health information technology solutions are diverse and leverage a variety of technological platforms including instant messaging, mobile or web application software, and miniature-sensing devices in phones and other personal devices. The marriage of these technological interventions and different models of behavior change is proving to increase relevance and effectiveness of these interventions. And, these innovative solutions are creatively being used to engage patients outside of traditional care settings to help them adopt and sustain positive lifestyle behaviors. Despite these early successes, there are some ethical concerns about data security which has generated calls for increased regulations to maintain data security and privacy.