There's no doubt that technology has come a long way in improving our healthcare, and the emergence of digital therapeutics (DTx) is no exception. Digital Therapeutics offers an innovative way to tackle health issues in the current climate - providing patients with more monitoring tools, access to support services, and personalized treatment plans. But how effective can DTx be when applied to diabetes? A recent survey conducted by Bryter amongst US, EU, and UK diabetes clinicians has shed some light on their perspective of DTx and its potential role in treatment.
In this article we will define digital therapeutics and explore diabetes clinicians' views in the following areas:
- Interest in trials and appeal
- Current usage
- Potential benefits
- Barriers to uptake
- Pharma & DTx
What are Digital Therapeutics?
The FDA defines DTx as software designed to cause evidence-based therapeutic intervention in the prevention, management or treatment of diseases or medical disorders. The software is then responsible for providing the intervention to the patient via a technology platform (app) or medical/pharmaceutical device. It also provides capability for real-time feedback for clinicians.
Most importantly, DTx must be clinically approved based on clinical trials published in peer-reviewed journals, demonstrating clinically meaningful outcomes. The clinical evidence and real-world outcomes are the threshold that separates DTx from digital medicine and digital health.
Interest in trials and appeal
There is a clear appeal in digital therapeutics among diabetes clinicians, with 36% showing an interest in running clinical trials that could lead to DTx development in their specialty. Diabetes clinicians reported that they are particularly intrigued by the potential use of DTx in treatments related to diabetes 1 and 2 (65%), heart failure (45%) and chronic kidney disease (36%).
Current usage
Digital therapeutics have been gaining traction in the diabetes field as part of a wider embrace of digital health within the medical community, alongside 3 other large digital health domains:
- Telemedicine (telehealth); the use of digital information and communication technologies in healthcare, such as video conferencing, to provide medical services at a distance
- mHealth; the use of mobile technologies to promote health and deliver healthcare services
- Wearable technologies; electronic devices, typically connected to the body, such as implants, biosensors worn on the skin, and smartwatches
The recent Bryter survey found that many diabetes clinicians are already implementing some of these digital health services. For instance, 66% of surveyed diabetes clinicians reported having recommended telehealth to their patients, 61% had recommended sensors / wearable devices, and 52% mHealth. Just over one-in-10 (13%) said they had recommended DTx to patients. And while DTx has not yet reached widespread adoption, this indicates that there's an increasing trend amongst practitioners towards incorporating digital therapeutic treatments and technologies into their practice. Digital healthcare is certainly becoming the new normal for diabetes clinicians.
Potential benefits
DTx is increasingly seen as a powerful tool for healthcare providers. By combining the latest in digital technology with evidence-based medicine, DTx can help people manage their health and wellbeing through personalized, interactive experiences that are tailored to individual needs. This can be especially useful for conditions that require long-term management such as chronic diseases. With DTx treatments, patients may be able to better understand their condition and develop healthier habits which could lead to better overall outcomes.
Bryter's recent survey found that DTx offers a range of potential benefits for patients and the healthcare system alike. According to diabetes clinicians, digital therapeutics can provide data that will help physicians to better manage patients (43%), allow patients to better manage their condition(s) (43%), and improve patient outcomes (37%). Physicians also recognize the potential cost effectiveness of DTx, both for patients (30%) and the health system itself (39%).
Ultimately, digital therapeutics can make healthcare practices more precise and efficient while helping individuals to look after their own well-being. As such, DTx is an important part of modern medicine which should not be overlooked by physicians, or their patients.
Barriers to uptake
DTx technology is becoming increasingly popular, but uptake is not always as swift as one might hope. There are several barriers that can stand in the way of more widespread adoption of DTx. These include a lack of understanding among clinicians and other healthcare providers about the value of DTx and how to incorporate them into clinical practice, regulatory uncertainty, and limited reimbursement for these products from payers. In addition, there are concerns over data privacy and security associated with some digital tools.
More specifically, in Bryter's recent survey, diabetes clinicians shared what they thought is stopping wide adoption - the top three issues being educating patients to use (57%), integrating into physician workflows (43%) and educating physicians to use (40%). The data highlights the importance of making sure both patients and physicians have the necessary information resources for better patient engagement when it comes to following their care plan.
While DTx have tremendous promise for improving patient health outcomes, successfully navigating these barriers is key for their successful implementation.
Pharma & DTx
Manufacturers of digital therapeutics (DTx) may come from a range of industries, such as health tech, biotech, and pharmaceuticals. Companies that produce DTx need to possess the necessary expertise, such as data analytics and software engineering, as well as knowledge in healthcare and drug/device development.
According to 38% of diabetes clinicians in the Bryter survey, specialist digital pharma companies / tech start-ups are best placed to successfully develop digital therapeutics for diabetes patients. Other potential manufacturers were chosen by a minority of diabetes clinicians: large tech companies (21%), hospitals / healthcare providers (21%), pharma companies (11%), and national / federal health services (8%).
Conclusion
All in all, DTx has the potential to revolutionize the way we approach healthcare, including diabetes, providing everyone with better and more accessible options for managing their well-being. While there are some underlying challenges that require careful consideration and implementation, digital therapeutics can help open up greater opportunities for people and medical professionals alike, such as improved patient outcomes and cost effectiveness. The potential impact this technology will have on people's lives is both remarkable and exciting. One thing is certain; DTx is here to stay and its positive influences on our healthcare ecosystem are only just beginning.
About Bryter and digital pharmaceutics
Bryter is an international market research and insights consultancy specialising in pharmaceutical research. We work with leading manufacturers and service providers to better understand the role pharma plays in people’s lives, enabling them to develop & market their products and services more effectively.
Read more about innovation in digital health and its impact on patient experience and the delivery of healthcare
You can read more about digital therapeutics and access a variety of other reports and resources at our website bryter-global.com
