
Digital Health Tools Offer Scalable Solutions for Early Childhood Sleep Challenges
Key Takeaways:
- Digital sleep interventions demonstrate meaningful improvements in sleep outcomes for young children, with high levels of parental engagement across diverse formats.
- Parents also benefit, with several studies reporting reduced stress and improved sleep quality alongside improvements in their children’s sleep.
- While early results are promising, gaps remain in long-term evidence, objective sleep measurement and inclusion of families from minority and low-resource communities.
Digital health and early childhood sleep
A new scoping review led by researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine highlights the growing role of digital tools in helping parents support healthier sleep in early childhood. The review was spearheaded by Azizi Seixas, PhD, and Girardin Jean-Louis, PhD, and describes strong parental engagement, meaningful improvements in sleep outcomes and emerging best practices for future innovation in paediatric sleep health.
Sleep problems in young children, ranging from bedtime resistance and frequent night wakings to obstructive sleep apnoea, are closely linked to multiple aspects of development. Persistent sleep disturbances beyond infancy have been associated with challenges in school readiness, mood regulation and long-term health outcomes. Against this backdrop, the rapid expansion of mobile apps, telehealth services and online learning platforms has positioned digital health as a potentially powerful avenue for supporting families navigating sleep difficulties.
“This study fills an important gap in the pediatric sleep literature by showing how digital tools can capture real-world sleep behaviors at scale,” said Dr Seixas. “From a public health standpoint, these technologies help us identify population-level patterns earlier, especially in communities where sleep problems often go unrecognized. Clinically, they give providers objective, continuous data that can guide more personalized and timely interventions, ultimately improving outcomes for children who need support the most.”
A global review of digital sleep interventions
Dr Seixas, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences, director of The Media and Innovation Lab, associate director of the Center for Translational Sleep and Circadian Sciences and interim chair of the Department of Informatics and Health Data Science at the Miller School, and Dr Jean-Louis, professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences and neurology and director of the Center for Translational Sleep and Circadian Sciences, led an extensive scoping review of the scientific literature.
The research team screened more than 2,100 articles published from database inception through April 2025 across multiple academic sources. Following rigorous screening, 21 studies met the final inclusion criteria.
Collectively, these studies involved thousands of parents, dozens of healthcare professionals and nearly 500 parent-child dyads who participated in digital sleep intervention trials. The breadth of study designs and populations provided a wide-ranging view of how digital approaches are being applied in early childhood sleep support.
Types of digital tools evaluated
The review encompassed a diverse range of digital sleep interventions, including:
- Mobile applications designed to guide bedtime routines and monitor sleep behaviours
- Web-based educational modules for parents
- Telehealth programmes offering remote coaching and behavioural guidance
- Social media-enhanced parent support groups
- Wearable devices and data dashboards used for sleep tracking
- Robotic or kiosk-based sleep education tools
Across all formats, parental engagement emerged as a consistent strength. Most interventions focused on equipping parents with practical strategies to implement at home, often grounded in cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia or other evidence-based behavioural approaches.
Improvements in sleep outcomes for children and parents
A majority of the digital interventions reviewed were associated with improvements in at least one clinical sleep outcome for children. In many cases, benefits extended beyond the child to parents and caregivers.
Reported improvements for children included:
- Longer total sleep duration, documented in six studies
- Fewer night wakings
- Shorter sleep onset latency, defined as the time taken to fall asleep
- Improved sleep efficiency
- Reduced early-morning awakenings
- Improved breathing-related symptoms, including snoring detection through mobile tools
Several studies also reported positive effects on parental wellbeing, including reduced stress levels and improvements in parental sleep quality. One mobile application, Dr Lullaby, was associated with a significant reduction in the need for parents to remain in the room while their child fell asleep, suggesting improved sleep independence.
Telehealth and neurodevelopmental conditions
Telehealth interventions were particularly valuable for families of children with autism spectrum disorder. In randomised controlled trials, parents who received remote coaching on behavioural sleep strategies reported significant improvements in their children’s sleep by weeks five and ten of the intervention. These benefits were sustained at 16-week follow-up, indicating potential durability of effect.
Web-based educational programmes also demonstrated value. Online modules such as Mini-KiSS and the SKIP asthma-sleep intervention supported parents in establishing healthier bedtime routines and reducing night-time disruptions. These programmes consistently received high ratings for usability and acceptability among participating families.
The role of social support
The review highlighted the added value of social connection within digital interventions. In one study, an online healthy-lifestyle programme for young children showed no measurable sleep improvements until researchers introduced a closed Facebook group for parents. The addition of peer support facilitated shared problem-solving and encouragement, leading to significant gains in children’s sleep duration.
Gaps and priorities for future research
Despite the encouraging findings, the review identified several important limitations in the current evidence base:
- Approximately half of the studies involved predominantly white families, despite evidence that sleep problems disproportionately affect children from minority backgrounds.
- Most studies focused on short-term outcomes, with limited data on long-term effectiveness.
- Wearable devices were underused as objective measures of sleep.
- Children with chronic health conditions were underrepresented, even though early evidence suggests tailored digital interventions may be particularly effective for these groups.
Implications for clinical care and global paediatric health
Digital sleep health tools are becoming increasingly accessible, engaging and aligned with how families use technology in everyday life. This review suggests that when these tools are thoughtfully designed and grounded in behavioural science, they can meaningfully improve sleep outcomes for young children while also supporting parental wellbeing.
For clinicians, digital interventions may function as scalable extensions of care, offering education, behaviour tracking and reinforcement of healthy nightly routines. For researchers and developers, the next challenge lies in ensuring these tools are inclusive and reach families who may benefit most, particularly those in minority or low-resource communities.
The authors conclude that digital paediatric sleep interventions “show promise to educate parents and improve sleep outcomes in their child, extending benefits to the whole family.” With targeted innovation and equitable implementation, digital sleep solutions could become an integral component of paediatric care worldwide.
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Walmart Unveils ‘Better Care Services’ Digital Health Platform to Expand Access to Affordable Care
Key Takeaways:
- Walmart has launched Better Care Services, a new digital health platform designed as a single access point for healthcare services, wellness tools and products.
- The platform connects customers to third-party providers, including urgent care, behavioural health services and Eli Lilly’s LillyDirect telehealth platform.
- The launch is accompanied by price reductions on wellness products, a limited-time telehealth discount and a nationwide in-pharmacy Wellness Event.
A new one-stop digital health destination
Walmart has launched a new digital healthcare platform, Better Care Services, positioning it as a streamlined, one-stop destination intended to help people navigate healthcare and wellness more easily.
In announcing the launch, the company said the platform is “designed to help empower millions of customers to take control of their health journeys with ease, transparency and confidence.” The initiative reflects Walmart’s broader strategy to integrate digital health services with its existing retail, pharmacy and wellness offerings.
Access to third-party care and telehealth services
Better Care Services provides customers with access to a curated network of third-party healthcare providers, with an initial focus on urgent care and behavioural health services. Through the platform, people can connect to providers offering virtual care options aimed at addressing both immediate and ongoing health needs.
The platform also integrates LillyDirect, the direct-to-consumer telehealth platform developed by Eli Lilly. This allows customers to access telehealth services linked to Lilly’s digital health ecosystem through the Walmart interface.
According to a Walmart news release dated 8 January, the company is also introducing a limited-time USD 15 discount on select telehealth services with participating providers. This offer is set to begin on 15 January, reinforcing the company’s emphasis on affordability and access.
AI-powered nutrition and personalised recommendations
Beyond clinical services, Better Care Services includes a nutrition hub that uses artificial intelligence to support people in making food choices aligned with their health goals. The tool provides personalised food and recipe recommendations, drawing on Walmart’s extensive grocery range and existing digital infrastructure.
The inclusion of AI-enabled nutrition support reflects growing interest in digital tools that link dietary guidance with everyday purchasing decisions, particularly within large retail and pharmacy ecosystems.
Removing barriers to care
Kevin Host, Senior Vice President of Health and Wellness and Pharmacy at Walmart, framed the platform as a response to persistent challenges in accessing care.
“We know that when health care feels hard, many people do not get the care they need. We can fix that,” Host said.
“Better Care Services is about making wellness simple and affordable to fit into your life; we are removing barriers so more people can get the care they deserve, right when they need it.”
These comments underline Walmart’s stated aim to reduce complexity, cost and friction within healthcare journeys, particularly for people who may delay or avoid care when systems feel difficult to navigate.
Price reductions and nationwide wellness initiatives
Alongside the digital platform launch, Walmart announced plans to reduce prices on more than 1,000 wellness-focused items, spanning food, supplements and fitness products. The move is intended to complement the digital offering by addressing affordability across both services and everyday health-related purchases.
The company will also host its annual Wellness Event on 24 January at nearly 4,600 Walmart pharmacies nationwide. The in-store event is set to include free health screenings, low-cost immunisations and wellness consultations, further linking digital access with physical pharmacy-based care.
Positioning digital health within retail healthcare
Taken together, Better Care Services, price reductions and in-pharmacy events highlight Walmart’s continued efforts to position itself as a central player in retail-based healthcare. By combining telehealth access, AI-driven nutrition tools, pharmacy services and discounted wellness products, the company is seeking to create a more integrated and accessible healthcare experience for people across the United States.
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AI Giants Expand Healthcare Offerings as Anthropic and Google Unveil New Medical Tools
Key Takeaways:
- Anthropic and Google have launched new healthcare-focused AI tools, following OpenAI’s recent release of ChatGPT Health in the United States.
- The tools are designed to support people and healthcare professionals in understanding medical information, not to replace clinical decision making.
- Regulatory scrutiny remains high, particularly in the UK, amid concerns about safety, accuracy, and governance.
Growing momentum in healthcare AI
Major artificial intelligence developers are accelerating their push into healthcare, with Anthropic and Google announcing new medical AI tools shortly after OpenAI launched ChatGPT Health in the United States.
The announcements signal increasing interest from large technology companies in applying generative and multimodal AI to health data, patient engagement, and clinical workflows, while also highlighting ongoing debates around regulation, safety, and the appropriate role of AI in care delivery.
Anthropic introduces Claude for Healthcare
Anthropic has launched Claude for Healthcare, a suite of tools and resources aimed at healthcare providers, payers, and members of the public. The offering enables the use of Anthropic’s Claude AI for medical-related purposes.
In a blog post published on 11 January, Anthropic said the new integrations are “designed to make it easier for individuals to understand their health information and prepare for important medical conversations with clinicians”.
When connected to a person’s laboratory results and health records, Claude can summarise medical history, explain test results in plain language, identify patterns across fitness and health metrics, and help people prepare questions ahead of clinical appointments. The focus, according to Anthropic, is on improving understanding and readiness rather than delivering diagnoses.
Google expands medical imaging capabilities
Google has also announced the release of MedGemma 1.5, an expanded version of its open medical AI model. The updated system is capable of interpreting three-dimensional CT and MRI scans, alongside whole-slide histopathology images.
The move reflects Google’s growing emphasis on multimodal medical AI, particularly in imaging-heavy specialties, where pattern recognition and visual analysis are central to clinical decision making.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT Health and regulatory considerations
Both announcements follow the recent launch of ChatGPT Health by OpenAI earlier this month. The product can analyse people’s medical records and data from health apps to provide personalised health-related insights.
OpenAI has emphasised that the tool is not intended to replace clinical care. On its website, the company states:
“Health is designed to support, not replace, medical care. It is not intended for diagnosis or treatment.
Instead, it helps you navigate everyday questions and understand patterns over time – not just moments of illness – so you can feel more informed and prepared for important medical conversations.”
ChatGPT Health is currently only available in the United States. A spokesperson for OpenAI told Digital Health News that the company is working through local regulatory requirements that require additional compliance measures before a UK launch. They added that OpenAI often engages in advance consultations with regulators in the UK and the EU prior to introducing new products or services in those regions.
Acquisitions and safety concerns
Further underscoring OpenAI’s healthcare ambitions, the co-founder of health data startup Torch announced last week that the company had been acquired by OpenAI for more than $100 million (£75m). Torch focuses on connecting health data from a wide range of sources to provide answers to common health-related questions.
At the same time, concerns about the risks of AI-generated health information remain prominent. Google recently removed some of its AI health summaries after an investigation by The Guardian found that people were being put at risk of harm due to misleading information. In some cases, summaries reportedly omitted critical safety details, including side effects and allergy warnings.
Calls for regulation and human-led care
Commenting on the rapid expansion of generative AI in healthcare, Euan McComiskie, health informatics lead at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists, warned that governance frameworks have yet to catch up with technological development.
“These platforms are also not yet governed by any regulatory, strategic nor policy authority as is the case with our existing healthcare provider organisations,” he said.
“Until those issues are resolved, it is unlikely that generative AI platforms will entirely replace the human-led healthcare interactions.
“An AI-supported, human-led healthcare organisation can use multiple tools and platforms to operate efficiently, deliver high-quality healthcare whilst also enhancing the trusting and caring relationships that registered healthcare professionals have with the people we work with.”
UK regulator urges caution
Regulatory bodies in the UK have also urged caution. In November, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency advised that AI chatbots should not replace advice from healthcare professionals. The guidance followed research indicating that one in four people in the UK are turning to AI tools and social media for health guidance.
As major technology companies continue to invest in healthcare AI, the balance between innovation, safety, and regulation is likely to remain a central issue for policymakers, clinicians, and the people these technologies aim to support.
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Mayo Clinic Study Uses AI and CT Imaging to Identify Midlife Risk of Falls
Key Takeaways:
- Artificial intelligence applied to routine abdominal CT imaging can identify adults at increased risk of falls as early as midlife.
- Muscle density, a marker of muscle quality, is a far stronger predictor of fall risk than muscle size.
- Abdominal muscle health and core strength appear to play an important role in physical function and fall prevention across adulthood.
AI reveals early markers of fall risk
Researchers at Mayo Clinic have demonstrated that artificial intelligence applied to abdominal imaging can help predict which adults are at higher risk of falling, even from middle age onwards. The study, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Health, highlights abdominal muscle quality as a key predictor of future falls among adults aged 45 years and older.
Falls remain a leading cause of injury, particularly in older populations. However, the research team found that early indicators of fall risk may already be visible in CT scans that many people undergo for unrelated clinical reasons. This raises the possibility of identifying and addressing fall risk much earlier in the life course.
Using CT imaging beyond its original purpose
Working alongside radiology bioinformatics specialists, the researchers examined whether AI-derived measurements from abdominal CT scans could uncover subtle physical changes associated with falls. These measurements included fat distribution, muscle size, muscle density and indicators of bone quality.
Their analysis showed that muscle density, rather than muscle size, was most strongly associated with fall risk. Muscle density reflects muscle quality and the degree of fat infiltration within muscle tissue, whereas muscle size simply measures overall volume.
Muscle density matters more than muscle size
“Muscle size is just a measure of how big your muscles are,” says lead author Jennifer St. Sauver, an epidemiologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. “Muscle density is different; on a CT scan, it’s a measure of how ‘dark’ and homogenous the muscles are.”
Dr. St. Sauver explains that more homogenous muscles tend to be denser and contain less fat. This distinction is clinically meaningful, as muscle quality is more closely linked to physical strength and function than size alone.
“Previous studies have suggested that muscle density, not size, is more strongly associated with physical strength and function,” she says. “Our results support the idea that we should be focusing on muscle density, not muscle size, when we try to understand physical function.”
Strong associations seen even in midlife
While the research team anticipated finding associations between poorer abdominal muscle measures and falls among older adults, they were surprised by how pronounced these relationships were in middle-aged adults. The strength of the association suggests that meaningful declines in muscle quality may begin earlier than traditionally recognised and that these changes can significantly predict future fall risk.
“Leg muscles have been associated with physical function, but our findings show that abdominal muscles also play a significant role,” Dr. St. Sauver says.
Implications for lifelong core strength
The findings reinforce the importance of maintaining core strength and muscle quality throughout adulthood, not only in later life. According to the researchers, prioritising abdominal muscle health may offer long-term benefits for balance, stability and physical independence.
“One of the most important messages from this research is to keep your abdominal muscles in the best shape possible,” Dr. St Sauver says. “Doing so may provide benefits that start in midlife and continue well into older adulthood.”
Together, these results suggest that AI-enhanced imaging could one day support earlier identification of people at increased risk of falls, allowing preventative strategies to be introduced well before injuries occur.
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Worldwide Use of Wearable Healthcare Technology Could Rise Nearly 42-Fold by 2050, Study Finds
Key Takeaways:
- Global use of wearable healthcare devices could rise almost 42-fold by 2050, reaching close to two billion units annually.
- Non-invasive continuous glucose monitors are projected to dominate the market, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all wearable healthcare devices by mid-century.
- Without changes in design and manufacturing, this growth could carry a substantial environmental cost, including rising carbon emissions, ecotoxicity, and electronic waste.
Rapid global expansion of wearable health technologies
The global use of wearable healthcare technologies is projected to increase dramatically by 2050, according to a new analysis conducted by researchers from Cornell University and the University of Chicago. The study estimates that annual consumption of wearable health devices could approach two billion units worldwide by mid-century, representing an almost 42-fold increase compared with current levels.
The analysis, published in the journal Nature, focuses on a range of wearable healthcare technologies, including continuous glucose monitors, electrocardiogram (ECG) devices, blood pressure monitors, and point-of-care ultrasound patches. While these technologies offer significant potential benefits for clinical monitoring and disease management, the researchers warn that their rapid expansion could come with a sizable environmental footprint if sustainability is not addressed early in the innovation process.
Environmental impact and carbon emissions
The researchers estimate that the projected global use of wearable healthcare devices could generate approximately 3.4 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions each year by 2050. In addition to greenhouse gas emissions, the study raises concerns about increasing ecotoxicity and the accumulation of electronic waste associated with large-scale deployment of these devices.
China is expected to contribute the highest share of annual greenhouse gas emissions linked to wearable healthcare electronics by mid-century, followed by India. These projections reflect both population size and anticipated growth in access to digital health technologies, particularly in rapidly developing economies.
Life cycle assessment of wearable devices
To quantify environmental impacts, the researchers used a life cycle assessment approach, examining each stage of a device’s lifespan. This included raw material extraction, component manufacturing, device assembly, use during its operational life, and eventual disposal.
Their analysis found that a single wearable healthcare device can emit between 1.1 and 6.1 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent over its lifetime, depending on the type of device and its specific design characteristics. Differences in sensing technology, materials, power requirements, and expected duration of use all influenced the overall environmental burden.
Devices included in the analysis
Four representative wearable healthcare devices were assessed in detail:
- A non-invasive continuous glucose monitor
- A continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor
- A wearable blood pressure monitor
- A point-of-care ultrasound patch
These devices were selected based on their clinical relevance, diversity of sensing modalities, and representation of different stages of technological maturity within the wearable health sector.
Shifting market dynamics towards continuous glucose monitoring
At present, the wearable healthcare market is largely dominated by continuous ECG and blood pressure monitoring devices. However, the study projects a major shift in device usage patterns over the coming decades.
By 2050, non-invasive continuous glucose monitors are expected to account for approximately 72 percent of global wearable healthcare device use. Continuous ECG monitors are projected to represent 19 percent of usage, while blood pressure monitors are expected to make up around eight percent.
The researchers noted that by mid-century, annual global sales of non-invasive continuous glucose monitors alone could exceed current worldwide smartphone sales, which were estimated at 1.2 billion units in 2024.
Limited gains from bioplastics, greater potential from design changes
The study also explored potential strategies to reduce the environmental impact of wearable healthcare technologies. The researchers found that switching to recyclable or biodegradable plastics provides relatively limited environmental benefits when considered across the full device lifecycle.
In contrast, more substantial reductions in emissions could be achieved by replacing critical-metal conductors, optimising circuit architectures, and improving overall electronic design. Importantly, these changes could lower environmental impacts without compromising device performance or clinical functionality.
Supporting more sustainable digital health innovation
The researchers concluded that their engineering-based framework for assessing environmental impacts across a wearable device’s lifecycle could help guide more ecologically responsible innovation in next-generation healthcare electronics.
As wearable health technologies continue to expand rapidly across global healthcare systems, the study highlights the importance of integrating sustainability considerations into design, manufacturing, and scale-up processes from the outset, rather than treating environmental impact as a secondary concern.
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Study Highlights Benefits and Limits of Generative AI in Weight Management
Key Takeaways:
- A short field experiment suggests that generative AI can support modest reductions in weight and body mass index through personalised dietary feedback.
- Private use of AI tools appears more effective than public sharing, with public analysis associated with higher dropout rates.
- People with lower levels of nutritional knowledge benefited most, indicating potential for AI to help reduce health inequalities, although it does not replicate the value of human community support.
Introduction
Nearly three-quarters of adults in the United States are living with overweight or obesity, and prevalence continues to rise globally. As a result, demand for high-cost interventions such as bariatric surgery and glucagon-like peptide-1 medications has increased, placing significant financial pressure on health care systems.
A new working paper suggests that generative artificial intelligence may offer a low-cost way to support people with weight loss by helping them make more informed dietary choices. However, the research also indicates that AI tools do not replicate the benefits of community-based programmes where people can share experiences and openly discuss the physical and psychological challenges associated with obesity.
The study was conducted by Catherine Tucker, Professor of Marketing at MIT Sloan School of Management, and Linyi Li of Singapore Management University. They followed 416 adult participants of varying ages over a three-week period in late 2024.
Study design and intervention
The researchers partnered with an Asia-based Fortune 500 company that runs an online weight loss boot camp combining guidance on healthy eating and physical activity. The programme included a group chat function using WeChat, enabling participants to interact, share experiences and support one another.
Participants were divided into three groups to assess the impact of a generative AI tool designed to analyse meals. The tool evaluated the nutritional content of food based on photographs and provided real-time, personalised suggestions such as adding more vegetables or choosing leaner protein sources.
The three groups were structured as follows:
- Group 1 – control group: Participants received general healthy-diet tips and access to the group chat but did not use the AI food-analysis tool.
- Group 2 – private analysis group: Participants sent photos of their meals privately to an administrator and received personalised AI-generated nutrition reports.
- Group 3 – public analysis group: Participants shared meal photos within the group chat, where both the images and the AI-generated nutrition reports were visible to all group members.
Finding 1 – Generative AI supported weight loss
Compared with the control group, both groups that used the AI food-analysis tool showed higher engagement with the programme, greater weight loss and larger reductions in body mass index.
On average, participants in Group 1 lost 0.966 kg over the three-week period. Those in Group 2 lost 1.426 kg, while participants in Group 3 lost 1.358 kg.
Although the absolute numbers were modest, Tucker emphasised their significance given the short duration of the intervention.
“Weight loss is such a big challenge. If it were easy for us all to lose weight, we’d just lose weight,” Tucker said. “The fact that a digital tool such as AI can have any effect is wonderful because interventions such as surgery or injectables are expensive. This is evidence of the cost efficacy of a very small intervention in terms of changing behavior.”
According to Tucker, the results highlight the value of generative AI in personalising individual experiences by offering tailored feedback, practical knowledge and guidance on day-to-day dietary decisions.
Finding 2 – Public analysis reduced participation
The way in which the AI tool was used had a clear impact on engagement. Participants with private access to the food-analysis tool were significantly more likely to remain in the programme for the full three weeks.
In contrast, Group 3, where meal photos and AI feedback were shared publicly, had the highest dropout rate. Tucker suggested that some participants may have felt discouraged by seeing highly engaged or high-performing peers, leading to disengagement.
“Dropout is the big enemy of weight loss,” Tucker said. “A likely explanation [for dropouts in Group 3] is that staying in the group introduced pressure [when] consistently reporting less-favorable statistics compared to others.”
The findings suggest that making AI-generated feedback public may alienate some individuals and reduce sustained participation. Community-based programmes such as Weight Watchers have historically succeeded by fostering mutual support during both successful and challenging periods.
As Tucker noted,
“There’s a set of people there to support you through good or bad weeks. I think what we are demonstrating is that if you make it too easy to post success stories, then you lose some of that [shared] vulnerability within the community.”
Finding 3 – Potential to reduce health inequalities
The researchers also found that the greatest benefits from the AI tool were seen among participants with lower levels of education and less prior nutritional knowledge. These individuals often struggle to interpret standard weight loss advice and appeared to gain particular value from detailed, personalised recommendations generated by the AI system.
The authors suggest that this capability could help reduce health inequalities by improving access to understandable, tailored dietary guidance for people who may otherwise be disadvantaged by traditional educational approaches.
Implications for the use of AI in health behaviour change
Although the study focused specifically on weight loss, the authors argue that the findings have broader relevance for how people interact with AI systems. Generative AI appears well suited to supporting individual behaviour change through personalisation, prompts and reminders. However, it does not replicate the social connection and emotional support provided by human communities.
For organisations and programme designers, the research suggests that AI should be used to enhance individual-level support rather than as a replacement for community-building or large-scale digital ecosystems.
Although the research was conducted in China, Tucker stated that the findings are likely to be applicable in other settings.
“I think what our research shows is that in the generative AI age, technology can certainly assist with information retrieval, reminders, prompts, all those good things, but we can’t really use it to replace that sense of community,” Tucker said.
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AI Adoption Accelerates in UK General Practice Despite Safety and Legal Concerns
Key Takeaways:
- Nearly three in 10 GPs in the UK are already using AI tools, including generative systems such as ChatGPT, during patient consultations and for administrative tasks.
- Widespread concern remains about clinical risk, liability and data security, with most GPs warning that the current lack of national regulation leaves them exposed.
- Time saved through AI is largely used to reduce burnout rather than increase appointments, challenging policy assumptions about productivity gains.
Growing use of AI in GP consultations
Almost 30 per cent of general practitioners in the UK are now using artificial intelligence tools in consultations with patients, according to new research, despite concerns that such use could lead to clinical errors and legal action.
The findings highlight how rapidly AI has moved into everyday general practice, largely as a response to intense workload pressures. Tools such as ChatGPT are being used to support tasks including appointment summaries, elements of clinical reasoning and routine administrative work.
However, this expansion is taking place in what researchers describe as a largely unregulated environment, leaving many clinicians uncertain about which tools are safe, appropriate and compliant with NHS standards.
Findings from the Nuffield Trust and RCGP survey
The research was conducted by the Nuffield Trust thinktank and is based on a survey of 2,108 family doctors carried out by the Royal College of General Practitioners, alongside focus groups involving GPs.
In total, 598 respondents, representing 28 per cent of those surveyed, said they were already using AI in their work. Usage varied notably across demographic and geographic lines, with 33 per cent of male GPs reporting use compared with 25 per cent of female GPs. Uptake was also significantly higher in more affluent areas than in deprived communities.
The study found that AI is most commonly being used to:
- generate summaries of patient consultations
- assist with aspects of diagnosis
- support routine administrative and documentation tasks
Ministers have expressed hopes that AI could help reduce waiting times and improve access to general practice. However, the report suggests that the reality on the ground is more complex.
Concerns about risk, liability and data security
Despite the pace of adoption, large majorities of GPs, including both users and non-users of AI, expressed serious concerns about the risks involved. According to the report, clinicians fear that practices adopting AI could face “professional liability and medico-legal issues”, alongside “risks of clinical errors” and challenges relating to “patient privacy and data security”.
Dr Becks Fisher, a GP and director of research and policy at the Nuffield Trust, said the current situation falls far short of national ambitions.
“The government is pinning its hopes on the potential of AI to transform the NHS. But there is a huge chasm between policy ambitions and the current disorganised reality of how AI is being rolled out and used in general practice”, she said.
Dr Fisher added that uncertainty around regulation is undermining confidence among clinicians.
“It is very hard for GPs to feel confident about using AI when they’re faced with a wild west of tools which are unregulated at a national level in the NHS.”
Inconsistent guidance across the NHS
The report also highlights variation in local policy. While some NHS integrated care boards actively support GPs in using AI tools, others prohibit their use altogether. This inconsistency adds to confusion and reinforces concerns about accountability and governance.
Productivity gains do not translate into more appointments
In a setback for policymakers, the research found that time saved through AI adoption is not typically used to see more patients. Instead, GPs reported using that time to manage exhaustion and prevent burnout.
“While policymakers hope that this saved time will be used to offer more appointments, GPs reported using it primarily for self-care and rest, including reducing overtime working hours to prevent burnout”, the report states.
Evidence from wider academic research
Similar conclusions were reached in a separate study published last month in the journal Digital Health. That research found that the proportion of UK family doctors using AI rose from 20 per cent to 25 per cent over the course of a single year.
Dr Charlotte Blease of Uppsala University in Sweden, the study’s lead author, described the pace of change as striking.
“In just 12 months, generative AI has gone from taboo to tool in British medicine”, she said.
Like the Nuffield Trust, Dr Blease emphasised the risks of adoption without adequate safeguards.
“The real risk isn’t that GPs are using AI. It’s that they’re doing it without training or oversight.”
She added: “AI is already being used in everyday medicine. The challenge now is to ensure it’s deployed safely, ethically and openly.”
Patients increasingly turning to AI
The growing role of AI is not limited to clinicians. Healthwatch England reports that increasing numbers of patients are also using AI tools to support their healthcare, particularly when they struggle to access GP appointments.
“Our recent research shows that while patients continue to trust the NHS for health information, around one in 10 (9%) are using AI tools for information on staying healthy”, said Chris McCann, deputy chief executive of Healthwatch England.
He noted that access barriers and convenience are driving this trend, but warned about variable quality.
“There are various reasons people may turn to AI tools, including when they cannot access GP services. However, the quality of the advice from AI tools is inconsistent. For example, one person received advice from an AI tool that confused shingles with Lyme disease.”
Government response and next steps
In September, the government launched a commission to examine how AI can be used safely, effectively and within an appropriate regulatory framework across healthcare. The commission is expected to publish recommendations on governance, oversight and implementation when it reports.
Until then, the research suggests that AI will continue to spread in general practice faster than the systems designed to regulate and support its use.
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Digital Tools Show Promise in Supporting Children and Teenagers to Build Healthier Habits
Key Takeaways:
- A large global analysis involving more than 133,000 children and teenagers shows that digital health tools can support improvements in physical activity, diet, sedentary behaviour and weight outcomes.
- Mobile applications appear to have the strongest influence on diet and weight, while wearable devices are especially effective in reducing sedentary time.
- Shorter programmes are most effective for increasing activity, whereas longer programmes deliver stronger effects on weight management.
Introduction
Concerns about excessive screen time and mobile phone use are common among parents, and technology is often cited as a cause of declining health among children and teenagers. However, new research from the University of South Australia suggests that digital technology may also play a constructive role in helping young people adopt healthier behaviours.
This research represents the largest global analysis to date examining how digital tools affect health outcomes among people under the age of 18. Drawing on data from more than 133,000 children and teenagers worldwide, the study indicates that mobile health applications, wearable devices and interactive digital programmes can support improvements in physical activity, dietary intake and weight-related outcomes.
How digital tools influence health behaviours
Increased physical activity
The review found that children and teenagers who used digital health tools engaged in more overall physical activity. The observed increases were most notable in moderate and vigorous activity, equivalent to approximately 10 to 20 additional minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day.
Improved dietary choices
Digital programmes and applications also helped young people increase their intake of fruit and vegetables and reduce the consumption of high-fat foods.
Positive effects on weight
Although the changes were modest, the analysis showed consistent improvements in body weight and body fat levels among participants who used digital health tools.
Reduced sedentary time
Some interventions, particularly those involving wearable technology, helped participants spend 20 to 25 fewer minutes per day sitting or engaging in screen-based sedentary activities.
Limited impact on sleep
The study found no clear evidence that digital health tools improved sleep duration or quality.
Which tools work best?
The analysis distinguished between different types of digital interventions:
- Mobile applications had the strongest effects on dietary improvements and weight-related outcomes.
- Wearable devices, such as fitness trackers, were most effective in reducing sedentary time.
- Programme length also played a role: shorter programmes of eight weeks or fewer were most effective for increasing activity levels, while longer programmes of twelve weeks or more had a greater impact on weight management.
Expert perspective
Lead researcher Dr Ben Singh from the University of South Australia emphasised the potential of electronic health (e-Health) and mobile health (m-Health) platforms to support healthier lifestyles among young people.
“Even though most young people know the importance of eating well, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep, many still fall short of the recommended health guidelines, putting them at greater risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease,” Dr Singh said.
“Digital health tools such as wearables, fitness apps, and online programmes could help turn this around by motivating kids to be more active and eat better.
“Our research shows that digital health tools and apps can significantly improve children’s physical activity, diet and weight outcomes, putting them on a better health trajectory for life.
“Because children and teens have grown up with technology, they’re naturally open to using apps. They’re accessible, engaging, and easy to scale, which makes them a great choice for schools and community programmes to promote healthier lifestyles.”
The global context
According to the World Health Organization, 80 per cent of teenagers do not meet recommended levels of physical activity. Globally, 390 million children aged 5 to 19 years are classified as having overweight, including 160 million with obesity. In Australia, one in five children fall into the categories of overweight or obesity, and fewer than a quarter of children aged 5 to 14 achieve the recommended hour of daily physical activity.
About the research
This investigation was a systematic umbrella review and meta-meta-analysis. It synthesised findings from 25 systematic reviews to assess the impact of a wide range of digital tools, including mobile applications, wearable devices, text messaging programmes, active video games and web-based platforms. The outcomes assessed included physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep, dietary intake and weight.
Implications for policy and education
Dr Singh stated that policymakers and educators could use these findings to guide the integration of digital tools into strategies that support young people’s wellbeing.
“We know that features such as gamification, tailored messaging, and machine learning can boost engagement,” Dr Singh said.
“By integrating evidence-based apps and wearables into schools, primary care and community programmes, we can make healthy habits more appealing and accessible for young people.
“This review brings together global evidence to understand when and how these tools work best. Short bursts of programmes are ideal for lifting activity levels, while longer ones are better for weight management.
“These online tools worked as well as, and sometimes better than, traditional in-person health programmes.
“Combining digital tools with light human support – from teachers, parents or health coaches – can also help keep motivation high.
“If we can encourage the use of healthy digital tools from a young age, we have a real opportunity to help children and teens form healthier habits that last a lifetime.”
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UMass Chan Launches National Collaborating Centre to Study Digital Lifestyle Interventions for People Using GLP-1 Medications
Key Takeaways:
- A major trial at UMass Chan will test whether a digital lifestyle change programme enhances outcomes for people using GLP-1 therapies to manage obesity, diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
- The work launches a new CDC-funded centre dedicated to lifestyle change implementation research, with a four-year award of 2 million dollars.
- Researchers aim to strengthen scientific evidence on how structured lifestyle interventions can support people taking GLP-1 medicines in real-world settings, including effects on physical activity, diet, muscle mass, adherence and quality of life.
Launch of a new national collaborating centre
UMass Chan Medical School has initiated a large research programme to examine whether a digital lifestyle change intervention can improve outcomes for people using GLP-1 therapies to manage obesity, diabetes or cardiovascular disease. This project marks the launch of the Lifestyle Change Implementation Research Network Collaborating Center at UMass Chan’s Prevention Research Center. The centre is supported by a four-year, 2 million-dollar award from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The project is jointly led by Jamie Faro, PhD, assistant professor of population and quantitative health sciences, and Stephenie C. Lemon, PhD, the Barbara Helen Smith Chair in Preventive and Behavioural Medicine, professor of population and quantitative health sciences, chief of the Division of Preventive and Behavioural Medicine, and co-director of the Prevention Research Center at UMass Chan.
Understanding the early experience of people using GLP-1 therapies
Dr Faro said: “We are going to look at what patients using GLP-1s are experiencing from early on in their journey, including changes in physical activity, diet, skeletal muscle mass, side-effect management, medication adherence and quality of life. We are hopeful this study addresses how lifestyle change interventions can impact these areas when implemented alongside patient’s medication.”
The research team intends to evaluate how a structured, digitally delivered programme may support people who are navigating the rapid physiological and behavioural changes often associated with GLP-1 therapy.
Study design and participant experience
Recruitment is expected to begin in early 2026, focusing on people living in the Worcester area. The study will enrol 220 participants and compare outcomes for individuals using the Noom Weight digital lifestyle change programme and Noom’s GLP-1 Companion with those receiving standard care. People who are allocated to standard care will have the option of accessing the digital intervention once the study concludes.
Participants in both groups will receive a wearable device to monitor physical activity over an eight-month period. They will also complete a series of lifestyle and health questionnaires, including dietary recalls. The dietary assessments will be led by co-investigator Sabrina Noel, PhD, RD, associate professor of biomedical and nutritional sciences and director of the Center for Population Health and the Health Assessment Laboratory at UMass Lowell.
Building the evidence base for real-world practice
Dr Faro emphasised the lack of robust data on how structured lifestyle change programmes can support people in real-world settings. She said: “There needs to be more scientific evidence on how lifestyle change interventions can support patients’ needs in real-world settings. The team laid the groundwork for this project by conducting pilot projects in UMass Memorial Health clinics, funded by the UMass Chan Ambulatory Research Consortium and the Mel Cutler pilot award in the Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences.”
The project will also investigate how lifestyle interventions can be implemented across different levels of the health system, including within clinical settings and by providers and payors.
Addressing risks and supporting long-term needs
Dr Lemon highlighted the importance of ensuring people using GLP-1 therapies receive appropriate lifestyle support. She said: “We want to establish evidence that can be applicable in other contexts that helps patients understand and engage in these necessary lifestyle interventions. Otherwise, we are going to have a population of GLP-1 users who lose weight but lose their muscle mass or have other issues that could be helped with lifestyle interventions, or who come off these meds and need additional support as they regain weight.”
A national network with shared goals
UMass Chan is one of four funded sites to receive a Lifestyle Change Interventions Research Network Coordinating Center Special Interest Project award from the CDC. The other sites include the University of Utah, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of South Carolina. Each site is conducting its own research project tailored to the evidence gaps identified by the CDC and to the needs of its local population.
The new centre at UMass Chan will collaborate closely with the CDC’s Coordinating Center and with Prevention Research Centers across the national network. Together they aim to advance research and practical implementation, with a focus on sustainable, evidence-based lifestyle change interventions to reduce obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and related chronic conditions.
Dr Lemon summarised the broader ambition of the network: “The goal of the network is to bring together researchers and practitioners from across the country who are interested in this field, with a goal of building knowledge and capacity for implementing advanced weight loss interventions and potentially doing small scale additional research studies that fill evidence gaps in partnership between researchers and practitioners.”
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AI Tool Creates ‘Digital Twins’ of Patients to Forecast Future Health
Key Takeaways:
- New DT-GPT model creates virtual patient replicas to predict individual health trajectories with notable accuracy.
- The model outperformed 14 leading machine learning systems and demonstrated effective zero-shot predictions.
- Technology could accelerate drug development and shift healthcare towards more predictive and personalised practice.
Introduction
A new artificial intelligence model capable of generating virtual patient representations and forecasting future health outcomes has been described as a potential breakthrough for clinical research. The system, developed by researchers at the University of Melbourne, uses large language model (LLM) techniques to create personalised digital twins that mirror each individual’s clinical profile.
How the DT-GPT model was developed
The research team trained an existing large language model on three extensive datasets containing thousands of electronic health records. These datasets included information on people living with Alzheimer’s disease, people with non-small cell lung cancer, and people admitted to intensive care units. The aim was to equip the model with sufficient breadth of clinical data to enable it to generate detailed patient-level predictions.
The resulting tool, named DT-GPT, analysed each person’s medical history, such as laboratory values, diagnoses, and treatments. Using this information, it constructed a virtual counterpart for every individual and projected how their condition might evolve under ongoing clinical care.
Predictive performance and validation
Crucially, the model was not shown any actual health outcomes during training. This allowed researchers to rigorously assess the accuracy of its predictions once the model generated forecasts.
Associate Professor Michael Menden, lead researcher, explained the approach:
“For each patient, we created a virtual replica by initialising the model with their individual clinical profile.”
He added:
“For example, we created virtual twins of 35,131 intensive care unit (ICU) patients and accurately predicted what would happen to their magnesium levels, oxygen saturation and their respiratory rate over a 24 hour period, based on their laboratory results from the previous day.”
When benchmarked against 14 state-of-the-art machine learning models, DT-GPT consistently outperformed them in predictive accuracy.
Implications for clinical trials and personalised medicine
Researchers believe the tool has significant implications for the future of clinical trials. Because the model can simulate potential outcomes for large groups of virtual participants, it may help streamline drug development processes by reducing time and cost associated with early-stage testing.
Associate Professor Menden said:
“This technology paves the way for a shift from reactive to predictive and personalised medicine.”
He continued:
“It could enable doctors to anticipate if their patient’s health will deteriorate so they can intervene earlier.
“It could also be used to predict negative side effects of medications, allowing doctors to tailor treatment plans to suit each patient’s unique characteristics and medical history, ultimately increasing the chances of a positive health outcome.”
Conversational interface and handling of complex data
One of DT-GPT’s strengths is its ability to interpret large volumes of complex, unstructured clinical data. The system also includes a conversational interface that functions similarly to a chatbot, enabling clinicians and researchers to query the model directly and explore the reasoning behind specific predictions.
Zero-shot predictions: an advanced capability
Because DT-GPT is based on generative AI, it can also perform zero-shot predictions. These are informed estimates of clinical values that the model has not been explicitly trained to predict.
Associate Professor Menden illustrated this:
“To use an analogy, it’s like asking the model to predict how tall someone will grow without providing the person’s height records and only giving their previous weight and shoe sizes.”
He noted a key finding:
“Our model accurately predicted how lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels changed in non-small cell lung cancer patients 13 weeks after they started therapy, despite not training the model for this purpose.
“We compared it to traditional machine learning models, which were specifically trained for 69 clinical variables, including LDH, which we in comparison only educated guessed.
“Very surprisingly, the DT-GPT’s zero-shot predictions, its untrained guesses, were more accurate in 18 percent of cases.”
The study was recently published in NPJ Digital Medicine.
Next steps: expanding to other conditions
The team responsible for developing DT-GPT, in collaboration with the Royal Melbourne Women’s Hospital, have now established the foundation for a new company that will apply digital twin technology to support people living with endometriosis. This work highlights the potential wider applicability of the model across different medical conditions.
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New AI Model Predicts Donor Viability and Could Cut Wasted Organ Transplant Efforts by 60%
Key Takeaways:
- A new machine learning model developed at Stanford University predicts whether a donor is likely to die within the critical timeframe needed for safe organ recovery.
- The system reduced futile liver procurement attempts by 60% and outperformed senior transplant surgeons.
- The tool could improve efficiency, reduce resource waste and expand access for people waiting for a donor organ.
A data-driven approach to a long-standing challenge
Thousands of people worldwide remain on transplant waiting lists, with demand far exceeding the supply of suitable donor organs. For people who require a liver transplant, recent advances have broadened access by enabling the use of donors who die following cardiac arrest. These cases, known as donations after circulatory death (DCD), have significantly increased potential donor numbers.
However, almost half of DCD liver transplant procedures are cancelled. In every case, timing is critical. After life support is withdrawn, the donor must die within 45 minutes to protect liver viability. If death occurs outside this narrow window, surgeons often reject the organ because of the increased risk of complications for the recipient.
This contributes to substantial resource waste, operational strain on transplant centres and missed opportunities for people waiting for life-saving surgery.
A new predictive tool outperforms top surgeons
Researchers, clinicians and scientists at Stanford University have developed a machine learning model designed to improve prediction accuracy around donor viability. The tool estimates whether a donor is likely to die within the period during which their organs remain suitable for transplantation.
The model surpassed the predictions of highly experienced surgeons and reduced the rate of futile procurements by 60%. Futile procurements occur when surgical teams begin preparing for a transplant but cannot proceed because the donor dies too late for the organ to remain viable.
Dr Kazunari Sasaki, clinical professor of abdominal transplantation and senior author of the study, explained the significance of the advance. “By identifying when an organ is likely to be useful before any preparations for surgery have started, this model could make the transplant process more efficient,” he said. “It also has the potential to allow more candidates who need an organ transplant to receive one.”
The findings were published in The Lancet Digital Health.
How the model works
The machine learning tool was trained using data from more than 2,000 donors across multiple US transplant centres. It analyses neurological, respiratory and circulatory indicators to estimate a donor’s progression towards death more accurately than previous tools or clinical judgment alone.
During retrospective and prospective testing, the model maintained strong predictive accuracy even when some donor data were missing. Researchers emphasised that this makes it especially practical for real-world clinical settings, where data completeness can vary.
Addressing resource strain and improving outcomes
Currently, transplant centres primarily rely on surgeons’ judgment to assess whether a donor is likely to die within the necessary timeframe. These predictions can vary considerably and may lead to unnecessary preparation of operating theatres, mobilising teams and allocating resources that ultimately go unused.
A reliable, data-driven tool has the potential to improve decision-making, reduce operational burden and ensure that efforts are more closely aligned with the likelihood of a successful transplant.
As the research team noted, the model demonstrates “the potential for advanced AI techniques to optimise organ utilisation from DCD donors”.
Next steps
The team now plans to adapt and test the model for heart and lung transplantation. If successful, this approach could transform prediction processes across multiple organ types, improving access for people waiting for donor organs and enhancing the efficiency of transplant systems worldwide.
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Digital and AI Strategies Emerge as Central to Expanding Health System Capacity, Survey Finds
Key Takeaways:
- Health system leaders increasingly view AI and digital health as essential to expanding capacity without adding buildings or clinical staff.
- Surveyed executives highlight persistent system pressures, including unaffordable care, limited access to primary care, and insufficient management of people’s health and wellbeing.
- Most leaders believe that fundamental operational change, underpinned by AI and digital tools, will be necessary to create sustainable, proactive models of care.
Introduction
A new report from the healthcare advisory firm Chartis suggests that digital health and artificial intelligence are now central pillars in health system leaders’ strategies to expand capacity, improve access, and operate more sustainably. The findings come from the firm’s fifth annual digital transformation survey, conducted in September 2025, which examined the perspectives of 150 health system executives on their progress and priorities in digital transformation.
Persistent pressures on healthcare delivery
The survey underscores the mounting pressures facing health systems today. Executives identified several entrenched challenges that continue to shape healthcare delivery:
- Unaffordable care was cited by 61 per cent of respondents as a major concern.
- Insufficient management of people’s long-term health and wellness was highlighted by 52 per cent.
- Limited timely access to primary care was reported by 49 per cent of leaders.
More than half of surveyed leaders believe that the sustainability of current care delivery models will decline further over the coming five years.
A shift from reactive to proactive care
In response to these pressures, there is widespread agreement that health systems must undergo fundamental change. According to the survey, nine in ten executives feel that organisations need to move away from reactive care and adopt more proactive, anticipatory models.
AI and digital health solutions are now widely considered critical to achieving this shift. The report notes that 90 per cent of leaders are already prioritising investments in digital and AI capabilities to support operational transformation.
AI and digital tools to expand capacity
Executives emphasised the importance of AI and digital health in increasing capacity while avoiding costly infrastructure or workforce expansion. Over the next five years, leaders expect these capabilities to be essential for serving more people without increasing physical space or clinical headcount.
Key priorities include:
- Freeing clinicians’ time for direct care through the use of AI (reported as very important by 52 per cent).
- Maximising access to clinical expertise using digital tools (51 per cent).
- Developing digitally enabled referral channels (45 per cent).
- Building hospital-at-home models as an alternative to inpatient care (36 per cent).
Expanding reach and access to care
Leaders also highlighted a strong need to extend the reach of healthcare services. More than half (53 per cent) stated that expanding delivery through initiatives such as care-at-home or mobile clinics is very important to improving access.
Several digital approaches were identified as particularly valuable for enhancing timely and convenient access:
- AI coaches to answer people’s questions (44 per cent).
- Connected devices and remote diagnostics to gather real-time health data (43 per cent).
- AI-enabled risk prediction to identify emerging health issues (43 per cent).
Supporting personalised patient journeys
Personalisation is another priority area, with leaders recognising the potential of digital platforms and AI to tailor the patient journey. The survey found:
- 52 per cent view offering multiple digital communication channels as very important for personalising the experience.
- 48 per cent believe that enhanced data collection and AI-supported analytics will be key to developing personalised care plans.
Call to action from Chartis
Tom Kiesau, co-author of the report and chief AI and digital officer at Chartis, emphasised the urgency of acting on these insights. He stated in the press release:
“Organisations need to capitalise on the momentum in this moment – and ensure that they are truly realising the potential presented by AI and digital capabilities to drive needed business transformation at scale.”
