Technology and Health

Digital Therapeutics and Virtual Reality Therapies Can Revolutionize the Healthcare Industry.

If you are unaware of these innovative health services, this post will give you ideas and might inspire you to start and benefit from them confidently.

Technology is not only for productivity, economy, or other business purposes. It also has promising use cases to improve health and well-being.

I will introduce two emerging and innovative health-related technologies: digital therapeutics and virtual reality therapies.

Based on my four decades of experience in technology and science, I emphasize digital therapeutics and virtual reality therapies as they have the potential to revolutionize the healthcare industry in several ways I discuss in this post.

However, these emerging and innovative tools and processes are still new and pose risks requiring collective mitigation approach.

First, I provide an overview of digital therapeutics and virtual reality therapies with examples, then discuss the topic by giving the benefits, challenges, and future use.

I also provide practical tips to beginners at the end of the article. My goal is to create awareness by informing you about my findings on the topic. This post summarizes the key points of my years of research in the field.

An Overview of Digital Therapeutics

Digital therapeutics refers to healthcare interventions using digital technologies, the internet, and mobile apps to manage medical conditions remotely.

Unlike traditional management models, digital therapeutics rely on software and hardware to deliver their therapeutic effects. I provide three examples in the following sections to give you an idea.

Some examples of digital therapeutics are helping patients quit smoking, boosting mood, controlling blood sugar or blood pressure, and managing chronic pain by providing devices to be used at home and sending data to healthcare providers to monitor and manage.

Digital therapeutics can be used independently or in combination with other treatments. The most significant benefit of digital therapeutics is that they can be quickly scaled and distributed to large numbers of patients cost-effectively.

An Overview of Virtual Reality Therapies

Virtual reality therapies use technology tools and processes to treat medical conditions, immersing patients in virtual environments and exposing them to controlled and therapeutic scenarios.

Even though the idea of virtual reality in healthcare was identified in the 1960s, the implementation of the concept only entered the mainstream after the 2000s, with the emergence of the Internet and the proliferation of mobile devices

Virtual reality therapies can provide immersive and realistic simulations for therapeutic purposes connecting patients and providers safely and effectively. One example is the Phoria project in Australia.

One of the most beneficial aspects of virtual reality therapies can be treating conditions related to complex and dangerous situations, such as providing exposure therapy to patients who fear flying without the need for them to board a plane.

Examples of Current Digital Therapeutics

In this section, I’d like to introduce three examples to give you an idea of digital therapeutics, one in Australia, one in the United States, and another in the United Kingdom. There are many more such tools and platforms.

1- MoodGYM in Australia

MoodGYM is a digital therapeutic developed by the National Institute for Mental Health Research at the Australian National University.

This valuable tool provides cognitive-behavioral therapy to help patients identify and challenge negative thoughts and develop healthier habits.

The program effectively reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety in young people. MoodGYM is available online and can be used independently by patients or with support from a therapist.

You can register anonymously using this weblink and benefit from this free service. It is a safe platform and is supported by the government.

Here’s my review of MoodGYM.

2 — reSET-O in the United States

reSET and reSET-0 are two digital therapeutic products approved by the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) for treating substance use disorders. It is a commercial tool owned by Pear Therapeutics in the US.

The program provides patients with valuable tools and resources to help them manage addiction issues. It includes self-monitoring tools, educational materials, and access to support networks.

The platform is “intended to provide cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), as an adjunct to a contingency management system, for patients 18 years of age and older who are currently enrolled in outpatient treatment under the supervision of a clinician.”

So, reSET is designed to be used with standard care, such as medication-assisted treatment and counseling. It is believed to improve treatment retention and abstinence rates in patients with substance use disorder.

I also plan to write a separate article reflecting the perspectives of some friends who benefitted from this service.

3 — SilverCloud in the United Kingdom

SilverCloud, based in the UK, includes various digital therapeutic tools to help people manage their mental health. These coached or self-guided programs are effective, adaptable, and supportive.

The tools use evidence-based cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques to help patients develop the skills and strategies to cope with mental health conditions, such as chronic stress, anxiety, and depression, and other conditions, such as insomnia, diabetes, and chronic pain.

The SilverCloud programs can be accessed online. They are designed to be used at your own pace. Each program consists of various modules that can be completed over several weeks. They include interactive exercises, videos, and other resources.

SilverCloud has been evaluated in several clinical studies published in 70+ peer-reviewed journals, and the results have been promising. I will write an article reflecting on my literature review and findings from people who successfully used this program.

Benefits of Digital Therapeutics and Virtual Reality Therapies

These technologies can potentially improve healthcare outcomes for patients and providers by providing personalized care, improving access, reducing costs, offering novel treatments and therapies, and generating data-driven insights. I want to explain them under five headings briefly.

1- Personalized Healthcare Services

Digital therapeutics and virtual reality therapies can provide personalized patient care based on their unique needs and preferences.

For example, AI-powered digital therapy programs might analyze data from wearable and monitoring devices to identify health patterns. Then, they can make personalized treatment recommendations.

This approach might help healthcare providers deliver targeted care to patients.

2- Better Access to Healthcare

Digital therapeutics and virtual reality therapies might improve access to care for patients with mobility difficulties or living in remote locations.

Patients can access these technologies from home, eliminating travel costs and inconvenience. This can also reduce the burden on healthcare facilities and providers, freeing up resources for other patients related to the next point.

3 — Reduced Healthcare Costs

If properly designed and implemented, digital therapeutics and virtual reality therapies might be more cost-effective than traditional treatments.

For example, digital therapy programs might be less expensive than in-person therapy sessions, making them more accessible to patients.

Likewise, virtual reality therapies might be delivered via remote rehabilitation programs, reducing the need for expensive in-person visits to a rehabilitation center.

4 — Creative Treatments for Special Needs

Digital therapeutics and virtual reality therapies might provide novel and innovative treatments for various health conditions. Two examples are treatment and therapy options.

Virtual reality exposure therapy might treat patients with anxiety, phobias, or PTSD, providing a safe and controlled environment for exposure to traumatic situations.

Digital therapeutics can deliver psychotherapies or behavioral therapies, providing patients with more flexible and accessible treatment options.

5 — Data-Driven Insights

If designed carefully and appropriately implemented, digital therapeutics and virtual reality therapies might generate valuable data on patient health and progress, which can be used to improve healthcare outcomes.

For example, healthcare providers might use data from wearable and monitoring devices to identify disorder patterns and make informed treatment decisions.

They can also use these rich data to identify gaps in care and improve overall healthcare delivery options.

Challenges of Digital Therapeutics and Virtual Reality Therapies

While digital therapeutics and virtual reality therapies offer various benefits for healthcare, several roadblocks need to be addressed to realize their potential fully.

Without addressing the following roadblocks, realizing the potential benefits of digital therapeutics and virtual reality therapies in healthcare will be challenging.

Therefore, it is critical to maintaining safety, privacy, accessibility, equity, and integration to ensure these technologies are used ethically, responsibly, and positively to impact patient healthcare outcomes.

I want to touch on each challenge briefly under five headings.

1 — Further Research, New Policies, Legal Issues, and Regulatory Approvals

Unlike traditional treatment approaches, these technologies are relatively new. Therefore there are many concerns about their safety and efficacy.

As health-related matters include sensitive data and information about patients' legal issues related to using them, they create challenges for providers and practitioners.

More research, clinical trials, and effective policies must display the effectiveness and safety of these approaches. Legal issues must be addressed to scale them.

2 — Privacy and Security

Privacy and security concerns are critical factors affecting the progress of these novel approaches.

People are naturally concerned about sharing their personal health information online as serious data breaches and cyberattacks constantly happen.

Unless privacy and security risks are mitigated, and current issues are resolved, these approaches cannot grow.

3 — Accessibility and Affordability

Some people cannot access digital therapeutics and virtual reality therapies, or they might not be able to afford them.

These tools and treatment processes are still costly for some people, especially those in disadvantaged communities or third-world countries.

4 — Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity

Related to the previous point, there is a discrepancy between poor and rich and other social factors, such as belonging to ethnic minorities.

There are valid concerns about technology tools and progress being biased against certain cultures or groups.

Unless diversity and inclusion issues are resolved, these valuable tools and processes will serve only privileged people.

5 — Integration Difficulties

The healthcare industry is exceptionally complex, with fragmented systems, tools, and processes.

Integrating these emerging technologies looks daunting.

Unless seamless integration with a collaborative approach, these novel tools cannot grow as desired.

Possibilities for the Future

Digital therapeutics and virtual reality therapies can be integrated into telehealth platforms to monitor patients remotely.

These integrated platforms can provide symptom management, therapy, and rehabilitation.

For example, cognitive behavioral therapy and remote rehabilitation programs for patients with physical or neurological conditions look feasible.

Mobile apps can be used to track a patient’s symptoms and medication. Physicians and nurses can provide patient education remotely and safely at the patients' convenience.

And these professionals can also perform these tasks at their convenience without going to medical centers.

Treating difficult and traumatic conditions like PTSD, social anxiety, and phobias in safe and controlled environments can be valuable for patients and practitioners.

Digital therapeutics can be combined with virtual reality therapies to manage chronic pain by providing a distraction and reducing the patient’s perception of pain.

For example, immersing patients in a virtual beach, meadow, or forest, inducing a peaceful atmosphere, can psychologically benefit patients and lower their pain and suffering.

In integrated environments, various therapeutic tools and processes can be combined to create synergistic effects by providing more comprehensive and personalized solutions.

Takeaways

Consider the following critical points if you haven’t used digital therapeutic tools and virtual reality therapies.

1 — Start with your trusted healthcare consultants to learn about digital therapeutics and virtual reality therapies to determine if they suit your conditions and needs.

2 — With their guidance, research your options by assessing reliable digital therapeutics and virtual reality therapy platforms.

3 — When you find and choose products and platforms, set realistic goals as they are not mature yet and require adjustments.

4 — Create a plan and use them consistently by following instructions with support from the platform, vendor resources, and guidance from your healthcare professionals.

5 — Monitor your progress and adjust your treatment plan as required.

6 — Stay open-minded and optimistic, checking relevant products and services with support from vendors and your healthcare consultants.

7 — Be careful with the sensitive information you provide to protect your privacy and safety online. Don’t share your login details with anyone.

Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.

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