Web-based internet searches for digital health products in the United Kingdom before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a time-series analysis using app libraries from the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Applications (ORCHA)

Abstract

ObjectivesTo explore if consumer interest in digital health products (DHPs), changed following the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown measures that ensued.DesignRetrospective time-series analysis of web-based internet searches for DHPs in the UK, split over two periods, pre-COVID-19 lockdown (January 2019–23 March 2020) and post-COVID-19 lockdown (24 March 2020–31 December 2020).SettingThe UK.ParticipantsMembers of the UK general population using health-app libraries provided by the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Applications.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary outcome was volume of searches for DHPs. Secondary outcomes considered search volumes for 25 different therapeutic areas. Outcomes were assessed for significance using a two-stage Poisson test.ResultsThere were 126 640 searches for DHPs over the study period. Searches for DHPs increased by 343% from 2446 per month prior to COVID-19 lockdown measures being introduced to 8996 per month in the period following the first COVID-19 lockdown in the UK. In total, 23/25 (92%) of condition areas experienced a significant increase in searches for DHPs, with the greatest increases occurring in the first 2 months following lockdown. Musculoskeletal conditions (2.036%), allergy (1.253%) and healthy living DHPs (1.051%) experienced the greatest increases in searches compared with pre-lockdown. Increased search volumes for DHPs were sustained in the 9 months following the introduction of lockdown measures, with 21/25 (84%) of condition areas experiencing monthly search volumes at least 50% greater than pre-lockdown levels.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly disrupted the routine delivery of healthcare, making face-to-face interaction difficult, and contributing to unmet clinical needs. This study has demonstrated significant increases in internet searches for DHPs by members of the UK population since COVID-19, signifying an increased interest in this potential therapeutic medium. Future research should clarify whether this increased interest has resulted in increased acceptance and utilisation of these technologies also.

System Usability Scale Benchmarking for Digital Health Apps: Meta-analysis

“…The public is increasingly searching for digital health apps (DHAs) in app stores to help self-manage their health and well-being [3]. With the uptake of DHAs, national health care organizations such as the National Health Service in the United Kingdom are offering curated access to health care apps as part of social prescription and related services [4].…”

Has the pandemic enhanced and sustained digital health-seeking behaviour? A big data interrupted time-series analysis of Google Trends

“…Digital health generally refers to the use of internet solutions, big data, and communications technologies to collect, share and manage health information to improve both individual and public health, as well as identify symptoms, plan treatment, monitor key health parameters, and monitor progress and treatment effects (5,6). Even though digital health saw tremendous uptake early in the pandemic (4), no information exists on whether this uptake was sustainable (7), which we investigate in this article.…”

“…Evidence from a systematic review shows a median 42% decrease in healthcare visits, 28% decrease in admissions, 31% reduction in diagnostics, and 29% reduction in therapeutics, resulting in an overall 37% decrease of utilisation of healthcare services (1). Digital health usage has exploded during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic as traditional health services were disrupted (2)(3)(4). Digital health generally refers to the use of internet solutions, big data, and communications technologies to collect, share and manage health information to improve both individual and public health, as well as identify symptoms, plan treatment, monitor key health parameters, and monitor progress and treatment effects (5,6).…”

Quality assessment and user experience analysis of digital health apps

“…The amount of digital health apps (DHAs) has surpassed 350,000 [1] and the public interest in DHAs has been increasing [2]. For these apps to be safe to use by members of the public, they need to be quality assured.…”