Behavioral Change & Guidance:

Medication adherence, in which patients either forget, neglect, or take a lower-than-recommended dose of medications, is a major issue faced by all stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem. In the United States, for example, three out of every four patients have been found to be non-adherent. According to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the annual cost of hospitalizations due to non-adherence ranges between USD 100 and USD 300 billion, with non-adherent patients spending an additional USD 3,575 on an average hospital visit compared to adherent patients.

With personalised nudges that encourage long-term behavioural change in patients, digital therapeutic solutions help improve medication adherence. In addition, for people with chronic conditions such as diabetes and COPD, Digital DTX can play an important role in ensuring patients follow dosing guidelines.

Medical Education and Patient Engagement:

Advances in virtual reality technology have created compelling opportunities in the healthcare sector that can benefit both patients and physicians. While VR-enabled solutions can assist aspiring surgeons in honing their surgical skills, growing investments and advancements in VR-based therapeutic solutions can assist patients in effectively managing their chronic conditions and receiving personalised therapy programmes.

VR-based digital therapeutic solutions are being used to create a virtual environment to help patients remain calm and relaxed during preoperative anxiety or postoperative pain management. According to a recent study, 80 percent of patients reported less pain and 73 percent reported less anxiety when wearing VR headsets during surgery. Given the opioid epidemic in many developed countries, VR-based therapeutics, with their ability to effectively distract patients from painful stimuli, may prove to be a viable alternative to painkillers.