Non-implantable health digital objects invade our daily lives. They are not in the category of medical devices. Interactive pedometer measuring our number of daily steps and encouraging us to do more, telephone application to better manage a chronic illness, weighing scales, electronic cigarette to stop smoking, serious games, pillbox Electronic gymnastics, gymnastics on digital tablet, connected watch for cardiac rhythm monitoring, shoe evaluating energy expenditure, electronic health bracelet, wake diffuser acting on sleep, glycemic monitoring glasses, patch … The offer is plethoric. The market is considerable (PIPAME, 2016).
Some digital objects are intended to help a medical diagnosis by biometric and behavioral measurements (“quantified self”). Others measure a behavioral marker (number of steps). Others aim to become genuine prevention and / or care solutions, we speak of non-medicinal or INM interventions (HAS, 2011).
The supply of these products is increasing every day. Their use may be prescribed or recommended by health professionals or prevention. But are they really safe? Are they really effective at preventing a disease or treating symptoms? Are they really tailored to the needs of seniors? Are they really useful or cost effective? Are they sold at the right price? Are they vehicles for increasing or reducing social inequalities? Or, ultimately, are they just gadgets that will end up in the closet in a few weeks like so many others?
A major challenge is to be able to evaluate them scientifically and determine their true added value in terms of health and quality of life. Today, no evaluation procedure is accepted by all, as is the case for validation of medicines. Users and healthcare professionals are left to their own devices. Manufacturers do not know which validation and monitoring procedure to follow. Researchers are opposed to the best modalities of upstream and downstream study protocol. Decision-makers lack regulatory and legal tools other than manufacturing standards.
The conference calls for a scientific approach and a genuine approach to validation and clinical monitoring on the subject to improve professional practices and benefits for patients. The slideshow is open access.
Les références
Académie Nationale de Médecine (2013). Thérapies complémentaires: Leur place parmi les ressources de soins. Paris: Académie Nationale de Médecine.
Haute Autorité de Santé (2011). Développement de la prescription de thérapeutiques non médicamenteuses validées. Paris: HAS Edition.
Ministère de l’Economie, de l’Industrie et du Numérique (2016). E-santé : faire émerger l’offre française en répondant aux besoins présents et futurs des acteurs de santé. Paris: PIPAME.
Ninot G (2014). Définir la notion d’intervention non médicamenteuse. Blog en Santé, A16.
Pour citer cet article du Blog en Santé ©
Ninot G (2017). Connected Objects: Gadget or Effective Solutions for Health? Blog en Santé, C6.
© Copyright 2017 Grégory Ninot. All rights reserved.