ArticlePEC innovation2026
First the relationship, then the technology: Healthcare professionals' perceptions on how digital health solutions impact the interaction with patients.
Article in PEC innovation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Objectives: Previous research has explored barriers and facilitators to digital health solutions (DHS) implementation, yet less is known on how DHS should be implemented to maintain patient interaction, and accommodate shifting responsibilities. This study explores health care professionals' (HCP) perspectives on patient-HCP interactions in DHS including video consultations, remote monitoring, and digital care platforms. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-six HCPs. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed by two researchers. Results: Analysis revealed three overarching themes (the impact of DHS on the relationship, responsibility and anxiety), and ten subthemes. HCPs noted that DHS changed patient-HCP interactions, hindering relationship building. In regard to video consultations, interactional etiquette shifted, with the patient-HCP interaction transitioning towards more informal contact. Remote monitoring and digital care platforms increase patient responsibility, which can hinder communication, particularly when patients access medical results prior to consultations. Most HCPs emphasized that a trusting relationship should be established before introducing DHS to ensure responsible and effective use. Conclusion and innovation: This study shifts the focus from how DHS can be implemented to how they should be implemented to sustain meaningful patient-HCP interactions. The findings challenge the assumption that DHS can readily replace or supplement traditional care, emphasizing that face-to-face encounters remain essential for patient engagement, relational continuity, and professional fulfilment of HCPs. DHS implementation should therefore follow the establishment of trust and be guided by a tailored, human-centered approach that accounts for individual differences in patients' health status and digital literacy.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.