Ss60-02 Digital Health - Making Healthcare Accessible to Remote or Underserved Areas in the Asian Continent

Introduction COVID-19 has highlighted the importance and need for digital health interventions. With digital transformations world-wide, digital health solutions have revolutionized the way healthcare services are delivered, offering numerous opportunities to reach a broader audience. The attributes of digital health are that it is more accessible, affordable, and convenient if required training is provided to healthcare providers and end users. This survey-based study gives insight into the state of digital health in Asia. The study provides enough actionable insights to shape the future of digital health. Materials and Methods An online survey was conducted on the SurveyMonkey platform. Participants accessed the survey through a web link and responded to the questions electronically. The survey was available from September 5, 2023, to December 4, 2023, providing a substantial time frame for data collection. A total of 11 Asian countries participated. Results The majority of allied healthcare professionals in Asia, accounting for 89%, reported having either a good understanding of digital health or having used digital health. Among healthcare professionals in Asia, 63% stated that they have a good understanding of digital health and have used it themselves. Among non-healthcare professionals in Asia, a staggering 67% reported having a good understanding of digital health and having used it to seek treatment. Conclusions Skills development opportunities in digital health, patient-centric educational materials, and online resources explaining the basics of digital health, how to use specific digital health tools, and their benefits in managing health conditions shall augment access to health facilities in remote or underserved areas on the Asian continent.