Wearable Health Monitors and Physician-Patient Communication: The Physician's Perspective

Studies have shown that effective physician-patient communication can result in improved health outcomes. Wearable health monitors, which are steadily growing in adoption, may help to improve this communication. In this paper we report the findings of a survey conducted among physicians, in which we assessed their views on the potential integration of wearables into patient care. Our analysis suggests that physicians think of wearables in terms of getting accurate information on patient compliance and the efficacy of treatment to inform their decision-making. Respondents expressed interest in whether wearables would be convenient, feasible, and applicable. They also showed concern for regulations, intrusiveness, and interruptions. If integrated into physician-patient communication and interaction, wearables may be more effective to improve health and to have lasting effects. This study is a first step in understanding how this might be realized and how issues surrounding integration might be investigated.