How can primary care benefit from digital health applications? – a quantitative, explorative survey on attitudes and experiences of general practitioners in Germany

Abstract Background Since 2020, physicians in Germany have the possibility of prescribing approved digital health applications (DHAs) with the costs covered by the health system – a step that was unique in the world at that time and still is. So far, there have been hardly any studies that shed light on the possible applications of DHAs in the context of primary care and take stock of the benefits and potential for optimization. In 2022, a quantitative survey was carried out. The aim was to determine what attitudes, experiences and expectations GPs have with regard to the use of DHAs, under what conditions they are willing to integrate them into health care, and what experience they have already gained. Methods The focus was on a large-scale survey of GPs. Between spring and summer 2022, all 18,914 GPs in the federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland were invited to an online survey. 5,868 questionnaires were included in the evaluation (response rate: 31%). A t-test on independent samples was used to determine significant differences between two groups. Results 68% of those surveyed are positive about DHAs and consider them to be reliable (69%) and safe (63%) applications that can generate efficiency benefits for the doctor-patient relationship. 24% trust themselves to competently advise patients on DHAs. 14% have already prescribed DHAs, 13% plan to do so. 85% of doctors with DHA experience rate the prescribed applications as (very) useful. Observed health care effects relate primarily to the improvement in compliance (94%), mobility (93%), and education (93%), as well as weight reduction (83%). Among other things, a further optimization of usability (59%), systematic further training of doctors on DHAs (53%) and the expansion of gamification elements (49%) are suggested. GPs lack well-founded information with regard to DHAs (52%). Conclusion For GPs, DHAs can be effective tools to encourage patients in their personal responsibility, compliance and motivation to behave in a health-conscious manner and to strengthen prevention in the primary care setting. Where DHAs have been used in a practical context so far, widespread positive health care effects are noticeable. Most respondents do not dare to give patients competent advice on available applications. Comprehensive training courses that provide information about the framework conditions, strategies and advantages of using DHAs appear to be important. There is also a need for more well-founded sources of information and research for doctors to select suitable applications in a targeted manner. GPs see significant added value in DHAs compared to conventional health apps. In order for DHAs to be effectively implemented in primary care, it is important to better inform GPs about the legal basis and possible applications as well as to address their concerns.