TY - JOUR

T1 - Harnessing the digital potential of the next generation of health professionals

AU - Wong, Brian L.H.

AU - Khurana, Mark P.

AU - Smith, Robert D.

AU - El-Omrani, Omnia

AU - Pold, Ave

AU - Lotfi, Amine

AU - O’Leary, Charlotte A.

AU - Saminarsih, Diah S.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Digital technologies are rapidly being integrated into a wide range of health fields. This new domain, often termed ‘digital health’, has the potential to significantly improve healthcare outcomes and global health equity more broadly. However, its effective implementation and responsible use are contingent on building a health workforce with a sufficient level of knowledge and skills to effectively navigate the digital transformations in health. More specifically, the next generation of health professionals—namely youth—must be adequately prepared to maximise the potential of these digital transformations. In this commentary, we highlight three priority areas which should be prioritised in digital education to realise the benefits of digital health: capacity building, opportunities for youth, and an ethics-driven approach. Firstly, capacity building requires educational frameworks and curricula to not only be updated, but to also place an emphasis on interdisciplinary learning. Secondly, opportunities are important for youth to meaningfully participate in decision-making processes and gain invaluable practical experiences. Thirdly, training in digital ethics and the responsible use of data as a standard component of education will help to safeguard against potential future inequities resulting from the implementation and use of digital health technologies.

AB - Digital technologies are rapidly being integrated into a wide range of health fields. This new domain, often termed ‘digital health’, has the potential to significantly improve healthcare outcomes and global health equity more broadly. However, its effective implementation and responsible use are contingent on building a health workforce with a sufficient level of knowledge and skills to effectively navigate the digital transformations in health. More specifically, the next generation of health professionals—namely youth—must be adequately prepared to maximise the potential of these digital transformations. In this commentary, we highlight three priority areas which should be prioritised in digital education to realise the benefits of digital health: capacity building, opportunities for youth, and an ethics-driven approach. Firstly, capacity building requires educational frameworks and curricula to not only be updated, but to also place an emphasis on interdisciplinary learning. Secondly, opportunities are important for youth to meaningfully participate in decision-making processes and gain invaluable practical experiences. Thirdly, training in digital ethics and the responsible use of data as a standard component of education will help to safeguard against potential future inequities resulting from the implementation and use of digital health technologies.

KW - Capacity building

KW - Digital education

KW - Digital ethics

KW - Digital health

KW - Digital literacy

KW - Health literacy

KW - Healthcare professionals

KW - Public health

KW - Youth

U2 - 10.1186/s12960-021-00591-2

DO - 10.1186/s12960-021-00591-2

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33853625

AN - SCOPUS:85104397467

VL - 19

JO - Human Resources for Health

JF - Human Resources for Health

SN - 1478-4491

IS - 1

M1 - 50

ER -