About Digital Health and Care
This section provides more information on what digital health, care and wellbeing tools are and who they are for.
How much control do I have over these technologies?
- How advanced the technology is
- Who is providing the technology
How advanced a technology is
The level of control you have in your interactions with these technologies varies:
- Some are tools for reporting at a distance (telemonitoring tools)
- Some send data automatically (sensors).
Providers of technology
Many digital tools are available for free today, in particular apps. You can buy more complex solutions or devices can from private companies. In some cases, you can get paid-for tools for free or subsidised through local councils or the NHS.
Making an informed decision
Make sure to discuss your options with someone you trust before you commit to anything. It is important that you understand how the technology works. Most importantly, you want to know if there are any risks involved in using a new tool or device.
This course will highlight some of the key risks. This can help you identify them and make an informed decision on whether to use a digital tool or not.
Consider the time and effort of using the tool
It is also worth thinking how much time and effort you are willing to put into your use of digital tools. This is likely to impact the type of tool that is most suitable to you. For example, there are many apps today that can help people track what they eat. These can be useful for those living with diabetes or looking to manage their weight. But they can also be very time intensive, as each meal or snack needs to be recorded in the app.
Other tools request less of you. For example, step tracking apps and devices often record data in the background. All you need to do is remember to charge your devices and take them with you when you go for a walk.