A collective of 211 global experts from 79 nations has released a novel framework designed to aid in the creation, advancement, and execution of digital health curricula in medical education worldwide.
This framework, known as the Digital Health Competencies in Medical Education (DECODE), was published in JAMA Network Open and aims to better prepare medical institutions for the ongoing digital evolution in healthcare.
It is already being integrated worldwide, including in the UK, where it has shaped a new report by the Medical Schools Council that outlines recommended data science outcomes for medical graduates.
The international steering committee behind this framework consisted of experts in medical education and digital health research from prestigious institutions, including King’s College London, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, Imperial College London, and Harvard University.
“The DECODE framework marks a pivotal advancement in training future physicians for the digital shift in healthcare. By offering a set of competencies that can be adapted globally, we aim to arm medical graduates with the requisite knowledge, skills, and behaviors to effectively utilize digital health technologies,” explains Professor Josip Car, from King’s College, who co-led the framework’s authorship.
“This international consensus emphasizes the pressing need to weave digital health education into medical curricula across the globe. Moreover, the DECODE framework not only identifies this gap but also lays out a flexible plan for institutions to adapt digital health training according to their specific contexts and resources.”
Digital health encompasses the application of digital information and technology to enhance health outcomes. From mobile health applications and wearable gadgets to electronic health records and artificial intelligence, digital tools are revolutionizing the healthcare landscape. However, studies indicate that many medical students and professionals feel unprepared to effectively utilize these new healthcare technologies in their practice.
“It’s crucial for medical education to keep pace with the rapid digital transformation in healthcare. This requires focused training and education in digital health to ensure that future doctors can confidently and safely employ these technologies in patient care,” emphasizes Dr. Qi Chwen Ong, a research assistant at NTU Singapore’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and co-lead author of the framework.
“The framework provides an extensive overview of well-established and emerging digital health technologies, while also considering vital topics such as ethical and regulatory factors, as well as broader public health issues, including the digital determinants of health.”
During the development of the framework, the steering committee generated and refined an initial list of competencies and learning outcomes, engaging over 200 subject matter experts from various countries and regions, covering all World Health Organization (WHO) territories and World Bank income brackets. Through multiple feedback rounds, experts reached an agreement on crucial learning outcomes, which were instrumental in shaping the framework.
The finalized DECODE framework consists of four primary domains: Professionalism in Digital Health, Patient and Population Digital Health, Health Information Systems, and Health Data Science. Each domain includes a variety of competencies along with required and optional learning outcomes.
“It is imperative that future doctors possess the competencies necessary to effectively address the challenges of a digitized healthcare environment and ensure favorable patient outcomes. Establishing a consensus on core competencies and developing a digital health competencies framework will empower medical schools to implement the digital health curriculum using their current resources and methods. We take pride in having led such a fruitful collaboration with our international colleagues, culminating in this productive outcome,” states Professor Amir H. Sam, Head of the Imperial College School of Medicine and co-author of the framework.
“Digital health influences every segment of the care continuum and is essential for the AI-driven transformation of health systems, yielding better value for individuals and communities. These advantages can be fully realized through the swift incorporation of digital health education into medical curricula to prepare both current and future healthcare professionals,” asserts Professor Rifat Atun, a Professor of Global Health Systems at Harvard University and co-author of the framework.
