A new report from the BMJ Future Health Commission, a collaboration between BMJ Group and DNV, finds that healthcare professionals (HCPs) remain unconvinced that digital technologies are delivering the promised productivity and efficiency gains.
Survey results from more than 300 healthcare professionals across Northern Europe show that fewer than half believe digital tools have eased administrative tasks (47%), reduced clinical workload (38%), or lowered costs (44%). In contrast, most respondents (80%) acknowledge improvements in care delivery, and three-quarters (76%) remain optimistic about digital health’s future.
The report, Building Trust for Digital Transformation in Healthcare, highlights a trust gap. While 59% of HCPs express confidence in digital health solutions, 41% remain hesitant or doubtful. Poor experiences with electronic health records (EHRs) were found to reinforce scepticism, with frequent users reporting lower levels of confidence in broader digital transformation initiatives.
Funding constraints and poor interoperability were identified as leading barriers to adoption. More than half (54%) of respondents said technologies gain stronger traction when endorsed by clinical staff, and nearly two-thirds (61%) saw opportunities to expand clinician participation in investment decisions. Training was cited as a critical enabler, with both clinical (45) and non-clinical staff (43%) pointing to sustained support as essential for building capability.
The Commission calls for greater clinician involvement in system design and implementation, stronger interoperability standards, and long-term training commitments. It also recommends increased investment in managing data security and quality risks. These measures, according to the advisory board, are necessary to close the gap between digital health expectations and outcomes.
Click here to read the original press release.
