Emergence of the “e-patient” and “e-caregiver” around a serious game in ETP

Introduction: The advent of e-health has an impact on many areas of health care practice, including TPE. The impact of the introduction of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in health care, such as serious games, remains largely unexplored in the field of e-TPE.

Purpose of the research: To ask patients and health care professionals about the use of a serious game, in order to clarify the impact of these technologies on health care practices and on the relationship between caregiver and patient, as well as their advantages and limitations.

Method: A qualitative study based on the grounded theory approach, using semi-structured interviews with six health care professionals and six patients using the DRAGO© serious game, a smartphone application designed to improve compliance with allergy treatment. A lexicometric analysis was carried out, with classification by theme and sub-theme, followed by a statistical breakdown of verbatims according to whether they expressed a favorable or unfavorable opinion.

Results: 64% of professionals surveyed are in favor of digital innovations in health care, and 67% of patients. Health care professionals have reservations about their patients’ eligibility for these new technologies. In both categories, the ethical issues surrounding the emergence of e-health are positively echoed, with 69% of health care professionals and up to 83% of patients in favor. Both categories are more reserved about the impact of ICTs on the health care relationship.

Conclusion: Health care professionals and patients alike consider the presence of ICTs in TPE to be “acceptable,” although they remain vigilant about the impact they can have on the health care relationship. These developments imply a necessary change in the practices of health care professionals, leading them to think about and encourage the emergence of the profile of tomorrow’s e-caregiver working with e-patients.