Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at University College London (UCL), Department of Population Science and Experimental Medicine, UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, 5th Floor, 1-19 Torrington Place, Fitzrovia, London, WC1E 7HB, UK.
Global Health Workforce Network (GHWN) Youth Hub, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Hum Resour Health. 2021 Apr 14;19(1):50. doi: 10.1186/s12960-021-00591-2.
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.
数字技术正在迅速融入广泛的健康领域。这个新领域通常被称为“数字健康”，有潜力显著改善医疗保健结果和更广泛的全球健康公平。然而，其有效实施和负责任的使用取决于培养一支具备足够知识和技能的卫生人力队伍，以便能够有效地驾驭卫生领域的数字化转型。更具体地说，下一代卫生专业人员——即年轻人——必须充分准备好，以最大程度地发挥这些数字化转型的潜力。在这篇评论中，我们强调了数字教育中应优先考虑的三个重点领域，以实现数字健康的益处：能力建设、青年机会和道德驱动的方法。首先，能力建设需要教育框架和课程不仅要更新，而且要强调跨学科学习。其次，机会对于青年来说很重要，他们可以有意义地参与决策过程并获得宝贵的实践经验。第三，将数字道德和负责任地使用数据作为教育的标准组成部分进行培训，有助于防范因实施和使用数字健康技术而导致的潜在未来不平等。
