A new report from the BMJ Future Health Commission - a joint initiative between global healthcare knowledge provider BMJ Group and independent assurance and risk management provider DNV - shows that 47% of healthcare professionals think digital technology has eased administrative tasks, just 38% say that it has reduced clinical workload, and only 44% believe that it has contributed to decreasing the cost of delivering healthcare.
However, healthcare professionals have not given up on healthcare's digital transformation, with 80% saying that digital tools have enabled better care delivery, and 76% are optimistic about healthcare's digital future.
The findings - based on a survey of more than 300 healthcare professionals across Northern Europe, alongside in-depth interviews with clinicians and administrative staff – reveals that while 59% of HCPs indicate that they actively trust digital health solutions, a further 41% are hesitant or doubtful.
Experts interviewed by the BMJ Future Health Commission are calling for greater focus on building trust in digital transformation to scale technology adoption faster.
Stephen McAdam, segment director, digital health at DNV, said: ‘Trust is the critical currency of digital health and operates on two essential layers. Foundational trust is earned through rigorous, transparent standards and regulation, which set a non-negotiable safety floor for every platform.
‘Just as vital is operational trust earned on the ward, where frontline clinicians help design, select, and train on certified tools, ensuring technologies fit real-world workflows. Together, these are effective accelerators of digital transformation in healthcare, building clinical confidence, and closing the gap between expectations and implementation. These insights show that too few healthcare professionals think these technologies help them deliver more care with fewer resources.'
Those who frequently use electronic health records (EHRs), the most broadly adopted technology according to the survey, are less likely to believe that digital solutions reduce administrative burden and ease the workload of clinical staff, 14 percentage points less than those who do not.
The need for greater trust, combined with the culmination of challenging experiences, shows that building confidence in technology is dependent on healthcare organisations strengthening the processes that connect and implement these tools, while actively managing change among the people who use them.
Poor interoperability, which allows computer systems or software to exchange and make use of information, appears as the second-highest barrier to adoption, according to healthcare professionals, coming narrowly behind funding constraints.
Healthcare professionals surveyed highlight that earlier clinical involvement and enhanced training can be key drivers in overcoming challenges. Over half (54%) agree that digital solutions gain stronger adoption when endorsed by clinical staff, while 61% see an opportunity to increase healthcare professionals' participation in technology investment decisions.
Training emerges as the most valuable factor for effective implementation, and with greater focus, more clinicians (45%) and non-clinical healthcare workers (43%) can be supported in building confidence and capability in using digital tools.
The BMJ Future Health Commission report concludes by setting out five recommendations, developed in collaboration with an advisory board of European experts, for healthcare organisations seeking to scale adoption of technology:
- Evaluate organisational confidence in EHR systems
- Implement standards for system interoperability
- Commit to long-term staff training
- Involve clinicians, citizens, and patients in technology design and implementation
- Boost investment in managing emergent risks.
