BACKGROUND
Background: Digital health technologies present opportunities to improve health care by reducing costs, increasing access, and augmenting care, in addition to the benefits of remote care provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. One barrier to research and development in the field of digital health is the lack of clarity and consistency in terminology. Terms are used interchangeably and usage varies greatly from country to country. An international consensus is needed on terminology to facilitate more effective research and practice in this important field.
OBJECTIVE
Objective: The objective of this review of the literature was to explore the international literature focusing on the terms used to describe the use of technology in health care, in the hopes of working towards the creation of a standard hierarchy and glossary of digital health terms.
METHODS
Methods: Google Trends was searched to identify relevant terminology. The PubMed database was searched using the most commonly occurring terminology and the keywords taxonomy or terminology or ontology or glossary or classification or definition. Literature older than 10 years was excluded due to the rapid changes in this topic over the past decade.
RESULTS
Results: Twelve articles with a focus on discussing digital health terminology were identified and reviewed, providing a history of term usage and agreed upon definitions. In addition, a hierarchy of terms was created under the domain term of Information and Communication Technology and encompassing three umbrella terms (digital health, ehealth and connected health), population-related terms (telemedicine and telehealth), technology or service-related terms, and specialty terms. The literature reviewed identified a relative consistency in term definitions, indicating that these terms should not be used interchangeably. For example, telehealth is a wider population health term than telemedicine, which is limited to the medical field. Recommendations for term usage are provided.
CONCLUSIONS
Conclusions: While digital health terms are interrelated and overlapping in their definitions, each term has a unique meaning and should not be used interchangeably with other terms. Definitions exist that are simple and straightforward, which could become standards if agreement can be reached. This review provides a useful step towards standardization of terms that could be used internationally to improve research, evaluation, dissemination, and communication among all stakeholders in the digital health field, however, technology is constantly changing so terms must be reviewed and updated as meanings change. This iterative process is necessary for optimum development and diffusion of concepts globally.