Digital health education is taking a significant step forward with the publication of a new framework called the Digital Health Competencies in Medical Education (DECODE). This framework, developed by a group of 211 international experts from 79 countries, aims to help medical institutions better prepare future physicians for the ongoing digital transformation in healthcare.
The DECODE framework, published in JAMA Network Open, is already being adopted globally. In the UK, it has influenced a new Medical Schools Council report that includes recommended data science learning outcomes for medical graduates. The framework was developed by a steering group of subject matter experts from institutions such as King’s College London, Nanyang Technological University, Imperial College London, and Harvard University.
According to Professor Josip Car, co-lead author of the framework and Professor of Population and Digital Health Sciences at King’s College London, the DECODE framework provides a globally adaptable set of competencies to ensure that medical graduates are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed to effectively navigate and leverage digital health technologies.
Digital health, the use of digital information and technologies to improve health outcomes, is rapidly transforming healthcare. However, research suggests that many medical students and physicians feel unprepared to use these technologies in practice. Dr. Qi Chwen Ong, co-lead author of the framework and research assistant at NTU Singapore’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, emphasizes the importance of targeted training and education in digital health to ensure that future doctors can use these technologies efficiently and safely.
The DECODE framework consists of four domains—Professionalism in Digital Health, Patient and Population Digital Health, Health Information Systems, and Health Data Science—each containing a set of competencies and learning outcomes. By providing a roadmap for institutions to tailor digital health training to their unique contexts and resources, the framework aims to address the urgent need to integrate digital health education into medical curricula worldwide.
The framework was developed through a collaborative effort involving over 200 subject matter experts from 79 countries and territories. By achieving consensus on the essential learning outcomes, the DECODE framework provides comprehensive coverage of digital health technologies, ethical considerations, regulatory issues, and population health aspects.
The publication of the DECODE framework marks a significant milestone in preparing future physicians for the digital transformation of healthcare. With the rapid digitalization of health care, it is essential for medical education to keep pace and ensure that future doctors are equipped to deliver the best possible care using digital health technologies. By integrating digital health education into medical curricula, institutions can train current and future doctors to leverage these technologies effectively and improve health outcomes for individuals and societies.
