JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

eHealth interventions constitute a promising approach for disease prevention, particularly by facilitating lifestyle changes. Despite being a rather recent development, eHealth interventions might be able to promote brain health and reduce dementia risk in older adults.

Objective:

We aimed to explore the perspective of general practitioners (GPs) on potentials and barriers of respective eHealth interventions for brain health. Understanding the perspective of GPs allows us to identify chances and challenges for implementing eHealth applications for dementia risk reduction.

Methods:

We conducted semi-structured expert interviews with n=9 GPs working in an outpatient setting in and near Leipzig, Germany. Data was fully transcribed and analyzed using a process model of qualitative content analysis with codes and categories being constructed inductively and deductively.

Results:

We found generally favorable but balanced views of eHealth applications for brain health. Eight themes were identified in the data: “addressing dementia”, “knowledge about dementia”, “need for information”, “potentials for prevention”, “chances for applications for prevention”, “development of applications for prevention”, and “barriers of applications for prevention”. GPs talked mostly about how and when to address dementia and the requirements for the implementation of eHealth applications. According to GPs, knowledge about dementia in patients was low, and patients expressed little need for further information in GP practices. Most patients wished for quick information regarding diagnostics, treatment options and progression of the disease.

Conclusions:

GPs want patients to receive relevant and individualized information. It is important for patients to be supported when using eHealth applications, preferably by their general practitioner and their social environment. Concerns were expressed over limited effectiveness, overwhelming patients, limited use in clinical practice and only targeting patients with an already low dementia risk. Clinical Trial: not applicable.