Digital innovation in medicine: the COVID-19 pandemic as an accelerator of “digital health”

Die COVID-19-Pandemie hat eine Welle der Digitalisierung in der Medizin ausgelöst. Der Einsatz modernster Technologien wird in den folgenden Jahren Routinediagnostik und Therapieansätze revolutionieren und die Arzt-Patienten-Beziehung positiv beeinflussen. Die Verwendung von AI („artifical intelligence“) und Big Data ist neben den Entwicklungen der mHealth („mobile health“) einer der bedeutendsten Meilensteine im Aufbau eines digitalen und intelligenten Gesundheitssystems.The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a wave of digitalization in medicine. In the coming years, the use of state-of-the-art technologies will revolutionize routine diagnostic and treatment approaches, as well as have a positive effect on the physician–patient relationship. The application of AI (artificial intelligence) and Big Data, combined with the development of mHealth (mobile health), represents the most significant milestone in the creation of a digital and intelligent health system

Digitale Innovation in der Medizin – die COVID-19-Pandemie als Akzelerator von „digital health“

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a wave of digitalization in medicine. In the coming years, the use of state-of-the-art technologies will revolutionize routine diagnostic and treatment approaches, as well as have a positive effect on the physician-patient relationship. The application of AI (artificial intelligence) and Big Data, combined with the development of mHealth (mobile health), represents the most significant milestone in the creation of a digital and intelligent health system!Die COVID-19-Pandemie hat eine Welle der Digitalisierung in der Medizin ausgelöst. Der Einsatz modernster Technologien wird in den folgenden Jahren Routinediagnostik und Therapieansätze revolutionieren und die Arzt-Patienten-Beziehung positiv beeinflussen. Die Verwendung von AI („artifical intelligence“) und Big Data ist neben den Entwicklungen der mHealth („mobile health“) einer der bedeutendsten Meilensteine im Aufbau eines digitalen und intelligenten Gesundheitssystems

Gender Bias in Urology: How Do Patients Really Choose Their Urologist?

Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate the influence of patients’ and urologists’ gender when choosing a urologist. With rising population diversity through immigration and generational differences, patient-centered healthcare has recently moved to the focus of European healthcare systems. As healthcare in urology often concentrates on sensitive topics, and often involves gender-specific diseases, research on the influence of gender on decision-making processes is of high importance. Understanding influence of gender on patients’ choices in real life would provide patients, and physicians alike, with the means to provide better resources to achieve greater satisfaction from visits to a urologist. Patients and Methods: A questionnaire was prepared, and patients at our tertiary referral center were given the opportunity to voluntarily participate in our survey. We collected questionnaires from 1012 patients during their visits from June 2021 to October 2021. Results: Patients were divided into groups according to their gender: male (n=763), female (n=246), and non-binary (n=3). Our patient cohort consisted of more men than women (75% vs 24%), with only three patients identifying as non-binary. Irrespective of the patients’ own gender, patients preferred a male urologist when problems were considered embarrassing, limiting daily activities, or when worrisome. When problems were considered painful, all patients preferred a female urologist. When patients had had a previous positive experience with a female or male urologist, they preferred to be treated by a female or male urologist, respectively. Overall, 65% of patients stated a gender preference for at least one given situation, or consultation scenario. Conclusion: As the majority of our patients stated a gender preference, urological departments should be considerate of potential patients’ preferences for urologist gender that may be based on the individual patient’s history, taking a comprehensive approach to fulfill the patients’ need for same gender urologists in educational hospitals and health care services

Gender Bias in Urology: How Do Patients Really Choose Their Urologist?

Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate the influence of patients’ and urologists’ gender when choosing a urologist. With rising population diversity through immigration and generational differences, patient-centered healthcare has recently moved to the focus of European healthcare systems. As healthcare in urology often concentrates on sensitive topics, and often involves gender-specific diseases, research on the influence of gender on decision-making processes is of high importance. Understanding influence of gender on patients’ choices in real life would provide patients, and physicians alike, with the means to provide better resources to achieve greater satisfaction from visits to a urologist. Patients and Methods: A questionnaire was prepared, and patients at our tertiary referral center were given the opportunity to voluntarily participate in our survey. We collected questionnaires from 1,012 patients during their visits from June 2021 to October 2021. Results: Patients were divided into groups according to their gender: male (n=763), female (n=246), and non-binary (n=3). Our patient cohort consisted of more men than women (75% vs. 24%), with only three patients identifying as non-binary. Irrespective of the patients’ own gender, patients preferred a male urologist when problems were considered embarrassing, limiting daily activities, or when worrisome. When problems were considered painful, all patients preferred a female urologist. When patients had had a previous positive experience with a female or male urologist, they preferred to be treated by a female or male urologist, respectively. Overall, 65% of patients stated a gender preference for at least one given situation, or consultation scenario. Conclusions: As the majority of our patients stated a gender preference, urological departments should be considerate of potential patients’ preferences for urologist gender that may be based on the individual patient's history, taking a comprehensive approach to fulfill the patients’ need for same gender urologists in educational hospitals and health care services