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The history and future of digital health in the field of behavioral medicine

Journal of Behavioral Medicine volume 42, pages 67–83 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Since its earliest days, the field of behavioral medicine has leveraged technology to increase the reach and effectiveness of its interventions. Here, we highlight key areas of opportunity and recommend next steps to further advance intervention development, evaluation, and commercialization with a focus on three technologies: mobile applications (apps), social media, and wearable devices. Ultimately, we argue that future of digital health behavioral science research lies in finding ways to advance more robust academic-industry partnerships. These include academics consciously working towards preparing and training the work force of the twenty first century for digital health, actively working towards advancing methods that can balance the needs for efficiency in industry with the desire for rigor and reproducibility in academia, and the need to advance common practices and procedures that support more ethical practices for promoting healthy behavior.

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Funding

Additional support for the authors’ time during the preparation of this manuscript was provided by the National Institutes of Health; Grant Numbers K23HL136657 (Danielle Arigo), R25CA172009 (Danielle E. Jake-Schoffman), and K24HL12436 (Sherry L. Pagoto).

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Rowan University, Glassboro, USA

    Danielle Arigo

  2. Department of Health Education and Behavior, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA

    Danielle E. Jake-Schoffman

  3. Interactive Health, Schaumburg, USA

    Kathleen Wolin

  4. Population Health and Clinical Affairs, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health Plan, Pittsburgh, USA

    Ellen Beckjord

  5. Department of Family Medicine Public Health, Center for Wireless and Population Health Systems, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, USA

    Eric B. Hekler

  6. Department of Allied Health Sciences, Institute for Collaboration in Health, Interventions, and Policy, Center for mHealth and Social Media, University of Connecticut, Storrs, USA

    Sherry L. Pagoto

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  1. Danielle Arigo
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  2. Danielle E. Jake-Schoffman
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  3. Kathleen Wolin
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  4. Ellen Beckjord
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  5. Eric B. Hekler
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  6. Sherry L. Pagoto
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Correspondence to Danielle Arigo.

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Conflict of interest

Danielle Arigo, Danielle E. Jake-Schoffman, Kate Wolin, and Ellen Beckjord declare that they have no conflicts of interest. Eric B. Hekler serves as scientific advisor to Omada Health, Proof Pilot, and eEcoSphere. Sherry L. Pagoto serves as scientific adviser to Fitbit.

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Arigo, D., Jake-Schoffman, D.E., Wolin, K. et al. The history and future of digital health in the field of behavioral medicine. J Behav Med 42, 67–83 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-018-9966-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-018-9966-z

Keywords

  • Digital health
  • Mobile applications
  • Social media
  • Wearable technology
  • Behavior change intervention