Table of Contents
Introduction:
In recent times, healthcare related to children has been more driven to upskill towards digitalized technology for the betterment of children to receive safe and efficient treatments. This hike in technology-driven treatment was seen mostly after the pandemic crisis seen globally when telemedicine started to expand, and healthcare access was done through video calls or online health platforms. Mobile health applications and websites have increased the number of providers and users, where all it requires is access to a high-speed internet connection.
What Is Digital Health?
Digital health is a larger platform of technology that includes a wide range of health care options like mobile health services, technologies that offer information about technologies, wearable devices that track health, telehealth (online health care), and telemedicine (online prescription of medicine). E-Health is defined as the utility of information and means of communication technology (ICT) like phones, mobiles, computers, patient monitors, and satellite communications as tools to gain and provide healthcare.
The use of digital platforms to provide healthcare was recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the most rapidly growing systems in healthcare. The use of telemedicine was also addressed in the United Nations Convention in March 2021; when addressing the rights of children, it was stated that the increasing use of digital technology has been shown to impact the societal functions, healthcare, and education of the children and hence the need to expand it. Based on this clause, the United Nations committee implemented four principles on digital technology for the rights of children, and they are:
- To show no discrimination towards children of any race, country, community, or society.
- To prioritize the best interest of the child.
- The right of life to live, develop, and survive.
- To respect the views and values of the child.
How Is Technology Used in Pediatrics?
The emergence of newer technology is creating a revolution in healthcare for children. From advances in medicine and surgery to the digitalization of diagnostic imaging, it can be done very rapidly and accurately and visualized with better clarity. A few such methods include AI (artificial intelligence) in healthcare, 3-D (three-dimensional) printing, or imaging, which has made visualization, potential causes, and addressing the issue much easier. With technology, both the older as well as the new case reports and digitized manuscripts help in verifying the previous data as well case cross verification of relatable cases.
A constant need for the well-being of children and adolescent people is seen drastically across the globe, leading to the emergence of many digital health programs; one such program organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was mainly focused on countries that have a poor socio-economic status or places where the accessibility for reach out to healthcare is difficult. This platform aimed to treat nearly 170 countries that were affected by various reasons like terrorism, war, epidemics (diseases localized to a particular social area), etc. The goals included eradication of poverty, hunger inequalities, infrastructure, education, good health, and quality living through media promotion and technology. While this was the aim, it was often interlinked with higher healthcare access to pediatric healthcare achieved by developing the fields of telemedicine and telehealth.
Various pediatric healthcare projects were created by the Department of Evidence and Intelligence for Action of Health (EIH) of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). These projects were developed in several global languages like Spanish, English, Portuguese, etc, to bring healthcare hospitals and universities to collaborate with pediatric healthcare centers around the world. With the hyperconnection of the world with the technologies, there is a greater emphasis on continuous concentration towards health care in children. Organizations like the International Society for Telemedicine e-Health and the American Telemedicine Association continue to reach out and spread medical awareness in children beyond the limitation of boundaries.
How Does Telemedicine Bridge the Gap Between Pediatric Patients and Healthcare Providers?
As a part of this technology, relying on telemedicine and telehealth for a new future has decreased the availability of healthcare between the rich and poor, varying from different countries and places. One such example is the availability of pediatric health, where technology is used commercially through smartphones, laptops, wifi’s, tablets, computers, or applications to an individual or among families to communicate among themselves or as a self-awareness mode of communication.
Especially during the pandemic, telehealth was like direct medical care to one’s home, where patients can be monitored closely and provided help. However, these technologies also have legal regulations framed by each government or governing body. Also, these newer technologies have been made available in small pediatric setups, with a foreseen future of great technology and greater pediatric healthcare. The commonly addressed issues in child health care are nutrition, dietetics, childhood obesity, child safety, vaccination, infections, oral health, any genetic or rare diseases, etc.
How Does Technology Promote Behavioral Management in Children?
The development of technology not only led to easier healthcare for the children with medications and diagnosis but also led to an improvised behavior. These technologies can address the mental health issues or burdens shown by the children, assessing the extent of the problem and helping in providing newer solutions to handle the problem and overcome it. Here, the e-health strategies promote self-management by the parents, educating and improving parenting skills, parents' support and insight of other parents through group communications, etc. Behavior management is given by small videos, games, or online lessons that the children find easier to take and improvise the skill.
Conclusion:
So, the use of technology in pediatric health is provided to the people in a very organized manner with proper safety restrictions that ease the burden of the parents in poor social status or rural areas to reach out and get help. As discussed above, there is no limit to the use of technology in pediatric health, be it physical health, diagnosis, safety measures, vaccinations, nutrition, prescription to mental health by molding the child's behavior and helping parents in parenting and child healthcare. However, care should be taken to not abuse these technologies and use them in the right manner so that help reaches every child for a better and healthier future.
