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Did you know that there are a ton of signs in the way you act or do things that can signal to health professionals that there’s something wrong with your body? These are known as digital biomarkers, and, for example, your keystroke patterns (the way you use your keyboards or smartphones) can reveal a lot about your identity and just how healthy you are. It can even reveal what diseases you have and how far that disease has progressed in you!
Now, that might sound a little surprising, even frightening, at first, but the fact is that with digital biomarkers, doctors can help you overcome health issues before it becomes too late!
Really, digital biomarkers are rapidly becoming game-changers in the health industry. Today, let’s delve deeper into why this has been the case:
1. They Provide Real-Time Data
Digital biomarkers offer the ability to collect data in real-time, which is a major advantage over traditional methods of data collection. This means that they can be used to track the progression of a disease or condition and to monitor the effects of treatments.
This is much better than having to call the patient into the hospital for checkups. While checkups are super effective, it won’t matter if the patient won’t show up in the first place or if the health issue they’re faced with has already progressed without the doctor’s knowledge.
2. They Are Objective
Digital biomarkers are often more objective than traditional methods of data collection, such as patient self-reporting. This is because they provide data that is not subject to recall bias or other human errors.
Digital biomarkers can also be collected more frequently than traditional methods, providing a complete picture of health over time. This gives a more thorough and accurate look into a patient’s health that can help doctors provide better solutions.
3. They Are Sensitive
Digital biomarkers can often provide data that is more sensitive than traditional methods of data collection. This means that they can be used to detect early signs of disease or deterioration, which can allow for early intervention.
With such knowledge, patients and doctors can work together to find the right solution to help the patient overcome diseases and other issues. Doctors can also monitor the progress of the patient, changing or adapting solutions as seen fit.
4. They Are Convenient
Digital biomarkers are often more convenient than traditional methods of data collection. This is because they can be collected remotely and do not require the same level of patient compliance. Additionally, digital biomarkers can provide more detailed and accurate information than traditional methods.
A good example of this is a patient who wants to travel. Rather than completely missing their appointment with their doctors because they want to go somewhere, such technology can be used to understand their health right from the convenience of their phones!
Conclusion
All in all, the advancement of digital health technology is vital for the healthcare industry and for patients. It has to lead to a better understanding of how to get patients to take medication, how to engage them in their health, and how to make sure that they stay on track with their doctor’s appointments. And now, with the addition of digital biomarkers, doctors can utilize this along with other solutions to get a better picture of their patients to provide solutions, all the while not interfering too much with the patient’s daily life!
Fleksy is a private white-label keyboard SDK that helps various Digital Healthcare companies collect millions of data points as people type in real time, privately. With the help of the SDK’s Data Layer, companies are now capable of feeding their algorithms and data science teams with accurate and relevant digital biomarkers. Get in touch to learn more and see how the best mobile keyboard SDK for digital phenotyping research can help your digital healthcare organization!
