Global X ETFs Survey: Digital Health Trends & Technologies

In March 2023, Global X Research surveyed 1,032 individuals in the United States regarding their openness to and reservations regarding digital health and wearables. Topics ranged from likelihood of utilizing the technology and artificial intelligence’s (AI) role in digital health to comfort with automatic sharing of personal medical information and plausibility of purchasing medications through online pharmacy services.

Key Takeaways

  • Over 50% of respondents perceive real-time monitoring and convenience as positives for digital healthcare. While nearly 50% of respondents feel digital healthcare offers better coordinated care and ease of access, especially to underserved regions.
  • Nearly three-fifths of surveyed individuals would utilize telemedicine for over 40% of visits. Of which, about one-third would utilize telemedicine for 80-100% of visits.
  • If it meant doctors and health personnel automatically had access to necessary care information without the need to fill out forms at visits, 50% of respondents support automatic sharing of medical information/history, while nearly 30% remain unsure.
    • When given the context of automatic sharing for ER visits, about 50% of surveyed individuals remarked feeling more comfortable.
  • 60% of individuals would utilize wearable technology for chronic illnesses, while about 30% remain unsure.
  • When it comes to elderly loved ones, 70% are open to encouraging wearable technology that can automatically transmit health vitals to physicians and alert emergency services, while only about 20% remain unsure.
  • Two-thirds of respondents lean likely to purchase medications through online pharmacy services (i.e. Amazon).
    • Of those who responded likely, 42% said it depends on pricing, and 24% said it depends on how fast it delivers.
    • Of those who responded unlikely, 12% said they don’t trust platforms like Amazon with medicine, while 14% said they’re not interested in joining a membership. 8% cited ‘Other’ as a reason.
  • Nearly half of respondents see value in automatic drug delivery through wearables for specific emergency scenarios.
  • AI is seen as moderately accurate in drug development by the majority (64%) of surveyed individuals.
  • Nearly 90% of respondents view FDA-approved wearable devices as at least moderately accurate.

Click here to download the Global X ETFs Survey, Digital Health Trends & Technologies.