Dive Brief:
- It seems like health tracking devices may be coming into their own. Growing numbers of physicians, health plans and researchers are conducting studies to see whether health tracking devices can actually improve patients' health.
- Health tracking products include not only fitness devices such as Fitbit bands and Nike's FuelBands, but also other technologies that monitor various physical functions such as a child's body temperature.
- Studies are being conducted to analyze the impact of health trackers on patient behaviors and health outcomes.
Dive Insight:
Results of tests on these devices have had promising results. For example, one study found that patients with Type 2 diabetes who used a pedometer and received motivational texts were better able to control their blood sugar levels than patients who didn't receive this support. That being said, patients need to be engaged for the devices to have an impact; another study researching the behavior of 30 healthy 80-year-olds given fitness trackers didn't influence the behavior because the subjects forgot they were wearing the devices. It appears that these devices can make a meaningful difference, but only if patients are prepared to interact with them.