An important digital novelty is underway in Greece, highlighting the dynamic entry of digital media into the management of public health. In fact, this new “tool”, the Digital Pulmonologist, aims to provide correct information to the public about diseases that are particularly common (and) in our country, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchial asthma, as well as smoking cessation.
It is indicated that today in Greece it is estimated that 10 adult smokers out of 100 suffer from COPD – in other words, approximately 600,000 Greeks are affected. However, half of them remain undiagnosed. Accordingly, approximately 800 Greeks feel that they are short of breath due to bronchial asthma.
Innovative platform
“The Digital Pulmonologist is an innovative digital health platform with the main objective of informing and raising public awareness about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchial asthma and smoking cessation. No subscription, pre-registration or financial burden is required, while the platform is available 24 hours a day for all users” notes Dr. Stamatoula Tsikrikas, pulmonologist at “Sotiria” hospital and president of the Greek Pulmonology Association.
In addition, in the text she has written for the “Health” insert, she explains step by step how to use the platform and the benefits for citizens.
With a simple “click” on the computer here, the citizen with the help of innovative and useful digital services can receive important health information in a simple and very comprehensible way, so as to better understand the most common diseases of the respiratory system.
First time in Greece
It is worth noting that this project is being carried out for the first time in Greece, with the pulmonology medical community leading the way in disseminating and disseminating correct medical information, listening to the increased social needs to reduce the spread of fake news and misinformation on health issues, the which appear to have grown significantly during the pandemic.
The scientific editing and documentation of the Digital Pulmonologist is carried out by the members of the Board of the Greek Pulmonology Association, where through three separate categories of respiratory health issues and 26 pre-formulated questions and answers, the user is given the opportunity to easily understand the terminology, concepts and clinical symptoms that he or a loved one may present, without getting confused by the “wooden” medical language that may create anxiety or confusion and make it difficult for him to understand the information.
Specialist pulmonologists
The search on the psifiakospneumonologos.gr link provides the possibility to follow an avatar, i.e. the hologram of the digital pulmonologist, who will answer the most common questions regarding chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchial asthma and the process of quitting smoking.
The questions chosen by the pulmonologists were based on many years of experience of pulmonary assessments, clinical visits and questions from the patients themselves and their caregivers in the doctor’s offices, such as: “What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?” Why do I feel short of breath? What treatment can I get for bronchial asthma? Can I be diagnosed with bronchial asthma at an older age? How does smoking affect my respiratory function? What is spirometry?’
Advantages
One of the most important advantages of the innovative digital tool is the immediate and better management of the most common pulmonary diseases, and mainly concerns the relief of symptoms and the control of chronic diseases, but also the resolution of questions regarding the effects of both active and and passive smoking and the possibility of providing assistance in the effort of complete abstinence.
At the same time, it avoids the unnecessary movement of patients from clinic to clinic in search of the most suitable health professional, while reducing the phenomenon of polypharmacy or additional medical examinations with a particular financial but mainly psychological burden, which results in patients possibly not receiving the correct therapeutic treatment and burden the course of the disease and their quality of life even more.
Citizens at the center
Although the Digital Pulmonologist is a modern technological achievement that follows and adapts to the times, focusing on the citizen who seeks personalized improved and upgraded health services, in no case can replace the clinical examination and the interpersonal relationship between doctor and patient, which is characterized by mutual respect, trust and empathy.
The informed citizen through the Digital Pulmonologist has a double benefit, since precious time will not be lost both for treatment and in matters of promoting and protecting his health, since even with the assistance of modern technology he will know that the pulmonologist is the most suitable doctor to whom he should turn for the protection of his lung health.
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