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Abstract Background Therapeutic digital health applications (DiGAs) are expected to significantly enhance access to evidence-based care. Since 2020, German physicians and psychotherapists have been able to prescribe approved DiGAs, which are reimbursed by statutory health insurance. This study investigates the usage, knowledge and perception of DiGAs as well as the growing digitalization among internal medicine physicians in Germany. Methods A web-based survey was distributed at the 2024 annual congress of the German Society for Internal Medicine. Participants could respond by scanning a QR code or directly on a tablet. Results A total of 100 physicians completed the survey, with a mean age of 43.4 years. The majority were internal medicine physicians (85%). Of the respondents, 31% had already prescribed DiGAs, and 29% had tested one. Self-rated knowledge of DiGAs was low (median score 3.17/10). The main barriers identified were lack of knowledge about effective implementation (60%), lack of time for patient onboarding (27%), and concerns about patient adherence (21%). However, 92% believed that DiGAs could improve care, and 88% expressed interest in specific digital health training. The majority (64%) stated that digitalization had a positive impact on medical care and 39% of physicians expected their daily workload to decrease due to digitalization. In addition, 38% believed that the physician-patient relationship would improve as a result of digitalization. Conclusions While physicians widely acknowledged the potential benefits of DiGAs, adoption and understanding remain limited. Specific training in digital health is crucial to accelerate digitalization in internal medicine.

Background: Therapeutic digital health applications (DiGAs) are expected to significantly enhance access to evidence-based care. Since 2020, German physicians and psychotherapists have been able to prescribe approved DiGAs, which are reimbursed by statutory health insurance. This study investigates the usage, knowledge and perception of DiGAs as well as the growing digitalization among internal medicine physicians in Germany. Methods: A web-based survey was distributed at the 2024 annual congress of the German Society for Internal Medicine. Participants could respond by scanning a QR code or directly on a tablet. Results: A total of 100 physicians completed the survey, with a mean age of 43.4 years. The majority were internal medicine physicians (85%). Of the respondents, 31% had already prescribed DiGAs, and 29% had tested one. Self-rated knowledge of DiGAs was low (median score 3.17/10). The main barriers identified were lack of knowledge about effective implementation (60%), lack of time for patient onboarding (27%), and concerns about patient adherence (21%). However, 92% believed that DiGAs could improve care, and 88% expressed interest in specific digital health training. The majority (64%) stated that digitalization had a positive impact on medical care and 39% of physicians expected their daily workload to decrease due to digitalization. In addition, 38% believed that the physician-patient relationship would improve as a result of digitalization. Conclusions: While physicians widely acknowledged the potential benefits of DiGAs, adoption and understanding remain limited. Specific training in digital health is crucial to accelerate digitalization in internal medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purchase of food supplements on the Internet plays an increasingly important role for German consumers. These supplements are not regarded as actual foods, which they legally are, but rather, as drugs or a combination of both. This situation creates high expecta-tions for consumers concerning potential results achievable through product use. However, not all advertised outcomes are reliable. It is not only the potential economic concerns but also the more important detrimental health effects caused by food supplements that are alarming pub-lic health officials in Germany. Method: This paper reviews the various problem areas in Germa-ny with respect to customs authorities, foodstuff control, consumer protection organizations, and reports of the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed. Results: Potential health hazards result especially from undeclared prescription agents or non-approved pharmacologi-cal substances, insufficiently controlled botanicals, toxic heavy metals, and excessive pesticide residues. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to improve international monitoring and control of Internet trade in food supplements. Moreover, further consumer education about the dan-gers of Internet-purchased food supplements is required. Healthcare professionals must bear in mind that unusual or unexplained reactions, side effects, and interactions may be due to the ingestion of food supplements and they should ask explicitly for this information during patient examination and history-taking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study that used individual-level panel data to isolate the effect of spa therapy on missed workdays and hospital visits in Germany. Theories that have been proposed regarding how spa therapy positively affects health are presented. Also discussed are the statistically significant benefits from spa treatments in terms of lower occupational absenteeism and hospitalization. Low estimates in the study imply a reduction in workday losses of between 1 and 2 and days in the year after the spa visit.