Digital health interventions are being increasingly incorporated into health care workflows to improve the efficiency of patient care. In turn, sustained patient engagement with digital health interventions can maximize their benefits toward health care outcomes. In this viewpoint, we outline a dynamic patient engagement by using various communication channels and the potential use of omnichannel engagement to integrate these channels. We conceptualize a novel patient care journey where multiple web-based and offline communication channels are integrated through a “digital twin.” The principles of implementing omnichannel engagement for digital health interventions and digital twins are also broadly covered. Omnichannel engagement in digital health interventions implies a flexibility for personalization, which can enhance and sustain patient engagement with digital health interventions, and ultimately, patient quality of care and outcomes. We believe that the novel concept of omnichannel engagement in health care can be greatly beneficial to patients and the system once it is successfully realized to its full potential.

Objective Health behaviors before, during and after pregnancy can have lasting effects on maternal and infant health outcomes. Although a digital health intervention (DHI) has potential as a pertinent avenue to deliver mechanisms for a healthy behavior change, its success is reliant on addressing the user needs, without creating apprehension that may lead to attrition. Accordingly, the current study aimed to understand DHI needs and expectations of women before, during and after pregnancy to inform and optimize future DHI developments, specifically ‘the do’s and the don’ts’ for sustainable engagement and efficient intervention. Methods Forty-four women (13 pre-, 16 during and 15 post-pregnancy; age range = 21–40 years) completed a 60-minute, semi-structured, qualitative interview exploring participant’s experience in their current phase, experience with, and attitude towards digital health tools, and their needs and expectations of DHIs. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed. Results From the interviews, two core concepts emerged – personalized journey and embedding within the local ecosystem. Between both concepts, five themes and 12 sub-themes were identified. Themes and sub-themes within personalization cover ideas of two-way interactivity, journey organization based on phases and circumstances, and privacy trade-off. Themes and sub-themes within localization cover ideas of access to local health-related resources and information, and connecting to local communities through anecdotal stories. Conclusion The findings captured - through understanding user needs and expectations - the key elements for the development and optimization of a successful DHI for women before, during and after pregnancy. To potentially empower downstream DHI implementation and adoption, these insights can serve as a foundation in the initial innovation process for DHI developers and be further built upon through a continued co-design process.

UNSTRUCTURED Digital health interventions (DHIs) are being increasingly incorporated into healthcare workflows to improve the efficiency of patient care. In turn, sustained patient engagement with DHIs can maximise their benefits towards healthcare outcomes. In this viewpoint, we outline a framework for dynamic patient engagement using various communication channels and the potential use of omnichannel engagement (OCE) to integrate these channels. We conceptualise a novel patient care journey where multiple online and offline communication channels are integrated through a ‘digital twin’. The principles of implementing OCE for DHI and digital twins are also broadly covered. OCE in DHI implies a flexibility for personalisation which can enhance and sustain patient engagement with DHI, and ultimately patient quality of care and outcomes. We believe the novel concept of OCE in healthcare can be greatly beneficial to the patients and the system once it is successfully realised to its full potential.