Improving insights into health care with data linkage to financial technology

Inkster, Becky; Loo, Peggy; Mateen, Bilal A.; Stevenson, A. F.

doi:10.1016/s2589-7500(19)30061-5

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 4 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, for the time being, it is not clear whether this register will be made available for research. The comment in The Lancet referred to at the beginning of the paper [1] included a call to action for financial technology (Fintech) providers, health-care professionals and research scientists to work together to represent better the complementary nature of health care and finance, and that linkage of health information and individuals' financial data could contribute to more holistic financial support systems.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Should GPs ask patients about their financial concerns? Exploration through collaborative research

Ose

Kaspersen

et al. 2020

Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: Health services should arguably be concerned about the financial situation of patients since health problems can cause financial concerns, which in turn can cause health problems. In this study, we explored the role of the general practitioner (GP) as a potential early discoverer of financial problems who can refer at-risk patients to financial counselling services. Design: A collaborative health service research experiment. For four weeks, GPs asked their patients predefined questions about financial concerns and health, by anonymous data mapping. GPs shared their experiences with the researchers after the experiment. Setting: One GP office in Norway. Subjects: A total of 565 patients were included in data mapping by 8 GPs. Main outcome measures: Patient prevalence data and GPs experimental data of patients' health problems that caused financial concerns and financial concerns that affected patients' health. Results: Of 565 GP patients, 11% (n ¼ 63) indicated that they had health problems causing them financial concerns, or vice versa; 9% of patients reported health problems causing financial concerns and 8% of patients reported financial concerns that affected their health. Through the data mapping experiment GPs became aware of financial concerns of their patients and by this expanded and improved their therapeutic toolbox. Several months after the experiment the GPs reported that more patients received financial counselling since the GPs asked their patients about financial problems more often than before and because the patients had heard that GPs cared about such problems. Conclusion: Our results suggest that GPs can be early discoverers of financial problems interacting with their patients' health. When there are no clear medical explanations for the health problems that prompted the consultation, the best therapy may thus be financial counselling. KEY POINTS Many people live on the edge of financial ruin and struggle to keep track of their finances, but limited research exists that investigates associations between finance and health. In a collaborative health services research experiment 11% of the patients at a Norwegian GP office had health problems that caused them financial concerns, or vice versa. GPs found it helpful to ask patients about their financial concerns when no clear medical explanations for their health problems was found. Then free financial counselling services could be offered.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many people live on the edge of financial ruin and struggle to keep track of their finances; however, little evidence-based research on associations between finance and health exists [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Should GPs ask patients about their financial concerns? Exploration through collaborative research

Ose

Kaspersen

et al. 2020

Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The potential value of healthcare insights in financial data is already recognised [16,17] and financial services firms are not only a source of uniquely constructive data on household economies [18] but themselves offer possibilities of settings for forms of direct and indirect health interventions. Regulatory requirements around fair treatment have already prompted the private sector to start taking steps towards supporting customer mental health [19] and recent innovations include changes to debt collection practices, liaising more closely with other healthcare services, and introducing new products or tools for customers (e.g., gambling transaction blocks).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early warning signs of a mental health tsunami: Initial data insights from digital services providers during COVID-19 (Preprint)

Inkster¹,

O’Brien²,

Niederhoffer³

et al. 2020

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BACKGROUND The immediate impact of COVID-19 on mortality and morbidity has demonstrated the need for accurate and real time data monitoring and communication. Displacements to healthcare systems and economies may have created the perfect storm for an impending and enduring mental health crisis. OBJECTIVE This project documents observations from multiple digital platforms during the COVID-19 crisis, especially digital mental health services. METHODS We used email and social media campaigns to announce an urgent call for support. Digital mental health service providers (N=44), financial services providers (N=5) and other relevant digital data source providers (N=3) responded with quantitative and/or qualitative insights. RESULTS This study demonstrates the complexity of mental health concerns as witnessed by digital providers. A recurring observation is that demand for digital mental health support has risen. The nature of this demand has also changed since COVID-19, notably with an increased presentation of anxiety and loneliness. CONCLUSIONS This study provides proof-of-concept of the viability of working with data insights from diverse digital services providers. We hope that these insights might help to form an epistemological foundation to stimulate future research. Looking ahead, we anticipate the need for a rigorous process to interpret insights from a wide variety of sources in order to monitor mental health needs.

show abstract

“…In addition to this, given the established links between health, social, and economic factors (e.g., ( 14 )), insights should also be obtained from financial services providers and other relevant digital data sources. The potential value of healthcare insights in financial data is already recognized ( 15 , 16 ), and financial services firms not only are a source of uniquely constructive data on household economies ( 17 ) but can also offer possible mechanisms of direct and indirect mental health interventions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early Warning Signs of a Mental Health Tsunami: A Coordinated Response to Gather Initial Data Insights From Multiple Digital Services Providers

Inkster

2021

Front. Digit. Health

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction: The immediate impact of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) on morbidity and mortality has raised the need for accurate and real-time data monitoring and communication. The aim of this study is to document the initial observations from multiple digital services providers during the COVID-19 crisis, especially those related to mental health and well-being.Methods: We used email and social media to announce an urgent call for support. Digital mental health services providers (N = 46), financial services providers (N = 4), and other relevant digital data source providers (N = 3) responded with quantitative and/or qualitative data insights. People with lived experience of distress, as service users/consumers, and carers are included as co-authors.Results: This study provides proof-of-concept of the viability for researchers and private companies to work collaboratively toward a common good. Digital services providers reported a diverse range of mental health concerns. A recurring observation is that demand for digital mental health support has risen, and that the nature of this demand has also changed since COVID-19, with an apparent increased presentation of anxiety and loneliness.Conclusion: Following this study, we will continue to work with providers in more in-depth ways to capture follow-up insights at regular time points. We will also onboard new providers to address data representativeness. Looking ahead, we anticipate the need for a rigorous process to interpret insights from an even wider variety of sources in order to monitor and respond to mental health needs.

show abstract

Improving insights into health care with data linkage to financial technology

Cited by 4 publications

References 4 publications

Should GPs ask patients about their financial concerns? Exploration through collaborative research

Should GPs ask patients about their financial concerns? Exploration through collaborative research

Early warning signs of a mental health tsunami: Initial data insights from digital services providers during COVID-19 (Preprint)

Early Warning Signs of a Mental Health Tsunami: A Coordinated Response to Gather Initial Data Insights From Multiple Digital Services Providers

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About