The Digital Health Competencies in Medical Education Framework
Authors: Car Josip , Ong Qi Chwen , Erlikh Fox Tatiana , Leightley Daniel , Kemp Sandra J. , Švab Igor , Tsoi Kelvin K. F. , Sam Amir H. , Kent Fiona M. , Hertelendy Attila J. , Longhurst Christopher A. , Powell John , Hamdy Hossam , Nguyen Huy V.Q. , Aoun Bahous Sola , Wang Mai , Baumgartner Martin , Mahendradhata Yodi , Popovic Natasa , Khong Andy W. H. , Prober Charles G. , Atun Rifat ,   Digital Health Systems Collaborative, Bekele Zerihun Abebe , Poncette Akira-Sebastian , Molina Al Joseph R. , Ferreira Albano V.L. , Fajkić Almir , Kaushal Amit , Farmer Andrew J. , Lane Andrew S. , Kononowicz Andrzej A. , Bhongir Aparna V. , Alayande Barnabas T. , Bene Benard Ayaka , Dameff Christian J. , Hallensleben Cynthia , Back David A. , Hawezy Dawan J. , Tulantched Dieudonné Steve M. , Kldiashvili Ekaterina , Achampong Emmanuel K. , Ramachandran Ganesh , Hauser Goran , Grove Jakob , Cheung Jason P. Y. , Imaralu John O. , Sotunsa John O. , Bulnes Vides Juan P. , Lawrence Katharine S. , Agha-Mir-Salim Louis , Saba Luca , Zhang Luxia , Elfiky Mahmoud M. A. , Hesseling Markus W. , Guppy Michelle P. , Phatak Mrunal S. , Al Saadoon Muna A. A. , Lai Nai Ming , Chavannes Niels H. , Kimberger Oliver , Povoa Pedro , Goh Poh-Sun , Grainger Rebecca , Nannan Panday Rishi S. , Forsyth Rowena , Vento Sandro , Lee Sang Yeoup , Yadav Sanjay Kumar , Syed-Abdul Shabbir , Appenzeller Simone , Denaxas Spiros , Garba Stephen Ekundayo , Flügge Tabea , Bokun Tomislav , Dissanayake Vajira H. W. , Ho Vincent , Obadiel Yasser A. 
Published: January 2025

Importance

Rapid digitalization of health care and a dearth of digital health education for medical students and junior physicians worldwide means there is an imperative for more training in this dynamic and evolving field.

Objective

To develop an evidence-informed, consensus-guided, adaptable digital health competencies framework for the design and development of digital health curricula in medical institutions globally.

Evidence Review

A core group was assembled to oversee the development of the Digital Health Competencies in Medical Education (DECODE) framework. First, an initial list was created based on findings from a scoping review and expert consultations. A multidisciplinary and geographically diverse panel of 211 experts from 79 countries and territories was convened for a 2-round, modified Delphi survey conducted between December 2022 and July 2023, with an a priori consensus level of 70%. The framework structure, wordings, and learning outcomes with marginal percentage of agreement were discussed and determined in a consensus meeting organized on September 8, 2023, and subsequent postmeeting qualitative feedback. In total, 211 experts participated in round 1, 149 participated in round 2, 12 participated in the consensus meeting, and 58 participated in postmeeting feedback.

Findings

The DECODE framework uses 3 main terminologies: domain, competency, and learning outcome. Competencies were grouped into 4 domains: professionalism in digital health, patient and population digital health, health information systems, and health data science. Each competency is accompanied by a set of learning outcomes that are either mandatory or discretionary. The final framework comprises 4 domains, 19 competencies, and 33 mandatory and 145 discretionary learning outcomes, with descriptions for each domain and competency. Six highlighted areas of considerations for medical educators are the variations in nomenclature, the distinctiveness of digital health, the concept of digital health literacy, curriculum space and implementation, the inclusion of discretionary learning outcomes, and socioeconomic inequities in digital health education.

Conclusions and Relevance

This evidence-informed and consensus-guided framework will play an important role in enabling medical institutions to better prepare future physicians for the ongoing digital transformation in health care. Medical schools are encouraged to adopt and adapt this framework to align with their needs, resources, and circumstances.