In the latest episode of the Digital Public Health Podcast, host Rasmus Cloes talks to Professor Dr. Hajo Zeeb about the first comprehensive handbook on digital public health. The book captures the spirit of the times, but only touches on one important topic.
In the conversation, Hajo explains how the handbook is structured: It begins with overarching topics such as equality, inequality, and justice, then introduces key challenges such as data protection and ethics, and finally focuses on technological perspectives. Digitalization offers opportunities, but also risks. Hajo describes a ratio of “55:45 in favor of opportunities” – but only if risks are actively addressed.
The limitations of digital tools are also discussed. Hajo emphasizes that health is an area of trust in which personal interaction continues to play a major role. Digitalization can support, but does not replace, all analog forms. At the same time, the handbook shows how important a common language is in interdisciplinary teams – from the campus glossary to the question of what a data lake actually means.
Another central topic of discussion is what is missing from the handbook: cybersecurity and evaluation. Both are areas that Hajo describes as crucial for the future, but which are only touched upon in the book. Evaluation is becoming increasingly important – not only effectiveness, but above all usage, suitability for everyday use, and real effects on health. Digitalization is developing rapidly, and classic study designs are often no longer sufficient.
Finally, they talk about future scenarios. The handbook paints optimistic and pessimistic pictures of a digital health world. Science sees itself as a designer and companion that tests developments, combats misinformation, and observes social acceptance. Digitalization is happening – the question is how we shape it. This is exactly what the new handbook aims to provide guidance on.
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The handbook is available here: doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-90154-6
