One of the main challenges of modern healthcare is the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases — in most developed countries they are the leading cause of death.

The basis of therapy are regular check-ups and the patient's commitment to taking care of their own health. However, building new health habits is not a simple process, it requires motivation, discipline and support from a doctor or loved ones. One method that is gaining popularity is the increased frequency of small interactions between the patient and the health worker involved in his therapy. In this article you will read more about the effectiveness of this solution and methods of introducing it into your medical practice.

Microinteractions is a term that comes from the web design industry, especially from the field of user experience (UX). Their goal is to improve the user experience and support their engagement and interaction with the site or application, which builds the connection between the user and the product. Microinteractions can function as a signal in the habit loop, that is, the first stimulus associated with the performance of a given activity, that triggers the desire to act.

The idea of microinteractions can be transferred to the healthcare industry. They form part of the model of placing the patient at the center of the therapeutic process and responding to his needs and preferences. One analysis of the success of IT applications in medicine focused on methods that increase the involvement of patients and their families [1]. It was noted that frequent contact with patients in order to answer questions that arise and the availability of doctors to patients within the framework of remote communication channels significantly supports patients and their families. The result was to improve their involvement in the therapeutic process, among other things through education and broadening knowledge about the disease.

Fragmentation of the treatment process and long intervals between visits lead to low efficiency of communication between patients and doctors. There is a lack of feedback on the effects of therapy, and a significant part of the time during in-patient visits is spent collecting information about the patient's health status in recent weeks or months. This leads to frustration on both sides and a decrease in the motivation of patients.

Microinteractions between visits have proven to be a promising solution to this problem, which is confirmed in studies by doctors and patients. Frequent but brief remote contact with the patient results in an increased sense of responsibility of patients for their own health and an improvement in their commitment to therapy.

In addition, the combination of micro-interactions with telemonitoring devices could improve daily health management and increase patients' sense of safety through more precise detection of emergency incidents.

Microinteractions also play an important role in reducing treatment costs and relieving the burden on the health care system. Frequent collection of information from patients, including using telemonitoring devices, allows to reduce the number of visits to hospital emergency departments by early detection of developing health problems. Regular, short contacts with the doctor also allow more efficient use of time during in-patient visits, as the doctor keeps abreast of changes in the state of health of his patients.

How can you introduce microinteractions into your practice step by step?

The first step is to create a suitable platform - the most convenient form for both patients and doctors are instant messengers for remote contact. It is worth taking care to choose an application that meets the requirements for the protection of personal data, especially data concerning the health of patients.

The essence of microinteractions is short questions about well-being, the effects of therapy or possible doubts. Examples of such interactions are:

Hello, how do you feel after increasing the dose of the drug? Do you remember to take it before meals?

Hello, how is your rehabilitation going? Does exercise bring relief, improvement in daily functioning?

Hello, have you been able to sign up for a gastroscopy? Do you have any questions about preparing for the test?

A potential obstacle to the implementation of this solution is the ability of patients and employees to use telecommunication solutions. This may require staff training as well as taking the time at the in-patient visit to present instructions to patients. However, this is a one-time investment that has the chance to result in a significant improvement in the patient's functioning.

Microinteractions are a way not only to collect information from patients in time, but also to remind them of the necessary recommendations in therapy and support in navigation during treatment. This form of communication benefits both patients, who are better educated in managing their illness, and for physicians who see an improvement in the efficiency of their work. Higher patient adherence to recommendations and improved communication quality lead to improved therapy and better outcomes. In addition, the quality of life of patients is improved, which is crucial in the treatment of chronic diseases. The introduction of such interactions seems to be a small change, however its effects can be of great importance. Therefore, it is worth taking it into account when conducting medical practice and planning cooperation with patients.

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Leung K, Lu-McLean D, Kuziemsky C, Booth R, Collins Rossetti S, Borycki E, Strudwick G., Using Patient and Family Engagement Strategies to Improve Outcomes of Health Information Technology Initiatives: Scoping Review, J Med Internet Res 2019;21(10):e14683

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