DNV and BMJ Future Health Commission report highlights gaps in trust and training as barriers to digital health adoption

DNV and BMJ Future Health Commission report highlights gaps in trust and training as barriers to digital health adoption

(IN BRIEF) DNV and BMJ Group, through the BMJ Future Health Commission, have published a new report showing that digital health technologies have yet to deliver the expected efficiency and workload benefits for healthcare professionals. Survey results from over 300 participants revealed that fewer than half believe digital tools ease administrative or clinical burdens, though 80% said they improve care delivery and 76% remain optimistic about the digital future. Trust emerged as a key issue, with 41% of professionals still sceptical. Experts from DNV and BMJ stress that building trust, enhancing interoperability, increasing training, and involving clinicians more directly in technology adoption are essential to unlocking the full potential of digital health.

(PRESS RELEASE) BÆRUM, 8-Sep-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — DNV, together with BMJ Group through the BMJ Future Health Commission, has released a new report showing that digital health has not yet delivered the expected productivity and efficiency gains for healthcare professionals in Europe. While most clinicians remain optimistic about digital transformation, the findings point to persistent barriers around trust, interoperability, and training.

The report, Building Trust for Digital Transformation in Healthcare, surveyed more than 300 healthcare professionals across Northern Europe and conducted in-depth interviews with both clinicians and administrative staff. The results reveal that fewer than half believe digital health technologies reduce administrative tasks (47%), ease clinical workload (38%), or lower the cost of delivering healthcare (44%).

Despite these challenges, optimism is high: 80% of respondents said digital tools improve care delivery, and 76% expressed confidence in the digital future of healthcare. However, while 59% of professionals trust digital health technologies, a significant 41% remain hesitant or doubtful, indicating the need for stronger confidence-building measures.

Stephen McAdam, Segment Director, Digital Health at DNV, explained: “Trust is the critical currency of digital health. Foundational trust comes from robust, transparent standards and regulation, while operational trust is built when clinicians are engaged in designing and testing certified tools that align with real-world workflows. Both are essential to accelerating adoption and ensuring digital health solutions deliver value at the bedside.”

The study also found that electronic health records (EHRs), the most widely adopted digital technology, are not meeting expectations. Frequent EHR users were 14 percentage points less likely to believe digital tools ease workloads compared to non-users. Poor interoperability and funding constraints emerged as the two most significant barriers to broader adoption.

Healthcare professionals highlighted the importance of training and earlier clinical involvement in digital implementation. More than half (54%) believe technologies are more readily adopted when endorsed by clinical staff, while nearly two-thirds (61%) want a stronger voice in investment decisions. Continuous training was also identified as the single most valuable factor for building capability and confidence in using digital tools.

Dr Helen Surana, Associate Editor at BMJ Events, added: “While optimism for digital transformation is strong, healthcare professionals remain unconvinced about its impact on costs and workload. Prioritising trust, interoperability, and training—while involving clinicians from the outset—will be key to making digital health a real driver of efficiency and better care.”

The report concludes with five recommendations: evaluate confidence in EHR systems, set standards for interoperability, commit to long-term staff training, involve clinicians and patients in technology design, and strengthen investment in managing emerging risks.

Media Contact:

Christian Parker
Brand and Communications Manager, Cybersecurity and Digital Health
Christian.Parker@dnv.com

SOURCE: DNV