Experiences of using the iCHANGE digital health application in the curriculum for medical students in Thailand

The iCHANGE digital health application was developed to record and monitor six aspects of health behavior, along with laboratory results. It was implemented as part of a curriculum designed to provide medical students with hands-on experience in using digital health for managing multimorbidity. This study aims to explore medical students’ experiences and perceptions regarding the use of a digital health application in the context of multimorbidity care. Qualitative case study, utilizing semi-structured interviews. Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, a tertiary care university hospital. Fourth-year medical students, using purposive sampling. Participants utilized iCHANGE, an application for recording and monitoring health behaviors, laboratory results, communication features, and clinical decision support system (CDSS) functions. Patients recorded their health-associated behavior while medical students provided monitoring, advice, and health education with guidance from a team of health care professionals. Using a semi-structured interview guide, focus groups were conducted between August 2022 and May 2023. Based on six focus groups involving 26 participants, three key themes emerged: (1) digital health as a physician competency for multimorbid care in the digital society, (2) recognition of the challenges associated with digital health interventions, and (3) the role of digital health in the care of patients with multimorbidity. Incorporating digital health technology into the medical student curriculum may enhance the preparation of students for multimorbidity care and equip them with essential skills to navigate the evolving health care environment.