Table 2.
Current status of digitalization in obstetrics and gynecology in Germany
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Possibility of performing robotic surgery—no. (%) | |
| Yes | 29 (32.6) |
| No | 60 (67.4) |
| No answer | 2 |
| Number of days per week with possibility to perform robotic surgery—median (25th, 75th percentile) | 1 (1, 2.5) |
| Willingness to participate in app-based trials for rare disease (e.g., granulosa cell tumors)—no. (%) | |
| Yes | 71 (80.7) |
| No | 17 (19.3) |
| No answer | 3 |
| Performing studies in the area digital medicine in obstetrics and gynecology—no. (%) | |
| Yes | 16 (18.0) |
| No | 73 (82.0) |
| No answer | 2) |
| Number of known medical apps—median (25th, 75th percentile) | |
| Digital companion apps | 2 (0, 3) |
| Decision support apps | 2 (0, 3) |
| Number of medical apps used personally—median (25, 75 percentile) | 2 (0, 3) |
| Personal use of medical wearables—no. (%) | |
| Yes | 26 (29.5) |
| No | 62 (70.5) |
| No answer | 3 |
| Prescription of DIGAs (Digital Health Applications)—no. (%) | |
| Yes | 9 (10.2) |
| No | 79 (89.8) |
| No answer | 3 |
| Among those who currently do not prescribe DIGAs | |
| Planning to prescribe DIGAs (Digital Health Applications) in the future among those who currently do not prescribe them—no. (%) | |
| Yes | 11 (14.3) |
| No | 66 (85.7) |
| No answer | 2 |
| Reasons for not prescribing DIGAs—no. (%.) | |
| Did not know about it | 31 (42.5) |
| Complicated prescription process | 17 (23.3) |
| Lack of monetary compensation | 13 (17.8) |
| Lack of evidence | 8 (11.0) |
| Specialty with highest potential for DIGAs—no. (%.) | |
| Gynecologic oncology (including senology) | 46 (65.7) |
| Fertility and endocrinology | 26 (37.1) |
| Obstetrics | 26 (37.1) |
| Others | 2 (2.8) |
| No answer | 9 |
| Among those who currently prescribe DIGAs | |
| Number of prescribed DIGAs—median (25th, 75th percentile) | 1 (1, 2) |
| Specialty with highest potential for DIGAs—no. (%.) | |
| Gynecologic oncology (including senology) | 7 (77.8) |
| Fertility and endocrinology | 1 (11.1) |
| Obstetrics | 1 (11.1) |
| Obesity | 2 (22.2) |
| Vaginismus | 1 (11.1) |
| Kind of prescribed DIGA—no. (%.) | |
| Digital companion | 5 (62.5) |
| Digital monitoring | 5 (62.5) |
| Wearables | 1 (12.5) |
| Offers telemedical appointments—no. (%) | |
| Yes | 12 (14.0) |
| No | 74 (86.0) |
| No answer | 5 |
| Among those who currently do not offer telemedical appointments | |
| Planning to offer telemedical appointments in the future among those who currently do not prescribe them—no. (%) | |
| Yes | 9 (12.7) |
| No | 62 (87.3) |
| No answer | 3 |
| Reasons for not offering telemedical appointments—no. (%.) | |
| Did not know about it | 11 (16.7) |
| Complicated prescription process | 16 (24.2) |
| Lack of monetary compensation | 19 (28.8) |
| Lack of evidence | 7 (10.6) |
| Specialty with highest potential for telemedical appointments—no. (%.) | |
| Gynecologic oncology (including senology) | 43 (62.3) |
| Fertility and endocrinology | 33 (47.8) |
| Obstetrics | 11 (15.9) |
| Others | 3 (4.2) |
| No answer | 5 |
| Among those who currently offer telemedical appointments | |
| Frequency of telemedical appointments—no. (%.) | |
| Very often | 1 (8.3) |
| Often | 4 (33.3) |
| Sometimes | 6 (50) |
| Rarely | 1 (8.3) |
| In which specialty do you offer telemedical appointments—no. (%.) | |
| Gynecologic oncology (including senology) | 8 (66.7) |
| Fertility and endocrinology | 5 (11.7) |
| Obstetrics | 3 (25) |
| Psychotherapy | 1 (8.3) |