Changing needs of future patients: How do healthcare delivery adapt?

Dear readers,

In this issue of our journal, two articles have brought our attention to the changing needs of our future patients. Utap MS et al. reported no significant difference between a brief intervention using the ‘5A’ model with self-help materials and using self-help materials alone for smoking cessation in a Malaysian primary care setting.¹ This has highlighted that patient are more empowered for self management with no additional benefits being observed for advice and counselling from healthcare providers. In another article, Ho BK et al. found that e-cigarette users were more likely to be at younger age group among Malaysian.² This may be a new area of health issue to be handled by healthcare providers. Therefore, our future healthcare delivery will need to be redesigned to adapt to the needs of younger generation. Preventive care will become the mainstream of health care. The younger generation who are digital native will expect tailored, individualized care of their health and are empowered to engaged in their own health and healthcare delivery with the use of technology and social media. This generation will have a consumer mindset rather than patient mindset. They desire access to care and expect more transparency as they are extremely cost conscious. Instead of the current usual paternalistic approach, this generation expect collaborative decision-making with healthcare provider.^3–4 Healthcare providers need to adapt to this shift of care delivery approach in the very near future. In addition, medical schools will also need to make the necessary adaptation to educate future generations of doctors.^3–4