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. 2019 Oct 28;5(4):e14689. doi: 10.2196/14689

Table 1.

List of hypotheses.

Number Hypothesis
H1 Digitization will enable a disruptive structural change in the health care system.
H2 Key stakeholders in the health care system slow down digitization on purpose.
H3 Digitization in the health care system will improve the medical treatment of patients.
H4 Digitization in the health care system will bring more benefits to those with compulsory health insurance.
H5 Digitization in the health care system will establish new and homogenous communication structures which will increase transparency.
H6 Digitization in the health care system will empower the patients and change the power structures.
H7 Digitization in the health care system will increase self-monitoring and treatment of patients using digital devices.
H8 Digitization in the health care system will free up jobs and replace them with artificial intelligence, robots, etc.
H9 Digitization in the health care system will force pharmaceutical companies to develop products beyond the pill, (eg, hybrid models with additional service, or other applications or services) and further offer precision medicine.
H10 Big Data analysis of medical data, eg, interfacing between different professions will reduce malpractice and improve coordination of therapies.
H11 Digitization will secure medical care in underserved areas (eg, remote and rural areas).
H12 Digitization will increase the networking of stakeholders (eg, Physicians, Hospitals, Insurance and Pharmaceutical companies) within the health care system.
H13 Digitization will push the specialization of stakeholders (eg, Physicians, Hospitals, Insurance and Pharmaceutical companies) within the health care system.
H14 Digitization will offer opportunities to better differentiate caretakers from their competitors.
H15 Digitization in the health care system cannot replace the personal contact between stakeholders, such as between physicians or nurses and their patients.
H16 Digitization in the health care system will change existing job profiles.
H17 Digitization in the health care system leads to a depreciation of expert knowledge.