Digitalization as an Engine for Change? Building a Vision Pathway towards a Sustainable Health Care System by Using the MLP and Health Economic Decision Modelling

Johanna Leväsluoto, Johanna Kohl, Anton Sigfrids, Jussi Pihlajamäki and Janne Martikainen
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Johanna Leväsluoto: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Visiokatu 4, 33101 Tampere, Finland
Johanna Kohl: Natural Resources Centre Finland LUKE, Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
Anton Sigfrids: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Visiokatu 4, 33101 Tampere, Finland
Jussi Pihlajamäki: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, 70210 Kuopio, Finland
Janne Martikainen: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, 70210 Kuopio, Finland

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 23, 1-24

Abstract: Grand social challenges, such as type 2 diabetes (T2D), are increasing, which creates sustainability problems for health care service systems. To reduce socio-economic burdens, changes are required in the socio-technical system. However, there is an uncertainty of the most cost-effective policy action that can create sustainability while providing health benefits. To find potential solutions to these challenges, the multi-level perspective (MLP) and health economic decision modelling was used to study socio-technical change and project potential health economic consequences of different scenarios. The study focuses on creating a vision pathway for reducing T2D in Finland. In total, 23 interviews were carried out and the results were analyzed utilizing the MLP model. As a result, five themes towards prevention of T2D were identified. Digitalization was found to be a cross-cutting theme for preventing T2D and was thus taken as the object of study and the main focus of this paper. As a result, this paper reports on the opportunities and barriers for using digital tools in a transition towards T2D prevention. A health economic decision modelling revealed that the highest expected savings could be obtained by prioritizing prevention programs based on T2D risk. Finally, the model was converted into a web-based online tool by combining vision pathway, transition-focused storylines and forward-looking health economic scenario analysis to give the policy makers an overall picture of the needed societal changes and support the impact assessment of alternative policies in a case of T2D prevention in Finland.

Keywords: multi-level perspective; transition studies; health economic decision modelling; vision pathway; transition pathway; health promotion; type 2 diabetes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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