No Goat's Gonna Save Your Ass

In a recent blog Bridging the Chasm to Healthy Behaviours I wondered about why the evangelists of digital technologies keep proclaiming to be the panacea for healthcare reform.  ‘Apple postulates in their recent campaign, “Will it make life better?”  I respond, “No!”  Making life better is the sole responsibility of the individual.  Technology can play a supportive role in the hands of a motivated individual, as a coach, teacher and guide but technology can’t put the healthy food choices into your grocery cart or take your evening walk - only you can do that.’

So it was encouraging to see Tim O’Reilly (@timoreilly) tweet that this article In 20 Years We’re All Going to Realize This Apple Ad is Nuts  by Mark Wilson, “may well be the most important thing you will read all year”.  I couldn't agree more.  Technology can play a role in health improvement but it can also be a barrier, a distraction from the factors motivating healthy decisions such as fully engaging with your social network, directing discretionary spending to healthy options and even taking the time for a walk in the woods. 

A friend gave me a button recently ‘No goat’s gonna save my ass’ since she knew I wrote under the Fainting Goat pseudonym.  When I searched for the origin of the button I found it was part of a drink responsibly campaign for the Nova Scotia Department of Health.  The Magic Goat video could just as easily depict consumer’s unrealistic expectations that technology will be responsible for improving their health.  There are no short cuts to healthy living and reducing your risks for chronic disease.  But there are lots of distractions and companies willing to sell you a ‘quick fix’.  Messages bombard you from everywhere.  Your best defense is your own rational thinking but you have to take time to distance yourself from the noise and apply it. 

There was a constructive article posted this week How to be a Proactive Patient and, while I prefer the term consumer (we are not all patients but we all consume healthcare services), the advice holds strong for anyone looking for guidance on how to be a more active partner with your healthcare provider.  My top 3 pieces of advice; don’t be afraid to question your doctor; keep your own medical record; and talk to other patients who share your diagnosis.   The article ends with ‘Remember, your body is your business’ - words to hold onto.

This is not rocket science.  Exercise daily, eat fresh (and local) whenever possible and avoid the junk (we all know what it is).  Take time for family, friends and social supports, if you smoke cut down or quit and if you drink do so in moderation.  Understand the connection between your family’s health and your own (be it genetic or learned) and if you have children, acknowledge the role you have in informing their health behaviours.   Don’t blame others for your choices.  Laugh often and watch out for signs of stress.  

A family member, partner or good friend is going to help you reach your goals much more effectively than a piece of technology.  Share your goals and help those you care for reach theirs. 

Now, this Goat is going to abandon the computer and go for a hike.

  

It’s your health.  It’s your health information.  Manage it well.

Embrace your inner Captain Kirk

I recently noticed that there are no overweight or obese people on Star Trek. Why?  They sit most of the day in front of computer panels, have relatively no commute on the ship that is their home/office/recreation space for years on end and they get beamed from their space ship to planets or other ships through a process that requires little or no exertion.  On the other hand they have no access to fast food, no one smokes and no one appears to drink.  Perhaps the Enterprise provides an ideal, evidence-informed environment that contributes to optimal health, free from negative consumption habits.  

If Gene Roddenberry can envision it, we can certainly duplicate it, right?  There are already segments of our population who resemble the crew of the Enterprise; astronauts and military personnel.  We prepare these individuals for the demanding work they do through intense physical training, a controlled environment and instilling an acute awareness of the potential and limits of their body’s abilities. 

But before we get too excited about creating future Captains like James T. Kirk, let take a closer look at how we are building our future space travel.  General Foods (Tang) and Pillsbury (Space Food Snacks) have already contributed to space food development and now a number of companies such as Virgin Galactic  have privatized space travel.  Keeping on this path, our Enterprise will likely be sponsored by Coke and McDonalds and our captain will more likely resemble Rob Ford or Chris Christie as our poor eating habits follow us into space.  How can we expect a future that isn’t commercialized when we are so attached to our unhealthy commercialized habits here on earth?  

We are not all going to be astronauts but we can learn from them. 

As Astronaut Chris Hadfield so eloquently said “Don’t let life randomly kick you into the adult you don’t want to become”.  Focus on those things that you can control.  Accept those things you cannot control.  Set goals.  Identify the person you want to be and don’t lose sight of it.  Control your environment don’t let it control you.  Be intentional. Be aware.

It is exciting that we will soon have access to Star Trek gadgets like the Tricorder in the next few years (if you haven’t heard about the Tricorder X Prize and the $10 million contest, you will soon as the developers rush to bring versions of this device to market).  But it is only a device that will measure how healthy your body is, you have the ultimate control over the choices that will make you healthy.  This is the difference between Captain Kirk and Captain Crunch.   This is about lives well lived.  This is about legacy and mentorship, role models and real life inspiration. 

It’s your health.  It’s your health information.  Manage it well.  

Bridging the Chasm to Healthy Behaviours

Digital Health Solutions are making news.  Some tout advances in health technology as saviour to our healthcare systems, others claim technology will improve individual health outcomes.  But are these technologies solutions or simply shiny new tools?  Can any piece of technology be responsible for improvements when true success relies on an individual’s motivation and efforts to change behaviours? 

Apple postulates in their recent campaign, “Will it make life better?”  I respond, “No!”  Making life better is the sole responsibility of the individual.  Technology can play a supportive role in the hands of a motivated individual, as a coach, teacher and guide but technology can’t put the healthy food choices into your grocery cart or take your evening walk - only you can do that. 

The challenge to achieving improved health outcomes lies in the chasm between an individual’s awareness of healthy behaviours and their personal decision to change their behaviour.  It requires building a bridge of healthy attitude and it takes hard work and determination.  In order to change behaviour individuals must first understand there is a problem, and then change their attitude towards the problem and then they can work towards behaviour change.  It would be difficult to find an adult who doesn’t know that smoking cigarettes is bad for your health and probably kill you, but 20% of Americans continue to smoke.  Understanding that something is bad for you doesn’t mean you will stop doing it. 

Behaviour change is complex.  Improved health outcomes will come with understanding what motivates people to change. Solutions will come when we understand the various roles of healthcare providers, technology and support networks for individuals working towards a goal.    

Right now we have the digital cart before the horse.  While digital technologies can support individuals who have decided to work towards a specific goal, the device in and of itself does not motivate (can actually be a barrier) and cannot create behaviour change.  Those who use digital devices to set and achieve goals are already motivated and living with a healthy attitude.  Digital Health is preaching to the converted. 

The focus should be on the majority of population who are living with unhealthy behaviours.  Two thirds of Americans are overweight or obese;  20% of Americans smoke;  At least 1 in 4 Americans eat some type of fast food every day;  Americans consume 31 percent more packaged food than fresh food; and 36% of Americans don’t get the minimum amount of daily exercise.  (Note; while American statistics are used, North American statistics are comparable).  The majority of Americans don’t need a digital device; they need motivation to change they need a bridge to healthy behaviours.  

If we are serious about improving health outcomes, we need to stop being distracted by the shiny devices and their marketing claims and focus on understanding what motivates sustained behaviour change. 

It's your health.  It's your health information.  Manage it well.