The use of Digital Tools to promote Physical Activity as preventive factor for Cardiovascular diseases. Barrier and opportunities for Health Public Systems

Being drawn in the emerging relevance of the diffusion of m-health services, this work analyses the weight of digital tools in promoting Physical Activity as preventive therapy for people at risk of Cardiovascular Disease. We examined the issue at public policy level, investigating about factors able to favor the adoption of m-health in this field. The paper reports about the initial deducing findings coming from the conclusion of a first piloting study, in which we executed exploratory targeted qualitative interviews to privileged witnesses able to be informative as experts of the area. These findings appear to claim – before looking at technological aspects – for a change in the framework of intervention in the general public policy setting, pushing for a change in vision, approach, institutional framework, and cultural setting. Aspects such as: absence of guidelines, lack of specific training as well as the necessity to rethink governance and accountability frameworks have been found as challenges to be faced at policy level before actually thinking about certification and effective adoption of the most effective digital tool.