What it’s all about
A key goal of doctor-patient communication when prescribing DTx is to motivate patients to actually redeem their unlock code and use the prescribed app. The most important technique in this context is not to describe the advantages of DTx, but to show its benefits.
The terms in basic comparison
By definition, a benefit always refers to a positive property or aspect of a thing or service. It describes what distinguishes the reference object, i.e. a DTx, from others or makes it better.
Reference of benefit, on the other hand, is the concrete value or advantages that a person can derive from the DTx application. It describes how it contributes to meeting needs or goals and achieving positive outcomes.
The terms in detailed comparison
Thus, the two approaches differ in terms of
- the focus:
A benefit focuses on the features or characteristics of the DTx itself that make it stand out; a benefit focuses on the impact or value it has for the user or recipient.
- the perspective:
Advantages are considered from the provider’s perspective, benefits from the patient’s perspective.
- the communication objective
Benefits are used to promote DTx. They are highlighted in marketing materials or sales pitches to convince potential customers, benefits are predestined for personal communication between doctor and patient to explain how a DTx meets the patient’s individual needs.
- the degree of abstraction:
Benefits are usually formulated in more general terms, as they describe the general strengths or positive aspects; utility is more specific and concrete, as it refers to the actual advantages and results that the patient can achieve through its use.
Parallel use is also possible.
However, it is important to note that advantages and benefits are closely related. Advantages can be used to illustrate benefits, and benefits can be derived from advantages. In doctor-patient communication, it can therefore also be efficient to emphasise both the advantages and the concrete benefits in order to provide a holistic, convincing presentation.
R2049 