Application-accompanying performance measurement for Digital Health Applications: Optimisation from a healthcare research perspective for targeted and healthcare-relevant performance measurement Anwendungsbegleitende Erfolgsmessung (AbEM) bei Digitalen Gesundheitsanwendungen: Optimierung aus Sicht der Versorgungsforschung für eine zielgerichtete und versorgungsrelevante Erfolgsmessung

Kramer U, Busse TS, Dietzel N, Heinrich R, Kemmerer P, Niemeyer A, Richter JG, Singer S, Zeiler M, Scheibe M (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Gesundheitswesen Georg Thieme Verlag

DOI: 10.1055/a-2907-9867

Abstract

Objective Digital health applications (DHA) are part of standard care in Germany. With the Digital Act, application-accompanying performance measurement (German: Anwendungsbegleitende Erfolgsmessung, AbEM) will become mandatory in 2026 for evaluating the use and effectiveness of DHA under everyday conditions. The aim of this position paper was to formulate requirements for AbEM that would enable a valid and practice-relevant evaluation. In addition, proposals for the practical implementation of these requirements were developed. Methodology AbEM was discussed and evaluated in 24 meetings of experts from healthcare research, medicine and digital health. Existing concepts for quality measurement and patientreported outcome and experience measures (PROMs, PREMs) were reviewed and assessed for their transferability. Furthermore, specific requirements for data collection and evaluation in AbEM were identified. Results In addition to the proposed measurement instruments for the AbEM, in particular PROMs and PREMs, and the usage data collected within the DHA, reasons for discontinuation and long-term effects as well as undesirable DHA effects should be collected with pre-defined categories. The patient's assessment of the outcomes should be supplemented by an assessment by the therapist at the end of DHA use. Active discontinuation logic in the applications, standardised collection protocols and an electronic patient record interface through which pseudonymised AbEM data is transferred to a common AbEM data pool and evaluated in a DHA-specific and manufacturer-independent manner could increase the knowledge gained from AbEM and its usefulness as a research resource. Comparisons between different DHAs or with treatment alternatives within the framework of AbEM are currently not recommended due to methodological limitations. In the future, inclusion of medical registries that integrate standardised and interoperable DHA master data sets, or the establishment of independent DHA registries, could improve the usability and knowledge gains of AbEM data from DHA. Conclusions AbEM offers the opportunity to make DHA use transparent and promote quality-oriented remuneration. This requires methodologically sound, independent and interoperable data collection that focuses on patient-relevant outcomes, incorporates the perspective of prescribers and enables the integration of (routine) data. The current implementation of DHA-AbEM does not yet sufficiently address these key points.

Authors with CRIS profile

Nikolas Dietzel Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Public Health (IZPH) Michael Zeiler Lehrstuhl für Medizinische Informatik

Involved external institutions

Wissenschaftliches Institut für Gesundheitsökonomie und Gesundheitssystemforschung (WIG2) GmbH DE Germany (DE) Sanawork GmbH DE Germany (DE) Universität Witten/Herdecke DE Germany (DE) Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz DE Germany (DE) TMF – Technologie- und Methodenplattform für die vernetzte medizinische Forschung e.V. DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf DE Germany (DE) Universitätsmedizin Rostock DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Dresden DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Kramer, U., Busse, T.S., Dietzel, N., Heinrich, R., Kemmerer, P., Niemeyer, A.,... Scheibe, M. (2026). Application-accompanying performance measurement for Digital Health Applications: Optimisation from a healthcare research perspective for targeted and healthcare-relevant performance measurement Anwendungsbegleitende Erfolgsmessung (AbEM) bei Digitalen Gesundheitsanwendungen: Optimierung aus Sicht der Versorgungsforschung für eine zielgerichtete und versorgungsrelevante Erfolgsmessung. Gesundheitswesen. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2907-9867

MLA:

Kramer, Ursula, et al. "Application-accompanying performance measurement for Digital Health Applications: Optimisation from a healthcare research perspective for targeted and healthcare-relevant performance measurement Anwendungsbegleitende Erfolgsmessung (AbEM) bei Digitalen Gesundheitsanwendungen: Optimierung aus Sicht der Versorgungsforschung für eine zielgerichtete und versorgungsrelevante Erfolgsmessung." Gesundheitswesen (2026).

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