Digital readiness, in the context of empowering podiatrists, encompasses the patient's ability, motivation, and competence in accessing, using, and feeling comfortable with various technologies. It's about understanding not just the skillset but also the mindset of patients when it comes to embracing digital healthcare tools like smartphones, apps, online software, video calls, and more. Motivation relates to a patient's confidence and willingness, while competence pertains to acquired skills, which can be cultivated through learning and support.

By being aware of these factors, podiatrists can better tailor their approach to meet the unique needs and preferences of each person they care for, ultimately enhancing their engagement and outcomes in the digital healthcare landscape.

Assessing a patient's digital readiness before prescribing digital health interventions is vital for ensuring accessibility, effectiveness, and engagement. It helps tailor interventions to patients' proficiency levels, identifies potential risks, and promotes equity in healthcare access, ultimately bridging disparities in digital literacy and technology access among patients.

Schellenberg et al., 2023 developed a short, easy-to-use questionnaire (DHR-Q) that empowers clinicians to gain an understanding of their patient's current digital readiness.

Understanding the results:

1. Digital Access (Min score 4, Max Score of 20)
2. Usage of Digital Technology (Min Score 4, Max Score of 20)
3. Digital Literacy (Min Score 2, Max Score of 10)
4. Digital Health Literacy (Min Score 3, Max Score of 15)
5. Learnability (Min Score of 2, Max Score of 10)

The DHR-Q questionnaire has been integrated below for ease of use and an immediate calculation of the patient's readiness for the following areas:

For the Podiatrist to supply to the patient, either by link, in person, or through the attached form

• It provides a total score per section and overall.
• These scores aid in the patient and podiatrist understanding, at a high level, the patient's readiness for digital intervention

• No data is collected or stored online; it provides a breakdown of numbers per section
• As this information can aid in the development of a patient's ongoing plan, the podiatrist can record the outcome and either explore ways to support the patient's digital readiness as their care plan progresses or explore ways to use their current readiness in the execution of their plan