Table of contents
Table of contents
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For several years, digital technology has been progressively transforming the healthcare system. Online appointment booking, teleconsultation, secure messaging, shared medical records, mobile applications, medical assistants based on artificial intelligence: digital tools are now present at almost every stage of the care pathway.
Yet, a preconceived notion persists: patients, particularly older ones, are said to be reluctant to use these new tools.
The available data tells a much more nuanced story. The challenge is no longer really about whether patients accept digital technology, but under what conditions they accept it.
An adoption now well established
The digital transformation of healthcare is no longer a future prospect: it is now part of the daily lives of millions of French people.
Online appointment booking has become a common practice. According to the 2025 Digital Barometer, 67% of French people booked a medical appointment online during the last twelve months, illustrating the now central role of digital tools in the organisation of healthcare. (1)
At the same time, teleconsultation has firmly established itself in the French landscape. More than 15 million teleconsultations were carried out in 2025. They now represent around 2 to 5% of medical consultations, with strong variations depending on the specialty: around 2% in general medicine, but up to 6 to 7% for certain specialists such as psychiatrists or endocrinologists. (2)
The first digital medical assistants based on artificial intelligence are also beginning to appear in healthcare pathways. They support healthcare professionals before, during, or after consultations in order to reduce certain administrative tasks, prepare consultations, or improve medical documentation.
👉 The main challenge is therefore no longer to convince patients to use digital tools, but to offer them solutions that are genuinely useful, simple, and integrated into their healthcare pathway.
Age is no longer the main barrier
One of the most widespread ideas is to think that elderly patients refuse digital tools.
Recent studies show a more nuanced reality.
According to the Digital Health Barometer, a majority of people aged 65 and over now use at least one digital health service, whether it is online appointment booking, a teleconsultation, or a digital health space. (1)
More broadly, literature shows that acceptance depends more on:
the simplicity of the tool;
its perceived usefulness;
the support offered;
and the level of trust in data protection,
than on age itself.
Work on digital health literacy also shows that elderly patients can perfectly adopt a digital tool when it meets a concrete need and its use remains intuitive. (3)
👉 Age remains one factor among others, but it no longer alone explains the acceptance or refusal of digital health tools.
An adoption now well established
The digital transformation of healthcare is no longer a future prospect: it is now part of the daily lives of millions of French people.
Online appointment booking has become a common practice. According to the 2025 Digital Barometer, 67% of French people booked a medical appointment online during the last twelve months, illustrating the now central role of digital tools in the organisation of healthcare. (1)
At the same time, teleconsultation has firmly established itself in the French landscape. More than 15 million teleconsultations were carried out in 2025. They now represent around 2 to 5% of medical consultations, with strong variations depending on the specialty: around 2% in general medicine, but up to 6 to 7% for certain specialists such as psychiatrists or endocrinologists. (2)
The first digital medical assistants based on artificial intelligence are also beginning to appear in healthcare pathways. They support healthcare professionals before, during, or after consultations in order to reduce certain administrative tasks, prepare consultations, or improve medical documentation.
👉 The main challenge is therefore no longer to convince patients to use digital tools, but to offer them solutions that are genuinely useful, simple, and integrated into their healthcare pathway.
Age is no longer the main barrier
One of the most widespread ideas is to think that elderly patients refuse digital tools.
Recent studies show a more nuanced reality.
According to the Digital Health Barometer, a majority of people aged 65 and over now use at least one digital health service, whether it is online appointment booking, a teleconsultation, or a digital health space. (1)
More broadly, literature shows that acceptance depends more on:
the simplicity of the tool;
its perceived usefulness;
the support offered;
and the level of trust in data protection,
than on age itself.
Work on digital health literacy also shows that elderly patients can perfectly adopt a digital tool when it meets a concrete need and its use remains intuitive. (3)
👉 Age remains one factor among others, but it no longer alone explains the acceptance or refusal of digital health tools.
Patients use digital tools when they find a benefit in them
Studies on patient experience show that the acceptance of a digital tool mainly depends on a simple question:
What is in it for me?
When a patient understands that a tool helps to:
save time;
avoid an unnecessary trip;
better prepare for their consultation;
facilitate communication with their doctor;
or improve their follow-up,
their acceptance increases significantly.
Conversely, a tool perceived as complex, redundant, or without concrete benefit will be quickly abandoned, regardless of the technology used.
Health literacy remains an important challenge
Not all patients have the same capacity to understand or use medical information.
This capacity is called health literacy.
However, the results of the Aldebaran Barometer show a reassuring reality.
87.7% of patients report being comfortable enough to answer a digital medical questionnaire.
Only 3.6% report not being comfortable at all with this type of tool. Among these patients, we indeed observe more difficulties in completing a questionnaire.
In contrast, no significant difference is observed among the other levels of health literacy.
These results suggest that pre-consultation assistants remain accessible to 96.4% of patients, including those with intermediate literacy.
Patients use digital tools when they find a benefit in them
Studies on patient experience show that the acceptance of a digital tool mainly depends on a simple question:
What is in it for me?
When a patient understands that a tool helps to:
save time;
avoid an unnecessary trip;
better prepare for their consultation;
facilitate communication with their doctor;
or improve their follow-up,
their acceptance increases significantly.
Conversely, a tool perceived as complex, redundant, or without concrete benefit will be quickly abandoned, regardless of the technology used.
Health literacy remains an important challenge
Not all patients have the same capacity to understand or use medical information.
This capacity is called health literacy.
However, the results of the Aldebaran Barometer show a reassuring reality.
87.7% of patients report being comfortable enough to answer a digital medical questionnaire.
Only 3.6% report not being comfortable at all with this type of tool. Among these patients, we indeed observe more difficulties in completing a questionnaire.
In contrast, no significant difference is observed among the other levels of health literacy.
These results suggest that pre-consultation assistants remain accessible to 96.4% of patients, including those with intermediate literacy.
Do patients accept pre-consultation medical assistants?
Pre-consultation is a prime example of this evolution.
For a long time, it was often assumed that patients would not take the time to answer a medical questionnaire before their appointment.
However, field experience shows a different reality.
According to Aldebaran data, covering more than 300,000 pre-consultations, over 85% of patients agree to prepare for their consultation when a pre-consultation medical assistant is offered to them.
This high level of engagement is likely explained by an easily perceivable benefit: the patient understands that the information provided will allow the doctor to better prepare for the consultation and dedicate more time to the clinical exchange.
The conditions for good acceptance
Acceptance of digital tools, therefore, does not depend solely on technology.
It relies on several simple principles:
easy and intuitive use;
a benefit clearly explained to the patient;
a concrete gain during the care journey;
protection of health data;
and the possibility of being supported when necessary.
Digital technology must not replace human relationships. It must facilitate them.
Do patients accept pre-consultation medical assistants?
Pre-consultation is a prime example of this evolution.
For a long time, it was often assumed that patients would not take the time to answer a medical questionnaire before their appointment.
However, field experience shows a different reality.
According to Aldebaran data, covering more than 300,000 pre-consultations, over 85% of patients agree to prepare for their consultation when a pre-consultation medical assistant is offered to them.
This high level of engagement is likely explained by an easily perceivable benefit: the patient understands that the information provided will allow the doctor to better prepare for the consultation and dedicate more time to the clinical exchange.
The conditions for good acceptance
Acceptance of digital tools, therefore, does not depend solely on technology.
It relies on several simple principles:
easy and intuitive use;
a benefit clearly explained to the patient;
a concrete gain during the care journey;
protection of health data;
and the possibility of being supported when necessary.
Digital technology must not replace human relationships. It must facilitate them.
Limitations still exist
Despite this growing adoption, digital health tools are not suitable for every situation.
Some patients remain distanced from digital technology due to:
a low level of digital literacy;
low health literacy;
a disability or a situation of dependency;
a lack of equipment or internet access;
or simply a preference for in-person interactions.
These situations apply to all digital health tools: online appointment booking, teleconsultation, AI-based medical assistants, digital health spaces, or mobile applications.
👉 Digital technology must therefore not systematically replace traditional pathways, but offer an additional option when it truly improves the quality of care.
Limitations still exist
Despite this growing adoption, digital health tools are not suitable for every situation.
Some patients remain distanced from digital technology due to:
a low level of digital literacy;
low health literacy;
a disability or a situation of dependency;
a lack of equipment or internet access;
or simply a preference for in-person interactions.
These situations apply to all digital health tools: online appointment booking, teleconsultation, AI-based medical assistants, digital health spaces, or mobile applications.
👉 Digital technology must therefore not systematically replace traditional pathways, but offer an additional option when it truly improves the quality of care.
Conclusion
The question is probably no longer whether patients will accept digital health tools. The data shows that a very large majority already use them or are ready to use them when they provide a concrete benefit.
The real challenge now lies in designing simple, useful, secure tools that are genuinely integrated into the care pathway.
With this in mind, digital medical assistants, smart medical questionnaires, or pre-consultation tools do not replace healthcare professionals. They help to better prepare for consultations, improve the patient experience, and restore medical time to caregivers.
(1) ARCEP, Arcom, CGE & ANCT. Digital Barometer 2025. 2025.
(2) French National Health Insurance. Assises de la télémédecine 2025-2026 (Telemedicine Conference 2025-2026) and Annual Report 2025.
(3) World Health Organization (WHO). Health literacy development for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases. 2022.
FAQ
Are patients in favour of digital health tools?
Do older people reject digital technology?
Do patients agree to complete a medical questionnaire before a consultation?
Can all patients use these tools?
Why do patients accept digital tools?
How can we increase the acceptance of a digital health tool?
Does digital technology risk dehumanising the carer-patient relationship?
FAQ
Are patients in favour of digital health tools?
Do older people reject digital technology?
Do patients agree to complete a medical questionnaire before a consultation?
Can all patients use these tools?
Why do patients accept digital tools?
How can we increase the acceptance of a digital health tool?
Does digital technology risk dehumanising the carer-patient relationship?
FAQ
Are patients in favour of digital health tools?
Do older people reject digital technology?
Do patients agree to complete a medical questionnaire before a consultation?
Can all patients use these tools?
Why do patients accept digital tools?
How can we increase the acceptance of a digital health tool?
Does digital technology risk dehumanising the carer-patient relationship?
