Biopsychosociotechnical (BPST) Models: One to Watch in HealthTech 2026

The Biopsychosociotechnical (BPST) model is a systems-based framework for health improvement that extends the traditional Biopsychosocial (BPS) model by incorporating the role of technology.

In HealthTech, this model is a key framework to watch in 2026 as it advocates for a more holistic, human centered and practical approach to designing and implementing healthcare technologies.

The BPST model views health and its determinants as a complex adaptive system of systems involving the interaction of four major domains:

Biological (bio−): Genetics, physical health, disease pathology, physiological function.

Psychological (psycho−): Thoughts, emotions, behaviors, coping mechanisms, mental health.

Social (social−): Socioeconomic factors, culture, support networks, community and social determinants of health.

Technical (techno−): The tools, technology, tasks, environments and organisational processes (eg. Electronic Health Records (EHRs), mobile health apps, AI, remote monitoring devices).
 
Relevance in Healthtech for 2026

The BPST model provides a "practical theory" for health improvement, making it highly relevant as digital health technologies become more integrated and complex.

1. Human-Centered Design and Implementation

The model calls for a participatory design process that ensures technology is not just medically sound, but also psychologically and socially supportive.

Focus: Designing health technologies that seamlessly integrate into the patient's real-world social context and address potential psychological barriers (eg. anxiety, stigma, digital literacy).

2026 Trend: A push toward personalised digital health products and platforms where the technical solution is tailored to the individual's specific biological, psychological and social circumstances.

2. Addressing Health Disparities

By explicitly including the social and techno components, the BPST model forces a consideration of how technology can reduce or inadvertently worsen health inequalities.

Focus: Designing and implementing technology to be accessible and effective across diverse populations, acknowledging differences in digital access, cultural beliefs and socioeconomic status.

2026 Trend: The use of technology to support inclusion health groups and address social determinants of health, ensuring that AI-driven diagnostics and remote care are equitable.

3. Systemic Intervention Management

The model moves beyond simple "treatments" to focus on systems-focused interventions that modify the entire BPST context.

Focus: Utilising technology to create holistic, continuous-care systems rather than isolated solutions. For example, remote patient monitoring (techno−) needs to be integrated with care coordination (social−) and psychological support (psycho−) to manage a chronic biological condition (bio−).

2026 Trend: Growing focus on Intervention Management to support the full lifecycle of health improvement, including continuous monitoring, feedback loops, and dynamic adjustments based on real-world system data.

In short, the BPST model serves as the theoretical underpinning for the next generation of health technologies that must function as interconnected components within a patient's entire life and healthcare ecosystem, not just as isolated medical tools.

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