Placing ethics at the centre of digital healthcare
Digital technologies are increasingly applied to healthcare, improving the way that patients are diagnosed and how services are delivered. These technologies include smartphone apps, wearable devices and platforms that provide remote healthcare. Artificial intelligence (AI) software can also be used to track symptoms and analyse data from medical devices. “Technology can help people to manage health issues, and can be used to distribute healthcare information,” notes REINITIALISE project coordinator Ilona Biernacka-Ligięza from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Poland. “We saw this during the COVID-19 epidemic. However, elderly people, who are often the most in need of care, can struggle to use new devices, and find it difficult to access digital health services.”
Combining technological and ethical issues
The EU-funded REINITIALISE project sought to address these issues by bringing together researchers from Belgium, Italy and Poland. The project team contained experts in ICT and engineering, as well as researchers focused on ethic issues in fields including AI and healthcare. A key element of the project involved establishing Maria Curie-Skłodowska University as a leading expert in digital technologies and fundamental rights, achieved through staff exchanges with KU Leuven in Belgium and the University of Macerata in Italy. “We began the project by looking at the quality of existing healthcare devices and their usefulness for seniors,” says Biernacka-Ligięza. “The project started during the pandemic, so much of this work was theoretical.” As people began to travel again, staff exchanges between the partner institutions were organised. Academic symposiums, job shadowing and cross-disciplinary mentoring were carried out.
Involvement of senior citizens
Another important element of the project was the involvement of senior patients. “This was important, as the project was not just about fundamental research,” adds Biernacka-Ligięza. “It was also about addressing the needs of senior citizens.” Questionnaires and workshops were organised, where valuable feedback could be gathered. Key concerns expressed by elderly patients using digital healthcare devices included ease of use, as well as data security and safety. “These are some of the ethical and technological factors that designers will need to take into consideration moving forward,” notes Biernacka-Ligięza.
Fundamental rights in digital technology design
The project has since published a Joint Research Roadmap on how to preserve fundamental rights in the design and use of digital technologies for e-health services. This integrated plan aims to link research and design excellence with the specific needs of end users. “The Roadmap also describes our future plans for cooperation, and identifies AI in healthcare as a key field of research,” explains Biernacka-Ligięza. “This research will look not only at the design of AI devices, but also at the impact, risks and dangers of applying AI within the healthcare system.” The project team also developed a Knowledge Platform, which aims to ensure that the collaborative learning process pioneered through this project is continued. The platform contains a mentorship and networking section, allowing researchers and staff involved in the project to continue working together. There is also a training section, which includes virtual training content and material collected from project training events. “This project will have a positive impact for elderly patients,” says Biernacka-Ligięza. “End user feedback is crucial to designing healthcare tools for the future, as well as for planning policy.”
Keywords
REINITIALISE, ethics, healthcare, digital, elderly, AI, software