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Segur-Ferrer J, Moltó-Puigmartí C, Pastells-Peiró R, Vivanco-Hidalgo RM. Methodological Frameworks and Dimensions to Be Considered in Digital Health Technology Assessment: Scoping Review and Thematic Analysis. J Med Internet Res 2024; 26:e48694. [PMID: 38598288 PMCID: PMC11043933 DOI: 10.2196/48694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Digital health technologies (dHTs) offer a unique opportunity to address some of the major challenges facing health care systems worldwide. However, the implementation of dHTs raises some concerns, such as the limited understanding of their real impact on health systems and people's well-being or the potential risks derived from their use. In this context, health technology assessment (HTA) is 1 of the main tools that health systems can use to appraise evidence and determine the value of a given dHT. Nevertheless, due to the nature of dHTs, experts highlight the need to reconsider the frameworks used in traditional HTA. OBJECTIVE This scoping review (ScR) aimed to identify the methodological frameworks used worldwide for digital health technology assessment (dHTA); determine what domains are being considered; and generate, through a thematic analysis, a proposal for a methodological framework based on the most frequently described domains in the literature. METHODS The ScR was performed in accordance with the guidelines established in the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. We searched 7 databases for peer reviews and gray literature published between January 2011 and December 2021. The retrieved studies were screened using Rayyan in a single-blind manner by 2 independent authors, and data were extracted using ATLAS.ti software. The same software was used for thematic analysis. RESULTS The systematic search retrieved 3061 studies (n=2238, 73.1%, unique), of which 26 (0.8%) studies were included. From these, we identified 102 methodological frameworks designed for dHTA. These frameworks revealed great heterogeneity between them due to their different structures, approaches, and items to be considered in dHTA. In addition, we identified different wording used to refer to similar concepts. Through thematic analysis, we reduced this heterogeneity. In the first phase of the analysis, 176 provisional codes related to different assessment items emerged. In the second phase, these codes were clustered into 86 descriptive themes, which, in turn, were grouped in the third phase into 61 analytical themes and organized through a vertical hierarchy of 3 levels: level 1 formed by 13 domains, level 2 formed by 38 dimensions, and level 3 formed by 11 subdimensions. From these 61 analytical themes, we developed a proposal for a methodological framework for dHTA. CONCLUSIONS There is a need to adapt the existing frameworks used for dHTA or create new ones to more comprehensively assess different kinds of dHTs. Through this ScR, we identified 26 studies including 102 methodological frameworks and tools for dHTA. The thematic analysis of those 26 studies led to the definition of 12 domains, 38 dimensions, and 11 subdimensions that should be considered in dHTA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Segur-Ferrer
- Agency for Health Quality and Assessment of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
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Jeindl R, Wild C. [Technology assessment of digital health applications for reimbursement decisions]. Wien Med Wochenschr 2024; 174:44-52. [PMID: 34529150 PMCID: PMC10896865 DOI: 10.1007/s10354-021-00881-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND For most digital health applications (DiGA) only limited evidence of benefit is available. Currently available assessment frameworks do not cover all domains of a full health technology assessment (HTA). Additionally, technology-specific aspects are required for the evaluation of DiGA. This work aimed to analyze the available assessment frameworks and design an evaluation process for DiGA. METHODS By a systematic literature search six assessment frameworks for DiGA were selected and analyzed. A hand search for strategies on DiGA of selected countries was conducted. RESULTS Of the analyzed assessment frameworks four described study designs. One assessment framework proposed a risk classification of DiGA. Aspects of artificial intelligence were assessed by one assessment framework. The analyzed countries have differing strategies for reimbursement of DiGA. CONCLUSION Assessment frameworks for DiGA are very heterogeneous. There are efforts to find regulations for DiGA on a national level. When evaluating DiGA, a staged approach considering risk classes with subsequent evaluation of relevant HTA aspects is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reinhard Jeindl
- Austrian Institute for Health Technology Assessment GmbH (AIHTA), Garnisongasse 7/20, 1090, Wien, Österreich.
| | - Claudia Wild
- Austrian Institute for Health Technology Assessment GmbH (AIHTA), Garnisongasse 7/20, 1090, Wien, Österreich
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Jacob C, Lindeque J, Müller R, Klein A, Metcalfe T, Connolly SL, Koerber F, Maguire R, Denis F, Heuss SC, Peter MK. A sociotechnical framework to assess patient-facing eHealth tools: results of a modified Delphi process. NPJ Digit Med 2023; 6:232. [PMID: 38102323 PMCID: PMC10724255 DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00982-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the thousands of eHealth tools available, the vast majority do not get past pilot phases because they cannot prove value, and only a few have been systematically assessed. Although multiple eHealth assessment frameworks have been developed, these efforts face multiple challenges. This study aimed to address some of these challenges by validating and refining an initial list of 55 assessment criteria based on previous frameworks through a two-round modified Delphi process with in-between rounds of interviews. The expert panel (n = 57) included participants from 18 countries and 9 concerned parties. A consensus was reached on 46 criteria that were classified into foundational and contextual criteria. The 36 foundational criteria focus on evaluating the eHealth tool itself and were grouped into nine clusters: technical aspects, clinical utility and safety, usability and human centricity, functionality, content, data management, endorsement, maintenance, and developer. The 10 contextual criteria focus on evaluating the factors that vary depending on the context the tool is being evaluated for and were grouped into seven clusters: data-protection compliance, safety regulatory compliance, interoperability and data integration, cultural requirements, affordability, cost-benefit, and implementability. The classification of criteria into foundational and contextual helps us assess not only the quality of an isolated tool, but also its potential fit in a specific setting. Criteria subscales may be particularly relevant when determining the strengths and weaknesses of the tool being evaluated. This granularity enables different concerned parties to make informed decisions about which tools to consider according to their specific needs and priorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Jacob
- University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), Olten, Switzerland.
| | - Johan Lindeque
- University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), Olten, Switzerland
| | - Roman Müller
- University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), Olten, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Klein
- Personalized Healthcare, Pharma Product Development, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Metcalfe
- Personalized Healthcare, Pharma Product Development, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Samantha L Connolly
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Florian Koerber
- IU Internationale Hochschule, Erfurt, Germany
- Flying Health GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - Roma Maguire
- Department of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Fabrice Denis
- Institut Inter-régional de Cancérologie Jean Bernard, ELSAN, Le Mans, France
- Institute for Smarthealth, Le Mans, France
| | - Sabina C Heuss
- University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), Olten, Switzerland
| | - Marc K Peter
- University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), Olten, Switzerland
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Mezei F, Horváth K, Pálfi M, Lovas K, Ádám I, Túri G. International practices in health technology assessment and public financing of digital health technologies: recommendations for Hungary. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1197949. [PMID: 37719722 PMCID: PMC10501404 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1197949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Evaluating and integrating digital health technologies is a critical component of a national healthcare ecosystem in the 2020s and is expected to even increase in significance. Design The paper gives an overview of international practices on public financing and health technology assessment of digital health technologies (DHTs) in five European Union (EU) countries and outlines recommendations for country-level action that relevant stakeholders can consider in order to support uptake of digital health solutions in Hungary. A scoping review was carried out to identify and gather country-specific classifications and international practices on the financing DHTs in five pioneering EU countries: Germany, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Finland. Results Several frameworks have been developed for DHTs, however there is no single, unified framework or method for classification, evaluation, and financing of digital health technologies in European context. European countries apply different taxonomy, use different assessment domains and regulations for the reimbursement of DHTs. The Working Group of the Hungarian Health Economic Society recommends eight specific points for stakeholders, importantly taking active role in shaping common clinical evidence standards and technical quality criteria across in order for common standards to be developed in the European Union single market. Conclusion Specificities of national healthcare contexts must be taken into account in decisions to allocate public funds to certain therapies rather than others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fruzsina Mezei
- Data-Driven Health Division of National Laboratory for Health Security, Health Services Management Training Centre, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- EIT Health France, Paris, France
| | - Krisztián Horváth
- Department of Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Máté Pálfi
- Center for Health Technology Assessment, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Kornélia Lovas
- CE Certiso Ltd, Budakeszi, Hungary
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ildikó Ádám
- Center for Health Technology Assessment, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gergő Túri
- Epidemiology and Surveillance Centre, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Synthesis Health Research Foundation, Budapest, Hungary
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Nygren JM, Lundgren L, Bäckström I, Svedberg P. Strengthening Digital Transformation and Innovation in the Health Care System: Protocol for the Design and Implementation of a Multidisciplinary National Health Innovation Research School. JMIR Res Protoc 2023; 12:e46595. [PMID: 37256654 DOI: 10.2196/46595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Digital health technologies have the potential to transform health care services to be more cost-effective, coordinated, and accessible on equal terms for entire populations. In the future, people will be assisted by such technologies to monitor their health status, take preventive measures, and have more control of their health situation. An increase in digital supplementation or substitution of physical care visits can potentially add value to patients and care providers by increasing accessibility, safety, and quality of care. However, health care organizations struggle with the challenges of developing and implementing digital health technologies and services in practice. As a response to this, we have developed a national multidisciplinary research school to increase competence and capacity for research on the development, implementation, and dissemination of digital health technology solutions. The overall aim of the research school is to increase national competence and capacity for the development, implementation, and dissemination of digital health technology to increase the preparedness to support and facilitate the ongoing digital transformation in the health care system. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this paper is to outline the protocol for the development and implementation of a national multidisciplinary doctoral education program of health innovation supporting digital transformation in the health care system. METHODS A national multidisciplinary research school for health innovation was planned in collaboration between 7 Swedish universities and their partners from industry and the public sector. The research school will run over 6 years, of which 5 years are dedicated for the doctoral education program and 1 year for the project start-up and closing. In this paper, we outline the methodological approach of the research school; the combining of knowledge and expertise of the universities that are important to run the research school; the jointly formulated research-oriented and societally relevant research focus, goals, and objectives for the research school; the established and developed relationships with partners from industry and the public sector for joint research training projects; the forms of collaboration in the research school; and the format of the doctoral education process. RESULTS The research school was funded in December 2021 and started in March 2022. The research school starts with an initiation period from March 2022 to December 2022 where the infrastructure and the action plans to run the school are set up. The PhD projects start in January 2023, and these projects will be completed in 5 years. Additional activities within the research program are doctoral courses, networking activities, and dissemination of results. CONCLUSIONS The network of several partners from industry, public sector, and academia enables the research school to pose research questions that can contribute to solving relevant societal problems related to the development, evaluation, implementation, and dissemination of methods and processes assisted by digital technologies. Ultimately, this will promote innovation to improve health outcomes, quality of care, and prioritizations of resources. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/46595.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens M Nygren
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
| | - Lina Lundgren
- School of Business, Innovation and Sustainability, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
| | - Ingela Bäckström
- Department of Communication, Quality Management and Information Systems, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden
| | - Petra Svedberg
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
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Mengiste SA, Antypas K, Johannessen MR, Klein J, Kazemi G. eHealth policy framework in Low and Lower Middle-Income Countries; a PRISMA systematic review and analysis. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:328. [PMID: 37005588 PMCID: PMC10067308 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09325-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low and lower middle-income countries suffer lack of healthcare providers and proper workforce education programs, a greater spread of illnesses, poor surveillance, efficient management, etc., which are addressable by a central policy framework implementation. Accordingly, an eHealth policy framework is required specifically for these countries to successfully implement eHealth solutions. This study explores existing frameworks and fills the gap by proposing an eHealth policy framework in the context of developing countries. METHODS This PRISMA-based (PRISMA Preferred Reporting Items For Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) systematic review used Google Scholar, IEEE, Web of Science, and PubMed latest on 23rd May 2022, explored 83 publications regarding eHealth policy frameworks, and extracted 11 publications scrutinizing eHealth policy frameworks in their title, abstract, or keywords. These publications were analyzed by using both expert opinion and Rstudio programming tools. They were explored based on their developing/developed countries' context, research approach, main contribution, constructs/dimensions of the framework, and related categories. In addition, by using cloudword and latent semantic space techniques, the most discussed concepts and targeted keywords were explored and a correlation test was conducted to depict the important concepts mentioned in the related literature and extract their relation with the targeted keywords in the interest of this study. RESULTS Most of these publications do not develop or synthesize new frameworks for eHealth policy implementation, but rather introduce eHealth implementation frameworks, explain policy dimensions, identify and extract relevant components of existing frameworks or point out legal or other relevant eHealth implementation issues. CONCLUSION After a thorough exploration of related literature, this study identified the main factors affecting an effective eHealth policy framework, found a gap in the context of developing countries, and proposed a four-step eHealth policy implementation guideline for successful implementation of eHealth in the context of developing. The limitation of this study is the lack of a proper amount of practically implemented eHealth policy framework cases in developing countries published in the literature for the review. Ultimately, this study is part of the BETTEReHEALTH (More information about the BETTEReHEALTH project at https://betterehealth.eu ) project funded by the European Union Horizon's 2020 under agreement number 101017450.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shegaw Anagaw Mengiste
- Department of Business, History and Social Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway, Vestfold, Vestfold, Norway
| | - Konstantinos Antypas
- Department of Health Research, SINTEF Digital, Stiftelsen for Industriell Og Teknisk Forskning (SINTEF), Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Marius Rohde Johannessen
- Department of Business, History and Social Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway, Vestfold, Vestfold, Norway
| | - Jörn Klein
- Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway, Porsgrunn, Norway
| | - Gholamhossein Kazemi
- Department of Business, History and Social Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway, Vestfold, Vestfold, Norway.
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Potluka O, Švecová L, Kubát V, Liskova-Nedbalova V, Nečas T, Lhotská L, Hejdová K. Evaluation of eHealth assistance in-hospital care for improved quality of life in patients. EVALUATION AND PROGRAM PLANNING 2023; 97:102261. [PMID: 36889132 DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2023.102261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Health conditions contribute significantly to patients' quality of life. Healthcare infrastructure and healthcare services, including their accessibility, belong to objective factors influencing their perception of their health. The growing disparity between supply and demand for specialized inpatient facilities due to the aging population calls for new solutions, including eHealth technologies. Automatized activities could be taken over by eHealth technologies that do not require a constant presence of staff. We tested whether eHealth technical solutions reduce patients' health risks on a sample of 61 patients on the covid-19 unit in Tomas Bata hospital in Zlin. We have applied the randomized control trial to select patients for the treatment and the control groups. Moreover, we tested eHealth technologies and their help to staff in the hospital. Due to the severity of the covid-19 disease and its rapid course and the size of the sample in our research, we did not demonstrate a statistically significant impact of eHealth technologies on patient health. The evaluation results confirm that even the limited number of technologies deployed proves to be an effective help for staff in critical situations like the pandemic. The main issue is psychological support to staff in hospitals and relieving stressful work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oto Potluka
- Center for Philanthropy Studies, University of Basel, Steinengraben 22, 4051 Basel, Switzerland; Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, nám. Sítná 3105, 27201 Kladno, Czech Republic.
| | - Lenka Švecová
- Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, nám. Sítná 3105, 27201 Kladno, Czech Republic.
| | - Viktor Kubát
- Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, nám. Sítná 3105, 27201 Kladno, Czech Republic.
| | | | - Tomáš Nečas
- Krajská nemocnice T. Bati, a. s., Havlíčkovo nábřeží 600, 76275 Zlín, Czech Republic.
| | - Lenka Lhotská
- Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, nám. Sítná 3105, 27201 Kladno, Czech Republic; Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics, Czech Technical University in Prague, Jugoslávských partyzánů 1580/3, 16000 Praha 6, Czech Republic.
| | - Kristýna Hejdová
- Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, nám. Sítná 3105, 27201 Kladno, Czech Republic.
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Jacob C, Lindeque J, Klein A, Ivory C, Heuss S, Peter MK. Assessing the Quality and Impact of eHealth Tools: Systematic Literature Review and Narrative Synthesis. JMIR Hum Factors 2023; 10:e45143. [PMID: 36843321 PMCID: PMC10131913 DOI: 10.2196/45143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Technological advancements have opened the path for many technology providers to easily develop and introduce eHealth tools to the public. The use of these tools is increasingly recognized as a critical quality driver in health care; however, choosing a quality tool from the myriad of tools available for a specific health need does not come without challenges. OBJECTIVE This review aimed to systematically investigate the literature to understand the different approaches and criteria used to assess the quality and impact of eHealth tools by considering sociotechnical factors (from technical, social, and organizational perspectives). METHODS A structured search was completed following the participants, intervention, comparators, and outcomes framework. We searched the PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest databases for studies published between January 2012 and January 2022 in English, which yielded 675 results, of which 40 (5.9%) studies met the inclusion criteria. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions were followed to ensure a systematic process. Extracted data were analyzed using NVivo (QSR International), with a thematic analysis and narrative synthesis of emergent themes. RESULTS Similar measures from the different papers, frameworks, and initiatives were aggregated into 36 unique criteria grouped into 13 clusters. Using the sociotechnical approach, we classified the relevant criteria into technical, social, and organizational assessment criteria. Technical assessment criteria were grouped into 5 clusters: technical aspects, functionality, content, data management, and design. Social assessment criteria were grouped into 4 clusters: human centricity, health outcomes, visible popularity metrics, and social aspects. Organizational assessment criteria were grouped into 4 clusters: sustainability and scalability, health care organization, health care context, and developer. CONCLUSIONS This review builds on the growing body of research that investigates the criteria used to assess the quality and impact of eHealth tools and highlights the complexity and challenges facing these initiatives. It demonstrates that there is no single framework that is used uniformly to assess the quality and impact of eHealth tools. It also highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach that balances the social, organizational, and technical assessment criteria in a way that reflects the complexity and interdependence of the health care ecosystem and is aligned with the factors affecting users' adoption to ensure uptake and adherence in the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Jacob
- FHNW - University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, Windisch, Switzerland
| | - Johan Lindeque
- FHNW - University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, Olten, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Klein
- Medical Affairs (Personalised Healthcare and Patient Access), F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Chris Ivory
- Innovation Management, Mälardalens University, Västerås, Sweden
| | - Sabina Heuss
- FHNW - University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, Olten, Switzerland
| | - Marc K Peter
- FHNW - University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, Olten, Switzerland
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Sampietro-Colom L, Fernandez-Barcelo C, Abbas I, Valdasquin B, Rabasseda N, García-Lorenzo B, Sanchez M, Sans M, Garcia N, Granados A. WtsWrng Interim Comparative Effectiveness Evaluation and Description of the Challenges to Develop, Assess, and Introduce This Novel Digital Application in a Traditional Health System. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13873. [PMID: 36360756 PMCID: PMC9654177 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192113873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Science and technology have evolved quickly during the two decades of the 21st century, but healthcare systems are grounded in last century's structure and processes. Changes in the way health care is provided are demanded; digital transformation is a key driver making healthcare systems more accessible, agile, efficient, and citizen-centered. Nevertheless, the way healthcare systems function challenges the development (Innovation + Development and regulatory requirements), assessment (methodological guidance weaknesses), and adoption of digital applications (DAs). WtsWrng (WW), an innovative DA which uses images to interact with citizens for symptom triage and monitoring, is used as an example to show the challenges faced in its development and clinical validation and how these are being overcome. To prove WW's value from inception, novel approaches for evidence generation that allows for an agile and patient-centered development have been applied. Early scientific advice from NICE (UK) was sought for study design, an iterative development and interim analysis was performed, and different statistical parameters (Kappa, B statistic) were explored to face development and assessment challenges. WW triage accuracy at cutoff time ranged from 0.62 to 0.94 for the most frequent symptoms attending the Emergency Department (ED), with the observed concordance for the 12 most frequent diagnostics at hospital discharge fluctuating between 0.4 to 0.97; 8 of the diagnostics had a concordance greater than 0.8. This experience should provoke reflective thinking for DA developers, digital health scientists, regulators, health technology assessors, and payers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Sampietro-Colom
- Assessment of Innovations and New Technologies Unit, Research and Innovation Directorate, Clínic Barcelona University Hospital, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Mangrana Ventures S.L., 08006 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carla Fernandez-Barcelo
- Assessment of Innovations and New Technologies Unit, Research and Innovation Directorate, Clínic Barcelona University Hospital, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ismail Abbas
- Assessment of Innovations and New Technologies Unit, Research and Innovation Directorate, Clínic Barcelona University Hospital, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Blanca Valdasquin
- Assessment of Innovations and New Technologies Unit, Research and Innovation Directorate, Clínic Barcelona University Hospital, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Borja García-Lorenzo
- Assessment of Innovations and New Technologies Unit, Research and Innovation Directorate, Clínic Barcelona University Hospital, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Kronikgune Institute for Health Sciences Research, 48902 Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Miquel Sanchez
- Emergency Department, Clínic Barcelona University Hospital, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mireia Sans
- CAP Comte Borrell, Consorci Atenció Primaria Salut Barcelona Esquerra—CAPSBE, 08029 Barcelona, Spain
- Health 2.0 Section of the Col·Legi Oficial de Metges de Barcelona, 08017 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Noemi Garcia
- CAP Comte Borrell, Consorci Atenció Primaria Salut Barcelona Esquerra—CAPSBE, 08029 Barcelona, Spain
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Smits M, Ludden GDS, Verbeek PP, van Goor H. How Digital Therapeutics Are Urging the Need for a Paradigm Shift: From Evidence-Based Health Care to Evidence-Based Well-being. Interact J Med Res 2022; 11:e39323. [PMID: 36264624 PMCID: PMC9634516 DOI: 10.2196/39323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
A scientific paradigm consists of a set of shared rules, beliefs, values, methods, and instruments for addressing scientific problems. Currently, health care embraces the paradigm of evidence-based health care (EBH). This paradigm prompts health care institutions to base decisions on the best available evidence, which is commonly generated in large-scale randomized controlled trials. We illustrate the application of EBH via the evaluation of drugs. We show how EBH is challenged when it is applied to the evaluation of digital therapeutics, which refers to technology and data to prevent, manage, or treat a medical disorder or disease. We conclude that amid the growing application of digital therapeutics, the paradigm of EBH is challenged in four domains: population, intervention, comparison, outcome. In the second part of this viewpoint, we argue for a paradigm shift in health care so we can optimally evaluate and implement digital therapeutics, and we sketch out the contours of this novel paradigm. We address the need for considering design in health care and evaluation processes, studying user values so that health care can move from a focus on health to well-being, focusing on individual experiences rather than the average, addressing the need for evaluation in authentic use contexts, and stressing the need for continuous evaluation of the dynamic relations between users, context, and digital therapeutics. We conclude that the transition from EBH toward evidence-based well-being would improve the successful implementation of digital technologies in health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merlijn Smits
- Department of Surgery, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Geke D S Ludden
- Faculty of Engineering Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Peter-Paul Verbeek
- Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Harry van Goor
- Department of Surgery, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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Tarricone R, Petracca F, Cucciniello M, Ciani O. Recommendations for developing a lifecycle, multidimensional assessment framework for mobile medical apps. HEALTH ECONOMICS 2022; 31 Suppl 1:73-97. [PMID: 35388585 PMCID: PMC9545972 DOI: 10.1002/hec.4505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Digital health and mobile medical apps (MMAs) have shown great promise in transforming health care, but their adoption in clinical care has been unsatisfactory, and regulatory guidance and coverage decisions have been lacking or incomplete. A multidimensional assessment framework for regulatory, policymaking, health technology assessment, and coverage purposes based on the MMA lifecycle is needed. A targeted review of relevant policy documents from international sources was conducted to map current MMA assessment frameworks, to formulate 10 recommendations, subsequently shared amongst an expert panel of key stakeholders. Recommendations go beyond economic dimensions such as cost and economic evaluation and also include MMA development and update, classification and evidentiary requirements, performance and maintenance monitoring, usability testing, clinical evidence requirements, safety and security, equity considerations, organizational assessment, and additional outcome domains (patient empowerment and environmental impact). The COVID-19 pandemic greatly expanded the use of MMAs, but temporary policies governing their use and oversight need consolidation through well-developed frameworks to support decision-makers, producers and introduction into clinical care processes, especially in light of the strong international, cross-border character of MMAs, the new EU medical device and health technology assessment regulations, and the Next Generation EU funding earmarked for health digitalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanna Tarricone
- Centre for Research in Health and Social Care Management (CERGAS)Government, Health and Non Profit DivisionSDA BocconiMilanItaly
- Department of Social and Political SciencesBocconi UniversityMilanItaly
| | - Francesco Petracca
- Centre for Research in Health and Social Care Management (CERGAS)Government, Health and Non Profit DivisionSDA BocconiMilanItaly
| | - Maria Cucciniello
- Department of Social and Political SciencesBocconi UniversityMilanItaly
- University of Edinburgh Business SchoolScotlandUK
| | - Oriana Ciani
- Centre for Research in Health and Social Care Management (CERGAS)Government, Health and Non Profit DivisionSDA BocconiMilanItaly
- Institute of Health ResearchUniversity of Exeter Medical SchoolExeterUK
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12
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Implementation of a new Digi-HTA process for digital health technologies in Finland. Int J Technol Assess Health Care 2022; 38:e68. [PMID: 35983625 DOI: 10.1017/s0266462322000502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES There has been a lack of health technology assessment (HTA) methods for novel digital health technologies (DHTs) such as mHealth, artificial intelligence, and robotics in Finland. The Digi-HTA method has been developed for this purpose. The aim of this study is to determine whether it would be possible to use Digi-HTA recommendations to support healthcare decision-makers. Secondly, from the perspective of companies offering different types of DHT products, this study assesses the suitability of using the Digi-HTA framework to perform HTAs for their products. METHODS Feedback about Digi-HTA recommendations was collected from healthcare professionals. DHT companies provided input about the Digi-HTA framework. Data were collected via a web-based survey and were analyzed using qualitative methods. RESULTS Of the twenty-four healthcare professional respondents, twenty said that the Digi-HTA recommendations contained all the necessary information, and twenty-one found them useful for their work. Respondents hoped that the Digi-HTA recommendations would be better integrated into the decision-making processes and healthcare professionals would be more informed about this new HTA process. The questions of the Digi-HTA framework were applicable for different DHT products based on the responses from DHT companies (n = 8). CONCLUSIONS According to the study participants, although the Digi-HTA recommendations include clear and beneficial information, their integration into healthcare decision-making processes should be improved. Responses from DHT companies indicate that the Digi-HTA framework would be an appropriate tool for performing assessments for their products. To generalize the findings of this study, more comprehensive studies will be needed.
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13
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How health care delivery organizations can exploit eHealth innovations: An integrated absorptive capacity and IT governance explanation. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2022.102508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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14
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Real-World Implementation of Precision Psychiatry: A Systematic Review of Barriers and Facilitators. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12070934. [PMID: 35884740 PMCID: PMC9313345 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12070934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Despite significant research progress surrounding precision medicine in psychiatry, there has been little tangible impact upon real-world clinical care. Objective: To identify barriers and facilitators affecting the real-world implementation of precision psychiatry. Method: A PRISMA-compliant systematic literature search of primary research studies, conducted in the Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO and OpenGrey databases. We included a qualitative data synthesis structured according to the ‘Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research’ (CFIR) key constructs. Results: Of 93,886 records screened, 28 studies were suitable for inclusion. The included studies reported 38 barriers and facilitators attributed to the CFIR constructs. Commonly reported barriers included: potential psychological harm to the service user (n = 11), cost and time investments (n = 9), potential economic and occupational harm to the service user (n = 8), poor accuracy and utility of the model (n = 8), and poor perceived competence in precision medicine amongst staff (n = 7). The most highly reported facilitator was the availability of adequate competence and skills training for staff (n = 7). Conclusions: Psychiatry faces widespread challenges in the implementation of precision medicine methods. Innovative solutions are required at the level of the individual and the wider system to fulfil the translational gap and impact real-world care.
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Petersson L, Larsson I, Nygren JM, Nilsen P, Neher M, Reed JE, Tyskbo D, Svedberg P. Challenges to implementing artificial intelligence in healthcare: a qualitative interview study with healthcare leaders in Sweden. BMC Health Serv Res 2022; 22:850. [PMID: 35778736 PMCID: PMC9250210 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-08215-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Artificial intelligence (AI) for healthcare presents potential solutions to some of the challenges faced by health systems around the world. However, it is well established in implementation and innovation research that novel technologies are often resisted by healthcare leaders, which contributes to their slow and variable uptake. Although research on various stakeholders' perspectives on AI implementation has been undertaken, very few studies have investigated leaders' perspectives on the issue of AI implementation in healthcare. It is essential to understand the perspectives of healthcare leaders, because they have a key role in the implementation process of new technologies in healthcare. The aim of this study was to explore challenges perceived by leaders in a regional Swedish healthcare setting concerning the implementation of AI in healthcare. METHODS The study takes an explorative qualitative approach. Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted from October 2020 to May 2021 with 26 healthcare leaders. The analysis was performed using qualitative content analysis, with an inductive approach. RESULTS The analysis yielded three categories, representing three types of challenge perceived to be linked with the implementation of AI in healthcare: 1) Conditions external to the healthcare system; 2) Capacity for strategic change management; 3) Transformation of healthcare professions and healthcare practice. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, healthcare leaders highlighted several implementation challenges in relation to AI within and beyond the healthcare system in general and their organisations in particular. The challenges comprised conditions external to the healthcare system, internal capacity for strategic change management, along with transformation of healthcare professions and healthcare practice. The results point to the need to develop implementation strategies across healthcare organisations to address challenges to AI-specific capacity building. Laws and policies are needed to regulate the design and execution of effective AI implementation strategies. There is a need to invest time and resources in implementation processes, with collaboration across healthcare, county councils, and industry partnerships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Petersson
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Box 823, 301 18, Halmstad, Sweden.
| | - Ingrid Larsson
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Box 823, 301 18, Halmstad, Sweden
| | - Jens M Nygren
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Box 823, 301 18, Halmstad, Sweden
| | - Per Nilsen
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Box 823, 301 18, Halmstad, Sweden.,Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Division of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Margit Neher
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Box 823, 301 18, Halmstad, Sweden.,Department of Rehabilitation, School of Health Sciences, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Julie E Reed
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Box 823, 301 18, Halmstad, Sweden
| | - Daniel Tyskbo
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Box 823, 301 18, Halmstad, Sweden
| | - Petra Svedberg
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Box 823, 301 18, Halmstad, Sweden
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16
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De Santis KK, Jahnel T, Matthias K, Mergenthal L, Al Khayyal H, Zeeb H. Evaluation of Digital Interventions for Physical Activity Promotion: Scoping Review. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2022; 8:e37820. [PMID: 35604757 PMCID: PMC9171604 DOI: 10.2196/37820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Digital interventions are interventions supported by digital tools or technologies, such as mobile apps, wearables, or web-based software. Digital interventions in the context of public health are specifically designed to promote and improve health. Recent reviews have shown that many digital interventions target physical activity promotion; however, it is unclear how such digital interventions are evaluated. Objective We aimed to investigate evaluation strategies in the context of digital interventions for physical activity promotion using a scoping review of published reviews. We focused on the target (ie, user outcomes or tool performance), methods (ie, tool data or self-reported data), and theoretical frameworks of the evaluation strategies. Methods A protocol for this study was preregistered and published. From among 300 reviews published up to March 19, 2021 in Medline, PsycINFO, and CINAHL databases, 40 reviews (1 rapid, 9 scoping, and 30 systematic) were included in this scoping review. Two authors independently performed study selection and data coding. Consensus was reached by discussion. If applicable, data were coded quantitatively into predefined categories or qualitatively using definitions or author statements from the included reviews. Data were analyzed using either descriptive statistics, for quantitative data (relative frequencies out of all studies), or narrative synthesis focusing on common themes, for qualitative data. Results Most reviews that were included in our scoping review were published in the period from 2019 to 2021 and originated from Europe or Australia. Most primary studies cited in the reviews included adult populations in clinical or nonclinical settings, and focused on mobile apps or wearables for physical activity promotion. The evaluation target was a user outcome (efficacy, acceptability, usability, feasibility, or engagement) in 38 of the 40 reviews or tool performance in 24 of the 40 reviews. Evaluation methods relied upon objective tool data (in 35/40 reviews) or other data from self-reports or assessments (in 28/40 reviews). Evaluation frameworks based on behavior change theory, including goal setting, self-monitoring, feedback on behavior, and educational or motivational content, were mentioned in 22 out of 40 reviews. Behavior change theory was included in the development phases of digital interventions according to the findings of 20 out of 22 reviews. Conclusions The evaluation of digital interventions is a high priority according to the reviews included in this scoping review. Evaluations of digital interventions, including mobile apps or wearables for physical activity promotion, typically target user outcomes and rely upon objective tool data. Behavior change theory may provide useful guidance not only for development of digital interventions but also for the evaluation of user outcomes in the context of physical activity promotion. Future research should investigate factors that could improve the efficacy of digital interventions and the standardization of terminology and reporting in this field. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.2196/35332
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Karolina De Santis
- Department of Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology- BIPS, Bremen, Germany.,Leibniz-Science Campus Digital Public Health Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Tina Jahnel
- Leibniz-Science Campus Digital Public Health Bremen, Bremen, Germany.,Faculty 11 Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Katja Matthias
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Applied Science Stralsund, Stralsund, Germany
| | - Lea Mergenthal
- Department of Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology- BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Hatem Al Khayyal
- Department of Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology- BIPS, Bremen, Germany.,Leibniz-Science Campus Digital Public Health Bremen, Bremen, Germany.,Faculty of Engineering and Mathematics, Bielefeld University of Applied Science, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Hajo Zeeb
- Department of Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology- BIPS, Bremen, Germany.,Leibniz-Science Campus Digital Public Health Bremen, Bremen, Germany.,Faculty 11 Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
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17
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Evolving Optimised Convolutional Neural Networks for Lung Cancer Classification. SIGNALS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/signals3020018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Detecting pulmonary nodules early significantly contributes to the treatment success of lung cancer. Several deep learning models for medical image analysis have been developed to help classify pulmonary nodules. The design of convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures, however, is still heavily reliant on human domain knowledge. Manually designing CNN design solutions has been shown to limit the data’s utility by creating a co-dependency on the creator’s cognitive bias, which urges the development of smart CNN architecture design solutions. In this paper, an evolutionary algorithm is used to optimise the classification of pulmonary nodules with CNNs. The implementation of a genetic algorithm (GA) for CNN architectures design and hyperparameter optimisation is proposed, which approximates optimal solutions by implementing a range of bio-inspired mechanisms of natural selection and Darwinism. For comparison purposes, two manually designed deep learning models, FractalNet and Deep Local-Global Network, were trained. The results show an outstanding classification accuracy of the fittest GA-CNN (91.3%), which outperformed both manually designed models. The findings indicate that GAs pose advantageous solutions for diagnostic challenges, the development of which may to be fully automated in the future using GAs to design and optimise CNN architectures for various clinical applications.
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18
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Searching for Sustainability in Health Systems: Toward a Multidisciplinary Evaluation of Mobile Health Innovations. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14095286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Mobile health (mHealth) innovations are considered by governments as game changers toward more sustainable health systems. The existing literature focuses on the clinical aspects of mHealth but lacks an integrated framework on its sustainability. The foundational idea for this paper is to include disciplinary complementarities into a multi-dimensional vision to evaluate the non-clinical aspects of mHealth innovations. We performed a targeted literature review to find how the sustainability of mHealth innovations was appraised in each discipline. We found that each discipline considers a different outcome of interest and adopts different time horizons and perspectives for the evaluation. This article reflects on how the sustainability of mHealth innovation can be assessed at both the level of the device itself as well as the level of the health system. We identify some of the challenges ahead of researchers working on mobile health innovations in contributing to shaping a more sustainable health system.
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19
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Tossaint-Schoenmakers R, Kasteleyn MJ, Rauwerdink A, Chavannes N, Willems S, Talboom-Kamp EPWA. Development of a quality management model and self-assessment questionnaire for hybrid health care: a concept mapping study (Preprint). JMIR Form Res 2022; 6:e38683. [PMID: 35797097 PMCID: PMC9305399 DOI: 10.2196/38683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rosian Tossaint-Schoenmakers
- Saltro Diagnostic Centre, Unilabs Netherlands, Utrecht, Netherlands
- National eHealth Living Lab, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Marise J Kasteleyn
- National eHealth Living Lab, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Anneloek Rauwerdink
- Department of Surgery, Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Niels Chavannes
- National eHealth Living Lab, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Sofie Willems
- National eHealth Living Lab, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Esther P W A Talboom-Kamp
- National eHealth Living Lab, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
- Unilabs Group, Geneve, Switzerland
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20
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Smits M, Kim CM, van Goor H, Ludden GDS. From Digital Health to Digital Well-being: Systematic Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e33787. [PMID: 35377328 PMCID: PMC9016508 DOI: 10.2196/33787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Digital health refers to the proper use of technology for improving the health and well-being of people and enhancing the care of patients through the intelligent processing of clinical and genetic data. Despite increasing interest in well-being in both health care and technology, there is no clear understanding of what constitutes well-being, which leads to uncertainty in how to create well-being through digital health. In an effort to clarify this uncertainty, Brey developed a framework to define problems in technology for well-being using the following four categories: epistemological problem, scope problem, specification problem, and aggregation problem. Objective This systematic scoping review aims to gain insights into how to define and address well-being in digital health. Methods We followed the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist. Papers were identified from 6 databases and included if they addressed the design or evaluation of digital health and reported the enhancement of patient well-being as their purpose. These papers were divided into design and evaluation papers. We studied how the 4 problems in technology for well-being are considered per paper. Results A total of 117 studies were eligible for analysis (n=46, 39.3% design papers and n=71, 60.7% evaluation papers). For the epistemological problem, the thematic analysis resulted in various definitions of well-being, which were grouped into the following seven values: healthy body, functional me, healthy mind, happy me, social me, self-managing me, and external conditions. Design papers mostly considered well-being as healthy body and self-managing me, whereas evaluation papers considered the values of healthy mind and happy me. Users were rarely involved in defining well-being. For the scope problem, patients with chronic care needs were commonly considered as the main users. Design papers also regularly involved other users, such as caregivers and relatives. These users were often not involved in evaluation papers. For the specification problem, most design and evaluation papers focused on the provision of care support through a digital platform. Design papers used numerous design methods, whereas evaluation papers mostly considered pre-post measurements and randomized controlled trials. For the aggregation problem, value conflicts were rarely described. Conclusions Current practice has found pragmatic ways of circumventing or dealing with the problems of digital health for well-being. Major differences exist between the design and evaluation of digital health, particularly regarding their conceptualization of well-being and the types of users studied. In addition, we found that current methodologies for designing and evaluating digital health can be improved. For optimal digital health for well-being, multidisciplinary collaborations that move beyond the common dichotomy of design and evaluation are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merlijn Smits
- Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Chan Mi Kim
- Department of Design, Production, and Management, Faculty of Engineering Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Harry van Goor
- Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Geke D S Ludden
- Department of Design, Production, and Management, Faculty of Engineering Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
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21
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Kukhareva PV, Weir C, Fiol GD, Aarons GA, Taft TY, Schlechter CR, Reese TJ, Curran RL, Nanjo C, Borbolla D, Staes CJ, Morgan KL, Kramer HS, Stipelman CH, Shakib JH, Flynn MC, Kawamoto K. Evaluation in Life Cycle of Information Technology (ELICIT) framework: Supporting the innovation life cycle from business case assessment to summative evaluation. J Biomed Inform 2022; 127:104014. [PMID: 35167977 PMCID: PMC8959015 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbi.2022.104014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Our objective was to develop an evaluation framework for electronic health record (EHR)-integrated innovations to support evaluation activities at each of four information technology (IT) life cycle phases: planning, development, implementation, and operation. METHODS The evaluation framework was developed based on a review of existing evaluation frameworks from health informatics and other domains (human factors engineering, software engineering, and social sciences); expert consensus; and real-world testing in multiple EHR-integrated innovation studies. RESULTS The resulting Evaluation in Life Cycle of IT (ELICIT) framework covers four IT life cycle phases and three measure levels (society, user, and IT). The ELICIT framework recommends 12 evaluation steps: (1) business case assessment; (2) stakeholder requirements gathering; (3) technical requirements gathering; (4) technical acceptability assessment; (5) user acceptability assessment; (6) social acceptability assessment; (7) social implementation assessment; (8) initial user satisfaction assessment; (9) technical implementation assessment; (10) technical portability assessment; (11) long-term user satisfaction assessment; and (12) social outcomes assessment. DISCUSSION Effective evaluation requires a shared understanding and collaboration across disciplines throughout the entire IT life cycle. In contrast with previous evaluation frameworks, the ELICIT framework focuses on all phases of the IT life cycle across the society, user, and IT levels. Institutions seeking to establish evaluation programs for EHR-integrated innovations could use our framework to create such shared understanding and justify the need to invest in evaluation. CONCLUSION As health care undergoes a digital transformation, it will be critical for EHR-integrated innovations to be systematically evaluated. The ELICIT framework can facilitate these evaluations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polina V. Kukhareva
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Charlene Weir
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
| | - Guilherme Del Fiol
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Gregory A. Aarons
- Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego ACTRI Dissemination and Implementation Science Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Teresa Y. Taft
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Chelsey R. Schlechter
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Center for Health Outcomes and Population Equity, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Thomas J. Reese
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Rebecca L. Curran
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Claude Nanjo
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
| | - Damian Borbolla
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
| | | | - Keaton L. Morgan
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Heidi S. Kramer
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Julie H. Shakib
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Michael C. Flynn
- Department of Family & Preventive Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Kensaku Kawamoto
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
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22
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Neher M, Nygårdh A, Broström A, Lundgren J, Johansson P. Perspectives of Policy Makers and Service Users Concerning the Implementation of eHealth in Sweden: Interview Study. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e28870. [PMID: 35089139 PMCID: PMC8838545 DOI: 10.2196/28870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Increasing life spans of populations and a growing demand for more advanced care make effective and cost-efficient provision of health care necessary. eHealth technology is often proposed, although research on barriers to and facilitators of the implementation of eHealth technology is still scarce and fragmented. Objective The aim of this study is to explore the perceptions concerning barriers to and facilitators of the implementation of eHealth among policy makers and service users and explore the ways in which their perceptions converge and differ. Methods This study used interview data from policy makers at different levels of health care (n=7) and service users enrolled in eHealth interventions (n=25). The analysis included separate qualitative content analyses for the 2 groups and then a second qualitative content analysis to explore differences and commonalities. Results Implementation barriers perceived by policy makers were that not all service users benefit from eHealth and that there is uncertainty about the impact of eHealth on the work of health care professionals. Policy makers also perceived political decision-making as complex; this included problems related to provision of technical infrastructure and lack of extra resources for health care digitalization. Facilitators were policy makers’ conviction that eHealth is what citizens want, their belief in eHealth solutions as beneficial for health care practice, and their belief in the importance of health care digitalization. Barriers for service users comprised capability limitations and varied preferences of service users and a mismatch of technology with user needs, lack of data protection, and their perception of eHealth as being more time consuming. Facilitators for service users were eHealth technology design and match with their skill set, personal feedback and staff support, a sense of privacy, a credible sender, and flexible use of time.There were several commonalities between the 2 stakeholder groups. Facilitators for both groups were the strong impetus toward technology adoption in society and expectations of time flexibility. Both groups perceived barriers in the difficulties of tailoring eHealth, and both groups expressed uncertainty about the care burden distribution. There were also differences: policy makers perceived that their decision-making was very complex and that resources for implementation were limited. Service users highlighted their need to feel that their digital data were protected and that they needed to trust the eHealth sender. Conclusions Perceptions about barriers to and facilitators of eHealth implementation varied among stakeholders in different parts of the health care system. The study points to the need to reach an enhanced mutual understanding of priorities and overcome challenges at both the micro and macro levels of the health care system. More well-balanced decisions at the policy-maker level may lead to more effective and sustainable development and future implementation of eHealth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margit Neher
- Department of Rehabilitation, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Annette Nygårdh
- Department of Nursing Sciences, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Anders Broström
- Department of Nursing Sciences, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johan Lundgren
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Peter Johansson
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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23
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Gama F, Tyskbo D, Nygren J, Barlow J, Reed J, Svedberg P. Implementation Frameworks for Artificial Intelligence Translation Into Health Care Practice: Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e32215. [PMID: 35084349 PMCID: PMC8832266 DOI: 10.2196/32215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Significant efforts have been made to develop artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for health care improvement. Despite the enthusiasm, health care professionals still struggle to implement AI in their daily practice. Objective This paper aims to identify the implementation frameworks used to understand the application of AI in health care practice. Methods A scoping review was conducted using the Cochrane, Evidence Based Medicine Reviews, Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO databases to identify publications that reported frameworks, models, and theories concerning AI implementation in health care. This review focused on studies published in English and investigating AI implementation in health care since 2000. A total of 2541 unique publications were retrieved from the databases and screened on titles and abstracts by 2 independent reviewers. Selected articles were thematically analyzed against the Nilsen taxonomy of implementation frameworks, and the Greenhalgh framework for the nonadoption, abandonment, scale-up, spread, and sustainability (NASSS) of health care technologies. Results In total, 7 articles met all eligibility criteria for inclusion in the review, and 2 articles included formal frameworks that directly addressed AI implementation, whereas the other articles provided limited descriptions of elements influencing implementation. Collectively, the 7 articles identified elements that aligned with all the NASSS domains, but no single article comprehensively considered the factors known to influence technology implementation. New domains were identified, including dependency on data input and existing processes, shared decision-making, the role of human oversight, and ethics of population impact and inequality, suggesting that existing frameworks do not fully consider the unique needs of AI implementation. Conclusions This literature review demonstrates that understanding how to implement AI in health care practice is still in its early stages of development. Our findings suggest that further research is needed to provide the knowledge necessary to develop implementation frameworks to guide the future implementation of AI in clinical practice and highlight the opportunity to draw on existing knowledge from the field of implementation science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fábio Gama
- School of Business, Innovation and Sustainability, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden.,School of Administration and Economic Science, Santa Catarina State University, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Daniel Tyskbo
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
| | - Jens Nygren
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
| | - James Barlow
- Centre for Health Economics and Policy Innovation, Imperial College Business School, London, United Kingdom
| | - Julie Reed
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
| | - Petra Svedberg
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
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24
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A review of audiovisual telemedicine utilization and satisfaction assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Technol Assess Health Care 2021; 38:e2. [PMID: 34924067 DOI: 10.1017/s026646232100060x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The use of telemedicine has broadened as technology that both restores continuity of care during disruptions in healthcare delivery and routinely provides primary care alone or in combination with in-person care. During the Covid-19 outbreak, the use of telemedicine as a routine care modality further accelerated. METHODS A review of scientific studies that used telemedicine to provide care from December 2019 to December 2020 is presented. From an initial set of 2,191 articles, 36 studies are analyzed. Evidence is organized and evaluated according to the country of study, the clinical specialty, the technology platform used, and satisfaction and utilization outcomes. RESULTS Thirty-one studies reported high patient satisfaction scores. Eight studies reported satisfaction from both providers and patients with no uniformly accepted assessment instrument. Eight studies conducted a descriptive analysis of telemedicine use and patient adoption patterns. Less than one-third of studies were controlled before/after studies. Most studies were conducted in the USA followed by Europe. CONCLUSIONS Reported satisfaction rates are high, consistent with previously documented research, whereas utilization rates increased significantly compared with the prepandemic period. Future work in developing standardized uniform assessment instruments, embedded with each telemedicine system, would increase versatility and agility in the assessment, boosting statistical power and the interpretation of results.
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Use of E-Health in Dutch General Practice during the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182312479. [PMID: 34886204 PMCID: PMC8656482 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced general practices to search for possibilities to provide healthcare remotely (e.g., e-health). In this study, the impact of the pandemic on the use of e-health in general practices in the Netherlands was investigated. In addition, the intention of practices to continue using e-health more intensively and differences in the use of e-health between practice types were investigated. For this purpose, web surveys were sent to general practices in April and July 2020. Descriptive data analysis was performed and differences in the use of e-health between practice types were tested using one-way ANOVA. Response rates were 34% (n = 1433) in April and 17% (n = 719) in July. The pandemic invoked an increased use of several (new) e-health applications. A minority of practices indicated the intention to maintain this increased use. In addition, small differences in the use of e-health between the different practice types were found. This study showed that although there was an increased uptake of e-health in Dutch general practice during the COVID-19 pandemic, only a minority of practices intends to maintain this increased use in the future. This may point towards a temporary uptake of digital healthcare delivery rather than accelerated implementation of digital processes.
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Svedberg P, Reed J, Nilsen P, Barlow J, Macrae C, Nygren J. Towards successful implementation of artificial intelligence in healthcare practice: A research program (Preprint). JMIR Res Protoc 2021; 11:e34920. [PMID: 35262500 PMCID: PMC8943554 DOI: 10.2196/34920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Objective Methods Results Conclusions International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Svedberg
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
| | - Julie Reed
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
| | - Per Nilsen
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - James Barlow
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
- Centre for Health Economics and Policy Innovation, Imperial College Business School, London, United Kingdom
| | - Carl Macrae
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
- Centre for Health Innovation, Leadership and Learning, Nottingham University Business School, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Jens Nygren
- School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
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27
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Reddy S, Rogers W, Makinen VP, Coiera E, Brown P, Wenzel M, Weicken E, Ansari S, Mathur P, Casey A, Kelly B. Evaluation framework to guide implementation of AI systems into healthcare settings. BMJ Health Care Inform 2021; 28:bmjhci-2021-100444. [PMID: 34642177 PMCID: PMC8513218 DOI: 10.1136/bmjhci-2021-100444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives To date, many artificial intelligence (AI) systems have been developed in healthcare, but adoption has been limited. This may be due to inappropriate or incomplete evaluation and a lack of internationally recognised AI standards on evaluation. To have confidence in the generalisability of AI systems in healthcare and to enable their integration into workflows, there is a need for a practical yet comprehensive instrument to assess the translational aspects of the available AI systems. Currently available evaluation frameworks for AI in healthcare focus on the reporting and regulatory aspects but have little guidance regarding assessment of the translational aspects of the AI systems like the functional, utility and ethical components. Methods To address this gap and create a framework that assesses real-world systems, an international team has developed a translationally focused evaluation framework termed ‘Translational Evaluation of Healthcare AI (TEHAI)’. A critical review of literature assessed existing evaluation and reporting frameworks and gaps. Next, using health technology evaluation and translational principles, reporting components were identified for consideration. These were independently reviewed for consensus inclusion in a final framework by an international panel of eight expert. Results TEHAI includes three main components: capability, utility and adoption. The emphasis on translational and ethical features of the model development and deployment distinguishes TEHAI from other evaluation instruments. In specific, the evaluation components can be applied at any stage of the development and deployment of the AI system. Discussion One major limitation of existing reporting or evaluation frameworks is their narrow focus. TEHAI, because of its strong foundation in translation research models and an emphasis on safety, translational value and generalisability, not only has a theoretical basis but also practical application to assessing real-world systems. Conclusion The translational research theoretic approach used to develop TEHAI should see it having application not just for evaluation of clinical AI in research settings, but more broadly to guide evaluation of working clinical systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Reddy
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Wendy Rogers
- Department of Philosophy, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ville-Petteri Makinen
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Enrico Coiera
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Pieta Brown
- Orion Health, Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Markus Wenzel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications Heinrich-Hertz-Institute HHI, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eva Weicken
- Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications Heinrich-Hertz-Institute HHI, Berlin, Germany
| | - Saba Ansari
- Deakin University Faculty of Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Piyush Mathur
- Anesthesiology Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Aaron Casey
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Blair Kelly
- Deakin University Faculty of Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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Vervoort D, Tam DY, Wijeysundera HC. Health Technology Assessment for Cardiovascular Digital Health Technologies and Artificial Intelligence: Why Is It Different? Can J Cardiol 2021; 38:259-266. [PMID: 34461229 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2021.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Innovations in health care are growing exponentially, resulting in improved quality of and access to care, as well as rising societal costs of care and variable reimbursement. In recent years, digital health technologies and artificial intelligence have become of increasing interest in cardiovascular medicine owing to their unique ability to empower patients and to use increasing quantities of data for moving toward personalised and precision medicine. Health technology assessment agencies evaluate the money spent on a health care intervention or technology to attain a given clinical impact and make recommendations for reimbursement considerations. However, there is a scarcity of economic evaluations of cardiovascular digital health technologies and artificial intelligence. The current health technology assessment framework is not equipped to address the unique, dynamic, and unpredictable value considerations of these technologies and highlight the need to better approach the digital health technologies and artificial intelligence health technology assessment process. In this review, we compare digital health technologies and artificial intelligence with traditional health care technologies, review existing health technology assessment frameworks, and discuss challenges and opportunities related to cardiovascular digital health technologies and artificial intelligence health technology assessment. Specifically, we argue that health technology assessments for digital health technologies and artificial intelligence applications must allow for a much shorter device life cycle, given the rapid and even potentially continuously iterative nature of this technology, and thus an evidence base that maybe less mature, compared with traditional health technologies and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Vervoort
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Derrick Y Tam
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Schulich Heart Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Harindra C Wijeysundera
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Schulich Heart Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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29
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Krick T. Evaluation frameworks for digital nursing technologies: analysis, assessment, and guidance. An overview of the literature. BMC Nurs 2021; 20:146. [PMID: 34404406 PMCID: PMC8369663 DOI: 10.1186/s12912-021-00654-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The evaluation of digital nursing technologies (DNT) plays a major role in gaining knowledge about certain aspects of a technology such as acceptance, effectiveness, or efficiency. Evaluation frameworks can help to classify the success or failure of a DNT or to further develop the technology. In general, there are many different evaluation frameworks in the literature that provide overviews of a wide variety of aspects, which makes this a highly diverse field and raises the question how to select a suitable framework. The aim of this article is to provide orientation in the field of comprehensive evaluation frameworks that can be applied to the field of DNT and to conduct a detailed analysis and assessment of these frameworks to guide field researchers. Methods This overview was conducted using a three-component search process to identify relevant frameworks. These components were (1) a systematized literature search in PubMed; (2) a narrative review and (3) expert consultations. Data relating to the frameworks’ evaluation areas, purpose, perspectives, and success definitions were extracted. Quality criteria were developed in an expert workshop and a strength and weakness assessment was carried out. Results Eighteen relevant comprehensive evaluation frameworks for DNT were identified. Nine overarching evaluation areas, seven categories of purposes, five evaluation perspectives and three categories of success definitions could be identified. Eleven quality criteria for the strengths and weaknesses of DNT-related evaluation frameworks were developed and the included frameworks were assessed against them. Conclusion Evaluators can use the concise information and quality criteria of this article as a starting point to select and apply appropriate DNT evaluation frameworks for their research projects or to assess the quality of an evaluation framework for DNT, as well as a basis for exploring the questions raised in this article. Future research could address gaps and weaknesses in existing evaluation frameworks, which could improve the quality of future DNT evaluations. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12912-021-00654-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Krick
- University of Bremen, SOCIUM Research Center on Inequality and Social Policy, Mary-Somerville-Straße 3, 28359, Bremen, Germany. .,University of Bremen, High-profile Area of Health Sciences, Bremen, Germany.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Established and emerging technologies-such as wearable sensors, smartphones, mobile apps, and artificial intelligence-are shaping positive healthcare models and patient outcomes. These technologies have the potential to become precision health (PH) innovations. However, not all innovations meet regulatory standards or have the required scientific evidence to be used for health applications. In response, an assessment framework was developed to facilitate and standardize the assessment of innovations deemed suitable for PH. METHODS A scoping literature review undertaken through PubMed and Google Scholar identified approximately 100 relevant articles. These were then shortlisted (n = 12) to those that included specific metrics, criteria, or frameworks for assessing technologies that could be applied to the PH context. RESULTS The proposed framework identified nine core criteria with subcriteria and grouped them into four categories for assessment: technical, clinical, human factors, and implementation. Guiding statements with response options and recommendations were used as metrics against each criterion. CONCLUSION The proposed framework supports health services, health technology innovators, and researchers in leveraging current and emerging technologies for PH innovations. It covers a comprehensive set of criteria as part of the assessment process of these technologies.
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