scholarly journals Ethical concerns with the use of intelligent assistive technology: findings from a qualitative study with professional stakeholders

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tenzin Wangmo ◽  
Mirjam Lipps ◽  
Reto W. Kressig ◽  
Marcello Ienca

Abstract Background Advances in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and wearable computing are creating novel technological opportunities for mitigating the global burden of population ageing and improving the quality of care for older adults with dementia and/or age-related disability. Intelligent assistive technology (IAT) is the umbrella term defining this ever-evolving spectrum of intelligent applications for the older and disabled population. However, the implementation of IATs has been observed to be sub-optimal due to a number of barriers in the translation of novel applications from the designing labs to the bedside. Furthermore, since these technologies are designed to be used by vulnerable individuals with age- and multi-morbidity-related frailty and cognitive disability, they are perceived to raise important ethical challenges, especially when they involve machine intelligence, collect sensitive data or operate in close proximity to the human body. Thus, the goal of this paper is to explore and assess the ethical issues that professional stakeholders perceive in the development and use of IATs in elderly and dementia care. Methods We conducted a multi-site study involving semi-structured qualitative interviews with researchers and health professionals. We analyzed the interview data using a descriptive thematic analysis to inductively explore relevant ethical challenges. Results Our findings indicate that professional stakeholders find issues of patient autonomy and informed consent, quality of data management, distributive justice and human contact as ethical priorities. Divergences emerged in relation to how these ethical issues are interpreted, how conflicts between different ethical principles are resolved and what solutions should be implemented to overcome current challenges. Conclusions Our findings indicate a general agreement among professional stakeholders on the ethical promises and challenges raised by the use of IATs among older and disabled users. Yet, notable divergences persist regarding how these ethical challenges can be overcome and what strategies should be implemented for the safe and effective implementation of IATs. These findings provide technology developers with useful information about unmet ethical needs. Study results may guide policy makers with firsthand information from relevant stakeholders about possible solutions for ethically-aligned technology governance.

Author(s):  
Hatice Uenal ◽  
David Hampel

Registries are indispensable in medical studies and provide the basis for reliable study results for research questions. Depending on the purpose of use, a high quality of data is a prerequisite. However, with increasing registry quality, costs also increase accordingly. Considering these time and cost factors, this work is an attempt to estimate the cost advantages of applying statistical tools to existing registry data, including quality evaluation. Results for quality analysis showed that there are unquestionable savings of millions in study costs by reducing the time horizon and saving on average € 523,126 for every reduced year. Replacing additionally the over 25 % missing data in some variables, data quality was immensely improved. To conclude, our findings showed dearly the importance of data quality and statistical input in avoiding biased conclusions due to incomplete data.


1974 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 357-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice M. Tybout ◽  
Gerald Zaltman

An understanding of ethical issues involved in marketing research may contribute to the quality of research data. This article discusses subjects’ rights in marketing research and how their violation may affect the quality of data.


Author(s):  
Maddalena Favaretto ◽  
David Shaw ◽  
Eva De Clercq ◽  
Tim Joda ◽  
Bernice Simone Elger

Big Data and Internet and Communication Technologies (ICT) are being increasingly implemented in the healthcare sector. Similarly, research in the field of dental medicine is exploring the potential beneficial uses of digital data both for dental practice and in research. As digitalization is raising numerous novel and unpredictable ethical challenges in the biomedical context, our purpose in this study is to map the debate on the currently discussed ethical issues in digital dentistry through a systematic review of the literature. Four databases (Web of Science, Pub Med, Scopus, and Cinahl) were systematically searched. The study results highlight how most of the issues discussed by the retrieved literature are in line with the ethical challenges that digital technologies are introducing in healthcare such as privacy, anonymity, security, and informed consent. In addition, image forgery aimed at scientific misconduct and insurance fraud was frequently reported, together with issues of online professionalism and commercial interests sought through digital means.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (03) ◽  
pp. 257-265
Author(s):  
Paula Leslie ◽  
Dominika Lisiecka

AbstractDysphagia management is complex and requires balancing individuals' preferences, quality of life, and medical consequences. Ethical challenges are not uncommon given the complexity of dysphagia. Professionals must engage in ethical reflection and shared decision-making when managing dysphagia. Recognizing one's own presuppositions and beliefs may be fundamental to ensuring an ethical approach. The goal of this article is to apply principles of ethics using hypothetical case studies of dysphagia. To this end, we will describe the challenges of working with the disorder of dysphagia; the influence of culture on decision-making about eating and feeding; the importance of information disclosure and respect for individuals' refusal of recommendations; and the interplay of ethical reflection, evidence, and clinical judgment when making complex dysphagia management decisions. These concepts should be kept in mind to ensure compassionate and competent care of the person with eating, drinking, or swallowing problems and their family caregivers.


Author(s):  
Simone Pettigrew ◽  
Ashleigh Parnell ◽  
Mark Strickland ◽  
Rachel Neale ◽  
Robyn Lucas

The aim of this pilot study was to assess whether the installation of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) meters in secondary schools has the potential to improve adolescents’ sun protection-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours and reduce their exposure to UVR during school hours. Data were collected from students at two schools via online pre- and post-intervention surveys, measurement of sunscreen usage, polysulfone UVR exposure badges, and photographs of the schoolyards to assess hat and shade use. Several operational issues limited the quantity and quality of data that could be collected, and findings were mixed. While there were no significant changes in either self-reported or observed sun protection behaviours, there were significant improvements in UVR knowledge among students at the intervention school, and reactions to the meter were highly favourable. Students reported consulting the meter regularly and using it to make decisions about their sun protection behaviours. Overall, the study results offer some support for the use of UVR meters in areas frequented by adolescents and provide insights into the process issues that are likely to need to be addressed when attempting to trial sun protection interventions in schools.


Author(s):  
Afsaneh Saghafi ◽  
Fatemeh Bahramnezhad ◽  
Afsaneh Poormollamirza ◽  
Ali Dadgari ◽  
Elham Navab

Elder abuse is an increasingly intangible phenomenon that has created numerous ethical issues for care teams and caregivers. Although different studies have concentrated on various ethical issues regarding abuse, no study has arrived at a comprehensive conclusion. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the existing ethical challenges in this context. For this purpose, two researchers familiar with systematic search approach examined national and international journals on PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Scientific Information Database (SID) and similar databases between January and February 2017. They were able to find 116 articles that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and finally selected 15 articles based on the predesigned questions. The findings were classified in five subtitles as follow: 1) the common definition of elder abuse, 2) a comprehensive legislation on elder abuse, 3) comprehensive ethical principles about elder abuse, 4) ethical considerations regarding patients without competency, and 5) reporting and sharing information about elder abuse. The study results revealed no common definition and no legislation about elder abuse, and also showed that health care providers’ observance of ethical principles depends on the ethical and legal conditions of the community. Nowadays, elder abuse is a serious problem in many countries. Cultural and religious differences are the reasons for lack of a common definition and legislations, which comprises the biggest obstacle to protecting the rights of elderly people. It is clear that ethical principles should be respected as far as a person has competency. Furthermore, localization of clinical guidelines related to this issue leads to proper functioning of health care providers, especially nurses as the first line of treatment


2022 ◽  
pp. 89-108
Author(s):  
Srinivasan Venkatesan

With growing life expectancy, age-related mental health issues are rising in the elderly. Whether normal aging or pathological senility, mindfulness practices are useful, economic, and accessible. The elderly experience many forms of anxiety with varying severity. There can be stress, anxiety, depression, and negative emotions. Quality of life and sleep, cognitive impairments, chronic pain, decreased social contacts are common concerns of the elderly. There is growing evidence that mindfulness practices mitigate their suffering. This chapter covers details on mindfulness-based tools for the elderly, their practices, exercises, and techniques. The recommended techniques are group-based, participatory, age-appropriate, and reflective. Given the vulnerability of the elderly, the chapter cautions about latent medico-legal and ethical issues in using mindfulness for the elderly. They must be blended with cultural, religious, moral, and spiritual elements to derive optimum benefits for the individual or small groups of such persons. A future road map is given.


Author(s):  
B. L. Armbruster ◽  
B. Kraus ◽  
M. Pan

One goal in electron microscopy of biological specimens is to improve the quality of data to equal the resolution capabilities of modem transmission electron microscopes. Radiation damage and beam- induced movement caused by charging of the sample, low image contrast at high resolution, and sensitivity to external vibration and drift in side entry specimen holders limit the effective resolution one can achieve. Several methods have been developed to address these limitations: cryomethods are widely employed to preserve and stabilize specimens against some of the adverse effects of the vacuum and electron beam irradiation, spot-scan imaging reduces charging and associated beam-induced movement, and energy-filtered imaging removes the “fog” caused by inelastic scattering of electrons which is particularly pronounced in thick specimens.Although most cryoholders can easily achieve a 3.4Å resolution specification, information perpendicular to the goniometer axis may be degraded due to vibration. Absolute drift after mechanical and thermal equilibration as well as drift after movement of a holder may cause loss of resolution in any direction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-120
Author(s):  
Nursari Abdul Syukur ◽  
Susi Purwanti

Many mothers who give birth to Sectio Caesarea (SC) do not Initiate Early Breastfeeding (IMD), which fails exclusive breastfeeding. This study aimed to determine the effect of IMD management in postpartum SC mothers on nutritional status, speed of milk production, and quality of breast milk protein. Method: quantitative research with quasi approach experiment. The research design used was a pre-post-test control non-equivalent control group. A sampling of this study used the Consecutive method sampling with a sample of 20 mothers who gave birth by cesarean section (SC). Hypothesis testing uses the independent t-test and the Mann-Whitney test. The study results showed an influence on the management of IMD in postpartum SC mothers on the speed of ASI production (p-value=0.004) and nutritional status (p-value=0.028). There was no effect of IMD management on postpartum SC mothers on the quality of breast milk protein (p-value = 0.543). This study recommends that the hospital implement an IMD promotion program before the abdominal wall is closed as a form of intervention to increase milk production and maternal nutritional status


Author(s):  
Gennadiy Valentinovich Alexeev ◽  
Elena Igorevna Verboloz

The article focuses on the process of intensive mixing of liquid phase in the tin during high-temperature sterilization, i.e. sterilization when temperature of the heat carrier reaches 150-160°C. It has been stated that for intensification of the thermal process during sterilization of tinned fish with liquid filling it is preferable to turn a tin from bottom to top. This operation helps to increase the driving power of the process and to shorten warming time. Besides, high-temperature sterilization carried out according to experimental modes, where the number of tin turnovers is calculated, greatly shortens processing time and improves quality of the product. In this case there is no superheating, all tins are evenly heated. The study results will contribute to equipment modernization and to preserving valuable food qualities.


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