Health Care Robotics: Qualitative Exploration of Key Challenges and Future Directions (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The emergence of robotics is transforming industries around the world. Robot technologies are evolving exponentially, particularly as they converge with other functionalities such as artificial intelligence to learn from their environment, from each other, and from humans. OBJECTIVE The goal of the research was to understand the emerging role of robotics in health care and identify existing and likely future challenges to maximize the benefits associated with robotics and related convergent technologies. METHODS We conducted qualitative semistructured one-to-one interviews exploring the role of robotic applications in health care contexts. Using purposive sampling, we identified a diverse range of stakeholders involved in conceiving, procuring, developing, and using robotics in a range of national and international health care settings. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically, supported by NVivo 10 (QSR International) software. Theoretically, this work was informed by the sociotechnical perspective, where social and technical systems are understood as being interdependent. RESULTS We conducted 21 interviews and these accounts suggested that there are significant opportunities for improving the safety, quality, and efficiency of health care through robotics, but our analysis identified 4 major barriers that need to be effectively negotiated to realize these: (1) no clear pull from professionals and patients, (2) appearance of robots and associated expectations and concerns, (3) disruption of the way work is organized and distributed, and (4) new ethical and legal challenges requiring flexible liability and ethical frameworks. CONCLUSIONS Sociotechnical challenges associated with the effective integration of robotic applications in health care settings are likely to be significant, particularly for patient-facing functions. These need to be identified and addressed for effective innovation and adoption.

Download Full-text

Can Motivational Interviewing be Truly Integrated with Person-centered Counselling?

Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling ◽

10.1017/jrc.2015.3 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 77-87 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ross Crisp

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Motivational Interviewing ◽

Theory And Practice ◽

Successful Outcome ◽

Diverse Range ◽

Carl Rogers ◽

Health Care Settings ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

Person Centered Approach

This article examines whether Motivational Interviewing (MI) can be truly integrated with Carl Rogers' person-centered approach (PCA) to counselling. While the ‘spirit’ of MI has much in common with PCA, it is argued that the theory and practice of MI indicates several fundamental differences with PCA that distinguishes the ways that each perspective may contribute to rehabilitation counselling. These differences are discussed in relation to the unique aspects of their underlying assumptions, how they define clients' problems, and how they articulate the role of counsellor and successful outcome. Recent meta-analyses have indicated the beneficial aspects of both approaches. Empirical evidence for the efficacy of both MI and PCA is strong across a diverse range of client groups and health care settings. However, the highly variable effectiveness of both MI and PCA suggests that further process-outcome research is needed. Implications for rehabilitation counsellors are discussed.

Download Full-text

Religion, health care, and Africa

Religion and Health Care in East Africa ◽

10.1332/policypress/9781447337874.003.0001 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-24

Author(s):

Robert B. Lloyd ◽

Melissa Haussman ◽

Patrick James

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Social Inequality ◽

Social Determinants Of Health ◽

Case Studies ◽

Health Inequalities ◽

Social Determinants ◽

International Health ◽

World Health ◽

The World

It is estimated that populations in Africa are afflicted with 24% of the global load of disease with only 13% of the population. This chapter provides theoretical suggestions for studying why this is so. Among these theories are area studies, Africa studies and the World Health Organization’s Social Determinants of Health Framework, which relates social inequality to the study of political and health-providing institutions. The chapter lays out the book’s three case studies and our look at the role of national and international health and secular ngo’s in helping to remedy gendered health inequalities. It lays out the MDG framework of 2000, to be discussed in succeeding chapters.

Download Full-text

Criminal Justice Contact and Health Service Utilization among Women across Health Care Settings: Analyzing the Role of Arrest

Women s Health Issues ◽

10.1016/j.whi.2018.12.005 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 125-134

Author(s):

Kathryn M. Nowotny ◽

Anastasiia Kuptsevych-Timmer ◽

Carrie Oser

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Criminal Justice ◽

Health Service ◽

Service Utilization ◽

Health Service Utilization ◽

Health Care Settings ◽

Criminal Justice Contact

Download Full-text

Circulation of blaKPC-3-Carrying IncX3 Plasmids among Citrobacter freundii Isolates in an Italian Hospital

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.00505-17 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 61 (8) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Carolina Venditti ◽

Daniela Fortini ◽

Laura Villa ◽

Antonella Vulcano ◽

Silvia D'Arezzo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Resistance Genes ◽

Nucleotide Sequences ◽

Surveillance Program ◽

Citrobacter Freundii ◽

Content Type ◽

Health Care Settings ◽

Carbapenem Resistant

ABSTRACT Colonizations due to carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are a source of antimicrobial resistance transmission in health care settings. Eleven Citrobacter freundii strains producing KPC-3 carbapenemase were isolated from rectal swabs during a 3-year surveillance program. bla KPC-3-carrying plasmids were found to belong to the IncX3 group in 9 of the 11 strains, and complete nucleotide sequences were obtained for 2 of them. Our results highlight the possible role of C. freundii as reservoir of resistance genes.

Download Full-text

The Role of Ethics in Developing Professionalism Within the Global ICT Community.

International Journal of Human Capital and Information Technology Professionals ◽

10.4018/ijhcitp.2018100104 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 56-71

Author(s):

Clare Victoria Thornley ◽

Sinéad Murnane ◽

Stephen McLoughlin ◽

Marian Carcary ◽

Eileen Doherty ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Communication Technology ◽

Professional Ethics ◽

Policy Framework ◽

Economic Factors ◽

Information Communication ◽

Diverse Range ◽

Ethical Frameworks ◽

Integrate Work ◽

And Training

This article investigates the development of Information Communication Technology (ICT) as a global profession with a specific focus on the role of ethics. It addresses three main issues: to what extent ethics contribute to the development of the professional identity of ICT practitioners; what practices and policies can promote the development of ICT ethics; how these practices and policies can usefully be coordinated internationally. Within the European policy framework, professional ethics is seen as one of the four pillars of ICT professionalism, along with: competences; bodies of knowledge; education and training. A diverse range of international stakeholders were consulted on how to develop and implement ethical frameworks in culturally and economically diverse regions. Findings include the need to: be sensitive to the cultural and economic factors of different regions; integrate work on ethics with other aspects of professionalism; promote multiple types of engagement with professional ethics.

Download Full-text

The role of risk perception in willingness to respond to the 2014–2016 West African Ebola outbreak: a qualitative study of international health care workers.

Global Health Research and Policy ◽

10.1186/s41256-017-0042-y ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Stephanie Gee ◽

Morten Skovdal

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Risk Perception ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

International Health ◽

West African ◽

Care Workers ◽

International Health Care

Download Full-text

Fetuses with Neural Tube Defects: ethical approaches and the role of health care professionals in Turkish health care institutions

Nursing Ethics ◽

10.1191/0969733005ne758oa ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 59-78 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Hanzade Doğan ◽

Serap Sahinoglu

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Neural Tube ◽

Neural Tube Defects ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Ethics Education ◽

Ethical Decision Making ◽

Ethics Committees ◽

Ethical Frameworks ◽

Ethical Approaches

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are very serious malformations for the fetus, causing either low life expectancy or a chance of survival only with costly and difficult surgical interventions. In western countries the average prevalence is 1/1000-2000 and in Turkey it is 4/1000. The aim of the study was to characterize ethical approaches at institutional level to the fetus with an NTD and the mother, and the role of health care professionals in four major centers in Turkey. The authors chose perinatology units of four university hospitals and prepared questionnaires for the responsible professionals concerning their own and their institution’s ethical approaches to the fetus with an NTD and the mother. The investigation revealed that there were no institutional ethical frameworks or ethics committees available to professional teams in the units. The roles of the health care professionals and their individual decisions and approaches based on ethical principles are described. The ethical decision-making process concerning fetuses with NTDs, examples of institutional approaches to the topic and institutional frameworks, and the role of nurses and other health care professionals are all discussed, based on a literature review. The authors suggest that institutional ethical frameworks, ethics committees, professionals’ ethics education and multidisciplinary teamwork should be established for critical situations such as fetuses with an NTD.

Download Full-text

Addressing current and future challenges for the NHS: the role of good leadership

Leadership in Health Services ◽

10.1108/lhs-05-2016-0021 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 415-418 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lotte Elton

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Standards Of Care ◽

Medical Professionals ◽

Leadership And Management ◽

Content Type ◽

Management Standards ◽

Future Challenges ◽

The Uk ◽

Medical Leadership

Purpose This paper aims to describe and analyse some of the ways in which good leadership can enable those working within the National Health Service (NHS) to weather the changes and difficulties likely to arise in the coming years, and takes the format of an essay written by the prize-winner of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management's Student Prize. The Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management ran its inaugural Student Prize in 2015-2016, which aimed at medical students with an interest in medical leadership. In running the Prize, the Faculty hoped to foster an enthusiasm for and understanding of the importance of leadership in medicine. Design/methodology/approach The Faculty asked entrants to discuss the role of good leadership in addressing the current and future challenges faced by the NHS, making reference to the Leadership and Management Standards for Medical Professionals published by the Faculty in 2015. These standards were intended to help guide current and future leaders and were grouped into three categories, namely, self, team and corporate responsibility. Findings This paper highlights the political nature of health care in the UK and the increasing impetus on medical professionals to navigate debates on austerity measures and health-care costs, particularly given the projected deficit in NHS funding. It stresses the importance of building organisational cultures prizing transparency to prevent future breaches in standards of care and the value of patient-centred approaches in improving satisfaction for both patients and staff. Identification of opportunities for collaboration and partnership is emphasised as crucial to assuage the burden that lack of appropriate social care places on clinical services. Originality/value This paper offers a novel perspective – that of a medical student – on the complex issues faced by the NHS over the coming years and utilises a well-regarded set of standards in conceptualising the role that health professionals have to play in leading the NHS.

Download Full-text