Barriers of Artificial Intelligence in the Health Sector

Demographic change, shortage of qualified employees and increasing cost pressure—the healthcare sector has to deal with various challenges. Coping with the current COVID-19 pandemic is an additional issue. All these barriers contribute to the fact that digitalization in the healthcare sector is moving forward more and more. Without the application of advanced technologies, healthcare organizations would reach their limits. In this context, the use of AI is becoming increasingly important. The potentials are wide-ranging and include applications in diagnostics and therapy, as well as the development of pharmaceuticals. But what challenges are associated with the use of AI in healthcare? Within the framework of a qualitative empirical study according to Mayring, this question has been investigated. Based on a systematic literature review, the following barriers of AI in healthcare have been identified and examined: Disagreement in data protection, lack of compatibility with ethical aspects, quality of training data, knowledge, and trust of physicians in AI-supported systems. The next step in the research design have been expert interviews among medical staff as well as AI developers with focus on AI in the healthcare sector mainly in Germany. According to these interviews, the data are analyzed and evaluated. Based on the results of the study, potential activities have been derived in order to be able to successfully overcome the barriers of AI in the healthcare sector in the future. Finally, the opinions of physicians and developers on the identified barriers are compared and discussed. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Structures for the care of people with dementia: a European comparison.

BACKGROUND: Dementia is a disease that impacts people with dementia, their families, and the healthcare system. In 2018, the number of people with dementia in the EU, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), and the UK was estimated to be 9.1 million. National dementia strategies and publications by organisations such as Alzheimer Europe outline how dementia-specific care should be designed. This study aims to provide insights into existing formal care structures, models of good practise, and gaps in dementia-specific care for people with dementia in 17 European countries. METHODS: The research is based on guided interviews with country-specific care experts. A mixed-methods approach with a combination of open and closed questions was used. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim based on the transcription rules of Kuckarts (2010). For data evaluation, the qualitative content analysis model of Mayring (2014) was used. RESULTS: In all 17 countries, efforts for dementia-friendly care and models of good care practise exist. However, there are large differences between European countries regarding the spread of dementia-specific services. In nine countries (Bulgaria, Finland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the UK), there are already nationwide structures, while in five countries (Belgium, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Romania), services are only available in certain regions. In three countries (Austria, Denmark, Germany) dementia-specific outpatient services are widespread nationwide, whereas inpatient services are not. Simultaneously, in all countries, areas with major care gaps exist. Several European states have an urgent need for action concerning the expansion of the provision of dementia-specific services, the reduction of regional differences regarding the provision of care, the elimination of barriers to access to care, the dementia-friendliness of services, and the participation of people with dementia and their relatives in care and research. CONCLUSIONS: To reduce the existing structural inequalities in care between and within European countries, and to establish quality-related minimum standards in the care of people with dementia, transnational concepts are needed. The EU, in cooperation with care planners, research institutions, care providers, and patient organisations, should develop European care guidelines or dementia plans that contain concrete measures, schedules, and budgets.

Climate change and health within the South African context: A thematic content analysis study of climate change and health expert interviews.

BACKGROUND:  Climate change presents an unprecedented and urgent threat to human health and survival. South Africa's health response will require a strong and effective intersectoral organisational effort. AIM:  Exploratory interview outcomes are used to advance practice and policy recommendations, as well as for broad input in the development of a draft national framework for a health risk and vulnerability assessment (RVA) for national departments. SETTING:  Nationally in South Africa. METHOD:  Twenty key expert interviews were conducted with South African experts in the field of climate change and health. Interview data was analysed by means of thematic content analysis. RESULTS:  Findings suggest that previously poor communities are most at risk to the impacts of climate change on health, as well as those with underlying medical conditions. Climate change may also serve as a catalyst for improving the healthcare system overall and should serve as the conduit to do so. A draft climate change and health RVA should take into account existing frameworks and should be implemented by local government. It is also critical that the health and health system impacts from climate change are well understood, especially in light of the plans to implement the (South African) National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme. CONCLUSION:  Practice and policy initiatives should be holistic in nature. Consideration should be given to forming a South African National Department of Climate Change, or a similar coordinating body between the various national departments in South Africa, as health intercepts with all other domains within the climate change field.

Accelerating the transformation? the impact of COVID-19 on the digital maturity of retail businesses

The lock-down situation and subsequent restrictions as response to the COVID-19 pandemic led to a decline in revenue, liquidity bottlenecks and complicated customer management for German retailers. The crisis has put the organizations in a situation to rethink customer experience, business models, processes and IT. Thus, COVID-19 may be a tipping point for retailers to accelerate their digital transformation. For this study, a Digital Maturity Model is adjusted and transferred to construct a set of questions investigating the impact of COVID-19 on the digital maturity of retail businesses. In semi-structured and open-ended expert interviews, nine participants from retail businesses were asked to report the impact of COVID19 on the digital transformation in the different dimensions. The participating organizations changed the way of collaboration. New business models in E-Commerce were created. Further, less digitally mature organizations were found to pursue their digital transformation stronger. © 2021 IEEE.

Opportunities and challenges for contactless healthcare services in the post-COVID-19 Era.

This study examines the opportunities and challenges involved with contactless healthcare services in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. First, we reviewed the literature to analyze contactless or contact-free healthcare services that have been utilized in pre-and during the COVID-19 pandemic periods. Then, we interviewed medical experts and hospital administrators to gain knowledge about how healthcare providers are currently working to mitigate the spread of COVID and preparing for the post-pandemic period. Thus, we analyzed the evolution and utilization of contactless services during the three different time periods: pre-, during-, and post-COVID-19. The results indicated that in the post-COVID-19 era, a new normal of hybrid healthcare services would emerge. While some of the contactless services that have been practiced during the pandemic may revert to the traditional face-to-face services, those innovative contactless healthcare services that have been proven effective during the pandemic would be practiced or even advanced in the post-pandemic period due to the accelerating technological developments. This study suggests many potential opportunities and daunting challenges for healthcare institutions, policymakers, and consumers regarding the implementation of contactless services in the post-COVID-19 era.