Clinical innovation refers to the use of treatments or technologies that have not (yet) been proven to be safe and/or effective in a research setting. When introducing new caregiving technologies for older persons, classic research is inhibited for two reasons: older persons are usually not part of medical trials, as they are a ‘vulnerable’ population. And technologies for caregiving purposes do not always count as medical devices, and are therefore regulated differently to other medical technologies. Nevertheless, there is a particular need for clinical innovation in this sector, as populations age worldwide and fewer people work in caregiving. In this paper, we report on the findings of a qualitative study with 60 participants in Switzerland, involving older persons and their caregivers (both professional and informal), in order to conceptualize if and how these stakeholders wished to participate in clinical innovation. Through thematic analysis, we discovered a variety of concerns regarding the development and implementation of such technologies. Examples include the lack of adequate information about their existence, purpose and availability, the right time and frame of introduction (especially when the care recipient experiences cognitive decline), as well as the technology’s impact on relationships and power structures. This research will be used to inform the development of an ethical framework for clinical innovation in long term aged care.

Authors:
Nadine Andrea Felber, University of Basel, Switzerland
Wendy Lipworth, Macquarie University, Australia
Yi Jiao (Angelina) Tian, University of Basel, Switzerland
Tenzin Wangmo, University of Basel, Switzerland

About the Presenter(s)
Ms Nadine Andrea Felber is a University Doctoral Student at University of Basel in Switzerland

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

Bookmark