Empowered by Code – How digital health and mHealth are revolutionising prevention in elderly care, despite systemic resistance
Contact person: Mustapha Addam
Motivation and research question
The digital transformation in healthcare offers great opportunities to improve care for older people through digital care applications (DiPA). While digital health applications (DiGA) are already recognised as reimbursable therapies, the development of DiPA is still in its infancy. In particular, the preventive potential of DiPA for older people has not yet been sufficiently researched.
At the same time, high regulatory hurdles are hindering the widespread use and implementation of DiPA. This is exemplified by the rejection of the Lindera fall prevention app by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), despite positive clinical results.
Key research question: To what extent can mHealth-based DiPA contribute to digital prevention in elderly care, and what systemic obstacles stand in the way of its wider application?
Methodological approach
The dissertation project follows a mixed-methods approach with three interrelated work packages:
1. Literature review and taxonomy development
Systematic literature analysis to develop a sound taxonomy for digital care applications in geriatric care, based on the approach by Nickerson et al. (2013). Categorisation according to care areas, technological approaches, target groups and providers.
2. Qualitative expert interviews
Conducting at least 20 expert interviews with stakeholders from nursing, regulation and technology development. Participants include representatives from BfArM, G-BA, nursing associations, health insurance companies and developers of digital nursing applications. Analysis using qualitative content analysis according to Mayring (2015).
3. Quantitative user study
Survey of at least 200 older participants on the acceptance and use of a fictitious DiPA. Investigation of various recommendation mechanisms (doctors, friends, family carers) and simulation of various reimbursement models.
Expected results
The project will develop a clear taxonomy for DiPA, enabling better classification and standardisation of digital care applications. The expert interviews will identify regulatory challenges and develop proposals for more efficient regulation. The user study will provide empirical data on the acceptance of digital care applications among older people and identify sustainable reimbursement strategies for DiPA.
The results will contribute to the evidence-based further development of digital care applications and offer practical recommendations for policymakers, health insurance companies and developers of digital care applications.
