title: The ideal application of surveillance technology in residential care for people with dementia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As our society is ageing, nursing homes are finding it increasingly difficult to deal with an expanding population of patients with dementia and a decreasing workforce. A potential answer to this problem might lie in the use of technology. However, the use and application of surveillance technology in dementia care has led to considerable ethical debate among healthcare professionals and ethicists, with no clear consensus to date.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore how surveillance technology is viewed by care professionals and ethicists working in the field, by investigating the ideal application of surveillance technology in the residential care of people with dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Use was made of the concept mapping method, a computer-assisted procedure consisting of five steps: brainstorming, prioritizing, clustering, processing by the computer and analysis. Various participants (ranging from ethicists to physicians and nurses) were invited on the basis of their professional background.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The views generated are grouped into six categories ranging from the need for a right balance between freedom and security, to be beneficial and tailored to the resident, and clearly defined procedures to competent and caring personnel, active monitoring and clear normative guidance. The results are presented in the form of a graphic chart.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There appears to be an inherent duality in the views on using surveillance technology which is rooted in the moral conflict between safety and freedom. Elaboration of this ethical issue has proved to be very difficult.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Home Medicine, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.niemeijer@vumc.nl
authors.forename: Alistair R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Niemeijer
authors.forename: Brenda J M
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Frederiks
authors.forename: Marja F I A
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Depla
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Legemaate
authors.forename: Jan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Eefsting
authors.forename: Cees M P M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hertogh
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000941:ethics* / Q000592:standards; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D018907:Privacy / Q000523:psychology*; D017751:Safety Management / Q000941:ethics* / Q000592:standards; D013672:Technology / Q000941:ethics* / Q000592:standards