title: ICT and the future of healthcare: Aspects of pervasive health monitoring.
abstract: Along with the digital revolution, information and communication technology applications are currently transforming the delivery of health and social care services. This paper investigates prevailing opinions toward future technology-based healthcare solutions among Austrian healthcare professionals. During a biphasic online Delphi survey, panelists rated expected outcomes of two future scenarios describing pervasive health monitoring applications. Experts perceived that the scenarios were highly innovative, but only moderately desirable, and that their implementation could especially improve patients' knowledge, quality of healthcare, and living standard. Contrarily, monetary aspects, technical prerequisites, and data security were identified as key obstacles. We further compared the impact of professional affiliation. Clearly, opinions toward pervasive healthcare differed between the interest groups, medical professionals, patient advocates, and administrative personnel. These data suggest closer collaborations between stakeholder groups to harmonize differences in expectations regarding pervasive health monitoring.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Environmental Health , Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna , Vienna , Austria.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5619-2863
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Haluza
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Environmental Health , Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna , Vienna , Austria.|b Department of Communication Science , ICT & Society Center, University of Salzburg , Salzburg , Austria.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jungwirth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016494:Computer Security; D003219:Confidentiality; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D003697:Delphi Technique; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D058998:Remote Sensing Technology / Q000379:methods; D012947:Social Work / Q000379:methods*; D013685:Telecommunications / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000076251:Wearable Electronic Devices
keywords: Aging society; Austria; Delphi survey; healthcare stakeholders