Projects

Um angemessene Strategien zur Stabilisierung des digitalen Wohlbefindens (=digital wellbeing) zu entwickeln und dafür Sorge zu tragen, dass die Zielgruppe (also vorrangig die Lehrenden an Hochschulen und Universitäten) tatsächlich Zugang zu den Methoden bekommt, sind vier Hauptziele während der Projektlaufzeit anvisiert: Zunächst wird die Transilvania University eine quantitative Studie ansetzen, um herauszufinden, was die größten Schwierigkeiten der Zielgruppe sind und wie sie bisher angegangen wurden. Aus den Ergebnissen wird die Diak University ein Workbook entwerfen, das Strategien aufführt, wie aus den ad hoc entstandenen Digitalisierungsmaßnahmen in der Lehre, die zu Beginn der Corona Pandemie aus der Not heraus entworfen wurden, valide und resilienzstärkende, digitale Lehrmaßnahmen konstruiert werden können. Darauf aufbauend wird die VID University ein Toolbook entwickeln, das einen Leitfaden für Lehrende präsentiert, um das eigene digitale Wohlergehen sowie das der Studierenden zu fördern. Schlussendlich wird die THWS aus den Ergebnissen einen E-Learning Kurs kreieren, damit die Hochschulangehörigen aller Partnerhochschulen niedrigschwelligen Zugriff auf die Ergebnisse haben. 

 

Kontaktpersonen am IFAS: Prof. Dr. Dagmar Unz, Stefanie Witter, M. A.

Kooperationsbeteiligte: Katharina Bormann (HSIN – Marketing), Johanna Kestler (FAS – SHK), Transilvania University (Rumänien), VID University (Norwegen), Diak University (Finnland)

Projektlaufzeit: 2022 - 2024

Förderung: Europäische Union

Weitere Informationen gibt es auf der Projektwebsite der Transilvania University Brasov 

Symptom checker apps (SCA) enable users to enter their symptoms into an app which uses AI-based algorithms to present the user with a potential diagnosis and recommendation for action. The project CHECK.APP assesses fundamental ethical, legal and social questions arising from the use of such apps. The study is carried out in cooperation with researchers of the Universität Tübingen and the University Hospital Tübingen. The joint project is part of a support measure of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) on research on ethical, legal and social aspects (ELSA) of digitisation, big data and artificial intelligence in health research and healthcare provision. The aim of this measure is to examine the impacts of new technologies on science and society and to move towards a socially acceptable and responsible framework for their use.

In close collaboration with the subproject Ethik, the subproject Recht focuses on the effects of digitisation on the interactions between doctors and patients, and on the behaviour and the individual perception of patients. This research includes possible shifting of the perception threshold of illness and health, which cannot only impact the caring and administration of patients but also the doctor-patient relationship. This involves legal questions from the German Patientenrechtegesetz (law on patient rights), Haftungsrecht (liability law), Verbraucherschutzrecht (consumer protection law) and Datenschutzrecht (data protection law). Patient autonomy and data autonomy are the main focus points. These can be promoted by SCAs, but they can also be threatened if body awareness, trust in the medical care system or individual doctors are impacted negatively. It must also be considered that the use of SCAs may result in attribution of responsibility. In close collaboration with other subprojects, differentiated recommendations for action are to be derived for people affected, developers and decision-makers.

Contact persons at the IFAS: Prof. Dr. Tanja Henking, LL.M. (sub-project lead), Dr. Malte Klemmt

Cooperation partners: Prof. Dr. Stefanie Joos (overall project lead), Prof. Dr. Monika A. Rieger, Dr. Roland Koch, Dr. Christine Preiser (all of the University Hospital Tübingen); Prof. Dr. Dr. Urban Wiesing, Prof. Dr. Hans-Joerg Ehni, Dr. Robert Ranisch, Regina Müller M.A. (all of Universität Tübingen )

Project period: 2020 - 2023

Funding: Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

Further information can be found on the website of the BMBF

The individual's autonomy and the securing of this autonomy are highly relevant factors in the health system. Especially people with chronical disease can experience reduced autonomy through disease or treatment. The increasing digitisation in the health sector creates opportunities to support patients and strengthen their autonomy. The term "technology-enabled care" (TEC) includes enhanced means of communication and the application of Big Data. The use of TEC creates numerous new digital applications, for doctors as well as for patients and their caregivers, provided that potential users have sufficient digital health competence.

The aim of the project "Autonomie Digital" is to assess digital tools available to patients with chronic disease and the extent to which patients' digital health competence meets these new opportunities. In addition, the autonomy needs of chronically sick people are evaluated so that suitable digital tools can be provided for different disease constellations in order to keep or improve the autonomy of chronically sick people.

Contact persons at IFAS: Luisa Falkenstörfer M.Sc., Prof. Dr. Silke Neuderth

Cooperation partners: Prof. Dr. Stefan Schulz (Julius-Maximilians-Universität of Würzburg, Trier University)

Project period: 2022-2025

Patient autonomy takes a key role in the healthcare industry. In general, it is achieved through an informed consent. Due to certain medical conditions, the capacity to give informed consent may be impaired or non-existent. In cooperation with our project partners of the Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf and the OTH Regensburg, the SMART project investigates if and how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used to overcome challenges in the assessment of the patient's capacity to give consent and which ethical, legal, and social implications result from the application of AI. The SMART project is funded by the VW Foundation.

Despite the central role the informed consent takes in the healthcare industry, and numerous standardised assessment instruments available, the actual assessment of capacities is often beset with problems. On one hand, the instruments focus on cognitive and verbal abilities of patients (however, emotional abilities are rather neglected). Additionally, subjective factors by the assessing doctor may also influence the decision. To date, there has been no effort in the AI field to overcome the limitations in assessing patient's capacity to consent or make decisions. Within the scope of our project, we are investigating the role AI may play in this area. For this purpose, we are forming an interdisciplinary network of scientists to elaborate the weaknesses and limitations in connection with the assessment of the capacity of the patient to give consent. The work is complemented by empirical pre-studies with focus groups. Based on these results, we are looking to answer the question of and how the transfer of these results to AI systems is technically possible and socially, politically, legally, and ethically desirable.

Contact persons at IFAS: Professor Dr. Tanja Henking LL.M., Andrea Weber M.Sc.

Cooperation partners: Professor Dr. Heiner Fangerau, Vasilija Rolfes M.A., Uta Bittner M.A. (all three work at the University of Düsseldorf), Professor Dr. Christoph Palm, Professor Dr. Karsten Weber, Helene Gerhardts M.A., Linda Kokott M.A. (working at OTH Regensburg)

Project period: 2020 to 2021

Funding: VW-Foundation (Planning Grant)

For further information, please see the website of the VW-Foundation