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Technology in the health and care sector:
"This is not just about new gadgets"

New digital solutions can improve care and make life easier for many.

The use of health technology can offer greater independence and quality of life for users, but ethical and security-related challenges still need to be addressed.

(Photo: Colourbox)

Hasse Berntsen COMMUNICATIONS ADVISER

Presented by: Norwegian centre for E-health research

Published 4 March 2025 - 00:01

In the Nordic countries, we are increasingly using technology in healthcare services. This can range from simple safety alarms to robots that assist with caregiving.

Nevertheless, there are few solutions that reach widespread use. Researchers now believe they know why. It’s not just about the technology itself, but also how people work together and adapt.

A digital future, but not without challenges

In a new book, researchers show how new health and welfare technology (HWT) can help patients, their families, and healthcare workers.

Researchers from the Norwegian Centre for E-health Research, together with colleagues from the Nordic Health and Welfare Technology Research Network, have just published a chapter in a professional anthology on this topic.

Portrett forsker — “Technology must complement our care,” says Gunn Hilde Rotvold.

Gunn Hilde Rotvold, Monika Knudsen Gullslett, and Eirin Rødseth from the Norwegian Centre for E-health Research have collaborated with other Nordic researchers on a dedicated project. They have examined how welfare technology can improve healthcare services and increase people's quality of life.

“This is not just about new gadgets. We need the technology to work in tandem with how we provide care," says senior adviser and researcher Gunn Hilde Rotvold.

Everyone is different

Research shows that welfare technology can help older individuals and people with disabilities feel safer and become more independent.

However, what works for one person does not necessarily work for another.

Rotvold points out that we need to develop technology together with those who will use it. Otherwise, we risk creating solutions that are too difficult to use or that do not provide real help.

Good planning is important

Technology can make the workday easier for healthcare workers. But simply introducing a new app or sensor is not enough.

“Good solutions require time, training, and effective change management,” says Professor Monika K. Gullslett.

She emphasises that leaders must be clear about who is responsible for what. Staff need solid support throughout the entire process.

Everyone has to be involved

The goal is to ensure that digital solutions actually work for everyone – patients, family members, and healthcare workers alike.

Many older individuals and people with disabilities struggle to use digital technology. Some lack the necessary knowledge, while others do not have access to the equipment they need.

When technology works as intended, it can make life significantly easier.

“For this to succeed, we must understand people’s needs,” says Eirin Rødseth.

“We need research that shows what actually works in practice. Further, we need to look at how we can ensure participation for everyone and how best to measure the benefits for users, healthcare professionals, and society as a whole,” says senior adviser Eirin Rødseth.

This new chapter represents an important step forward in showing how proactive development and use of welfare technology can improve care services – without forgetting that people are at the centre.

The concept of Health and Welfare Technology (HWT)

Health and welfare technology is often defined as technologies that promote health and well-being by reducing inequalities and placing users at the forefront:

It aims to improve health for all.
It helps reduce the experience of functional limitations.
It enables more people to take greater responsibility for their own health.
It safeguards the individual’s needs and preferences.

Reference:

Melkas et al. 'Proactive Health and Welfare Technology for Service Users and Societies: Scanning Horizons and Future Opportunities for Service Design and Innovation'. In Pfannstiel et al. (Eds.) Service Design, Creativity, and Innovation in Healthcare, Springer, Cham, 2024. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-65766-5_8 (Abstract)

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Read the Norwegian version of this article on forskning.no