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Cited by 57Technology Use by Older AdultsTelemedicine and Telehealth ImplementationEthics and bioethics in healthcare

Ethical Considerations Regarding the Use of Technology for Older Adults: The Case of Telehealth

Demiris, George, Doorenbos, Ardith Z., Towle, Cara·2009·Research in Gerontological Nursing
DOI 10.3928/19404921-20090401-02
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Abstract

Life expectancy increases and ongoing growth of the population older than 65 have led to new models of aging research aimed at promoting independence and empowerment of older adults. Advances in information technology have introduced numerous ways to enhance or expand health care and support service research and development. The purpose of this article is to discuss ethical considerations associated with the use of technology with older adults in research and practice and to present a framework for such ethical parameters. Specifically, we focus on the case of telehealth and discuss examples from the Native People for Cancer Control Telehealth Network to exemplify the framework. The proposed framework includes the concepts of privacy, informed consent, equity of access, patient-provider communication, and usability. These issues constitute a roadmap for researchers, practitioners, system designers, policy makers, and administrators who aim to conduct ethical research that results in improved care and support services to older adults and increase health care access for rural and underserved populations.

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Crossref · 10.3928/19404921-20090401-02

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  • Authors were concerned with potential depersonalization and lack of intimacy, prioritizing efficiency and economics over quality care, and lack of sensitivity to patients' community, culture, social practices, and language.

    “They were concerned with the potential for depersonalization and lack of intimacy, prioritizing efficiency and economics over quality care, and for lack of sensitivity to patients’ community, culture and social practices, and language [27,[32], [33]].”

    From REVISITING HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ETHICAL, LEGAL, and SOCIAL ISSUES and EVALUATION: TELEHEALTH/TELEMEDICINE and COVID-19 (2020) · cites this paper as [33]

  • Authors discussing the doctor-patient relationship addressed the importance of human contact, non-verbal cues, touch, expressiveness, and accustomed ways to express empathy and build rapport for diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

    “Authors discussing the doctor-patient relationship addressed the importance of human contact, non-verbal cues, touch, expressiveness, and accustomed ways to express empathy and build rapport for diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.”

    From REVISITING HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ETHICAL, LEGAL, and SOCIAL ISSUES and EVALUATION: TELEHEALTH/TELEMEDICINE and COVID-19 (2020) · cites this paper as [33]

  • Patients and clinicians had to learn to choose and use the technologies, possibly overcome barriers of access, usability, and language, and develop cultural sensitivity toward communities with different customs, practices, and language.

    “Patients and clinicians needed to learn how to select and use the technologies and possibly overcome access, usability, and language barriers, and to develop cultural sensitivity to communities with different customs, practices, and language [27,32,33].”

    From REVISITING HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ETHICAL, LEGAL, and SOCIAL ISSUES and EVALUATION: TELEHEALTH/TELEMEDICINE and COVID-19 (2020) · cites this paper as [33]

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Authors
Demiris, G., Doorenbos, A. Z., & Towle, C.
Affiliations
University of Washington (US)
ORCID
Venue
Research in Gerontological Nursing
Publisher
SLACK, Inc.
Published
2009-04
Volume
2
Issue
2
Pages
128-136
ISSN
  • 1938-2464 (ISSN-L)
  • 1940-4921
DOI
10.3928/19404921-20090401-02
OpenAlex
W99180835
Cited by
57
References
26
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 3
FWCI
0.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Research in Gerontological Nursing (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
U.S. Public Health Service (H2ATH07752)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Technology Use by Older Adults
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Ethics and bioethics in healthcare
Keywords
telemedicine, older adults, research ethics, ethical frameworks, privacy, informed consent, equitable access, patient-provider communication, usability, rural healthcare access, underserved populations, health information technology
MeSH terms
Confidentiality, Geriatric Nursing, Health Services Accessibility, Humans, Indians, North American, Informed Consent, Neoplasms, Nurse-Patient Relations, Research Design, Technology Assessment, Biomedical, United States, Nursing Research, Patient Selection, Privacy, Ethical Analysis, Telenursing

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