Proactive health and welfare technology for service users and societies: Scanning horizons and future opportunities for service design and innovation

Abstract

Health and welfare technology (HWT) covers a wide sphere of different appliances and solutions, affecting diverse users’ lives, health care and care, and societies. This future-oriented study examines challenges and opportunities of HWT use and related service design and innovation in advancing health and well­being of citizens and professional caregivers. With a multi-stakeholder perspective, we scan the horizons regarding HWT support for diverse users, and societies, in health care and care. The study is based on a series of creative horizon scanning workshops that involved nearly 200 researchers and stakeholders based in Nordic countries and synthesized knowledge of HWT at three levels: older age clients/patients and people with disabilities and their informal caregivers (micro-level); professional caregivers and organizations (meso-level); and the societal (macro-) level. We collected prior knowledge on HWT use at the three levels and produced an understanding of its future implications by identifying the main challenges and knowledge needs and preparing practical recommendations. An understanding of the three levels and their dynamics is essential to improve service design, policy interventions, and innovations to enhance proactive HWT use and the quality of life and work of citizens and caregivers. The identified key messages focus on embracing a collaborative approach, providing orientative activities, acknowledging the diversity of users, and seeking consensus around HWT-related concepts. This study provides building blocks for future studies, services, and policies to deepen the transformation process toward meaningful HWT use at Nordic, European, and international levels.