Co-design in health technologies: the case of a European project aiming at developing an implantable monitoring device for patients living with heart failure
Résumé
Heart failure is a serious chronic condition that particularly affects the elderly. Due to the ageing population, it is considered a major threat to health care systems. Several research have therefore been conducted in the recent years in order to improve heart failure care thanks to information and communication technologies. One of them is the RealWorld4Clinic project, funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. Its aim was to support the development of an implantable cardiac monitoring device, while addressing the ethical, legal and social issues involved by this new health technology. To achieve this, the consortium brought together physicians, engineers, but also researchers in the humanities and social sciences (including communication sciences). Our role in this project was to co-design an information, education and training module for future patients. From January 2021 to the end of 2022, we developed this module in collaboration with patients and the other members of the consortium. In our presentation, we will look at the results and limits of this co-design experience.