Co-Research & Piloting on Digital Technology Acceptance in Healthcare

We are seeking cooperation partners interested in jointly exploring, testing, and improving the acceptance, adoption, and everyday use of digital technologies in healthcare and rehabilitation settings. Building on qualitative and ethnographic research on human–technology interaction, this cooperation focuses on understanding how healthcare professionals, patients, and informal carers perceive, appropriate, and integrate digital solutions into real care practices.

Focus Areas

The cooperation will address key determinants of digital technology acceptance, including:

Organisational and workflow integration of digital tools

Trust and perceived usefulness of AI-based and assistive technologies

Professional identities, skills, and emotional responses of healthcare staff

User-centred design and co-creation with patients and carers

Barriers and enablers to scaling digital health innovations beyond pilots

Type of Cooperation Sought

Healthcare providers (hospitals, rehabilitation centres, LTC services) willing to host observational studies, pilots, or co-design activities

Technology providers (MedTech, digital health, AI, robotics) seeking user feedback and real-world validation

Research organisations and universities interested in qualitative, mixed-methods, or implementation research

Policymakers and innovation agencies aiming to inform evidence-based digital health strategies

Proposed Activities

Field observations and qualitative interviews with healthcare professionals and end-users

Co-design workshops to adapt technologies to real clinical contexts

Pilot studies assessing usability, acceptance, and organisational fit

Development of practical guidelines, training materials, and policy-relevant insights

Expected Outcomes

Improved acceptance and sustainable adoption of digital health technologies

Evidence-based recommendations for designers, providers, and policymakers

Reduced gap between technological innovation and real-world healthcare practice

Enhanced human-centric integration of digital solutions in care environments

Value for Partners

Partners will gain early insight into user needs and barriers, practical evidence to support adoption and scale-up, and access to a collaborative environment that bridges research, technology development, and healthcare practice.