Socially Sustainable Technologies Flagship - Research Flagship Project

SmartHealth: Integrated Bio-diagnostic systems for Healthcare

The SmartHEALTH project was undertaken by The Swinburne Institute for Social Research, at Swinburne University of Technology as part of a joint European/Australian project examining the social impact of a potential new cancer diagnostic.  Funding was provided via an Australian member of the project, MiniFAB (Australia) Pty Ltd, and Small Technologies Cluster (STC) Ltd, an organization of the Victorian Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development (DIIRD. The SmartHEALTH project began in December 2005 and will be completed in May 2010.

Research Team

Chief Investigators: Prof Michael Gilding

Project Research Assistant/Coordinator: Vikki Bunton

PhD Student: Victoria Hamilton (Supervisors: Prof. Susan Moore, Dr. Denny Meyer)

Publications and Other Research Outputs

• Publications
  

  Transcripts: Café Scientifique MiniFAB presentation of technology (pdf link) & Question & Answer time (pdf link)
  
  Final Technical Report on SUT research projects (due June 2010)



• Media Coverage
• Audio Visual Material
  

Context

The SmartHEALTH project was conducted under the European 6th Framework with possible applications as a point-of-care or lab-on-chip diagnostic to be used in screening for breast, cervical or colorectal cancer. As such the aim would be to move diagnosis out of the laboratory and into primary or secondary care locations, simultaneously improving accuracy of results and waiting time. Social research was conducted in both Europe and Australia to examine the ethical, legal and social implications (ELSIs) of this potential new diagnostic and its integration into existing healthcare systems.

In Australia ELSI researchers conducted a public engagement research program similar to that conducted in the U.K. and held focus groups on SmartHEALTH’s potential application as a screening tool for cervical cancer (by testing for high risk strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV)).  This research program coincided with the worldwide roll out of two new HPV vaccines, providing a new context for discussions surrounding prevention of cervical cancer.

The public engagement research program is now completed but further social research is ongoing via a Phd project examining decisions surrounding screening for colorectal cancer.

Research Programme

The ELSI research comprised a public engagement research program and a PhD project. The public engagement program was participant driven, focusing on the community’s perceptions and expectations of the SmartHEALTH technology. It involved an international style public meeting called a Café Scientifique, and participative focus groups on prevention of cervical cancer.

Phase 1- Public Engagement Research: Café Scientifique
In August 2007 a Café Scientifique was held at the University of the Third Age (U3A) inviting U3A members to discuss the SmartHEALTH technology as a cancer diagnostic and how it might be implemented and integrated within the existing Australian healthcare system.  MiniFAB provided the scientific expertise on SmartHEALTH and members of the U3A provided plenty of questions, discussion and feedback.

Phase 2 – Public Engagement Research: Cervical Cancer Focus Groups
Throughout 2008 and 2009 The Swinburne Institute researchers continued the public engagement program with a series of participative focus groups to discuss SmartHEALTH’s potential application as a means of screening for cervical cancer within GP clinics. Focus groups discussed women’s knowledge and perceptions of cervical cancer and current preventive methods, including the HPV vaccine, and then compared these with the new SmartHEALTH technology.

Phase 3 – Phd Candidate Victoria Hamilton
The third phase of the research remains ongoing as the Phd candidate explores cognitive and emotional processes in decisions to screen for colorectal cancer in Australia. In particular, a unique cognitive focus is on the heuristic (“shortcut”) styles of thinking that may be implemented in the decision-making process, and which may affect more systematic judgements about one’s risk perception toward bowel cancer. Specific emotions are also being explored for their influence on this process, and investigations are focused on fear, disgust thresholds, and embarrassment during medical testing.

Project Outcomes

The project will provide insight into the potential ELSIs surrounding the new SmartHEALTH technology and explore perceptions of new health technologies including the implication of disruptive technologies, patient attitudes to screening for diseases and acceptance of new technologies.

Reference Group

The following people provided a reference group to guide the conduct of ELSI research and to facilitate dissemination of project findings:  Prof. Michael Gilding, The Swinburne Institute for Social Research, Swinburne University of Technology (Aust), Dr. Simon Woods, PEALS, Newcastle University (U.K) and Dr. Andrew Campitelli, MiniFAB (Aust) Pty Ltd.

Links