ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT The evidence-based approach derived from the health care and medicine disciplines is the explicit and rational use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individuals and the population. At present, new technology may enter directly into the people care service without evaluation and without the evidence-based approach. Knowledge and evaluation bypasses will delay the time to market for a rapid and systematic routine use of innovations. Decision making about the purchase of equipment is more problematic when there is less evidence available or when this evidence is of poor quality, because there is no demonstration of efficacy and cost-effectiveness before the introduction of new technology. Information and communication technology (ICT) solutions aim to improve health care providers, professional and informal carers, decision makers, and all stakeholders in the field of elderly care. Implementing knowledge and experiences from the medical research and health care fields, we propose some

CONTENTS

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................88 Rationale for an Elderly-Centered ICT Evidence-Based Practice .......................................... 89

The Concept of Ageing ............................................................................................................ 89 Concept of the Person-Centered Approach ..........................................................................90 Elderly Ecosystem .................................................................................................................... 91

Evidence-Based Practice............................................................................................................... 94 Appraisal of Evidence-Based Practice ................................................................................... 94 Evidence-Based Approach ...................................................................................................... 94 Tracking Down the Evidence: The Value of Information ................................................... 95 Levels of Evidence .................................................................................................................... 96

Example of Low Evidence: Do We Answer to Carers’ Unmet Needs? ........................ 96 Example of High Evidence: Preventing Falls .................................................................. 97

Evidence-Based Practice for AAL Solutions.............................................................................. 98 Implementing Best Evidence Practices in AAL Solutions: Guidelines Needed...................99 Elderly ICT Ecosystem: An Evidence-Based Approach Proposal for the Future .............. 100 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 101 References ..................................................................................................................................... 102

recommendations for an evidence-based approach in gerontotechnology and ICT solutions. The final outcomes of any intervention in the elderly population would ensure well-being and good health and the improvement of quality of life by respecting the autonomy of a potentially frail and vulnerable population. Besides the technology development of ICT solutions, an evidence-based approach including a clinical research-like program would be necessary. Translational research using models from the health care and medicine disciplines will provide added value and also help to spread the use of cost-effective ICT solutions in the elderly. A call to action implementing evidence-based practice into ambient assisted living (AAL) organization and call procedures may be challenging.