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Module Catalogue

MD3B4-15 Digital technology & Health

Department
Warwick Medical School
Level
Undergraduate Level 3
Module leader
Frances Griffiths
Credit value
15
Module duration
9 weeks
Assessment
100% coursework
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

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Introductory description

During this module, students are introduced to the varied uses of technologies in health and care settings. Furthermore, challenges associated with big data and artificial intelligence will be explored as well as their benefits for managing local and global health problems.

Module web page

Module aims

An in-depth understanding of the barriers and challenges associated with digital innovation in health and care settings.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

During this module students will be introduced to the potential benefits and barriers of using digital technologies in problem solving for health. The technologies covered will vary from year to year according to contemporary developments. This module will explore the digital landscape in healthcare including digital wearables, communication, and health records, how these are changing and implications for health inequalities. During this module students will engage with concepts of big data, analytic algorithms, and emerging digital technologies. They will cover the challenges of big data, such as data structure, security, data standardisation, storage and transfers, and data governance. Students will explore how artificial intelligence is being developed and applied in health care and consider issues of bias and impact on the healthcare workforce. The application of several technologies in various health disciplines will also be discussed. For example, students could focus on use of sensors for health and care monitoring, artificial intelligence used in triage and diagnostics, or the potential use of extended reality.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • To critically review the current digital landscape in health and care locally and globally and analyse impact on inequalities and access
  • To demonstrate a deep understanding of concepts of big data, analytic algorithms and other emerging digital technology/analytics and their application in health
  • To assess and critique the use of artificial intelligence in health and care with use of an example
  • To formulate recommendations for application of emerging digital technologies in relation to local and global health problems as well as their potential consequences/challenges/ limitations
Indicative reading list
  1. World Health Organisation. Classification of digital health interventions v1.0. A shared language to describe the uses of digital technology for health: World Health Organisation, 2018.
  2. Ajana B. Personal metrics: Users’ experiences and perceptions of self-tracking practices and data. Social Science Information. 2020;59(4):654-678. doi:10.1177/0539018420959522
  3. Griffiths F, Watkins JA, Huxley C, Harris B, Cave J, Pemba S, et al. Mobile consulting (mConsulting) and its potential for providing access to quality healthcare for populations living in low-resource settings of low- and middle-income countries. DIGITAL HEALTH. 2020;6:2055207620919594.
  4. Griffiths F, Bryce C, Cave J, Dritsaki M, Fraser J, Hamilton K, et al. Timely digital patient-clinician communication in specialist clinical services for young people: a mixed-methods study (the LYNC study). Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2017;19(4).
  5. Panesar, A., 2019. Machine learning and AI for healthcare (pp. 1-73). Coventry, UK: Apress. Chapters 1, 2 and 3
  6. Ellis TD, Earhart GM. Digital Therapeutics in Parkinson’s Disease: Practical Applications and Future Potential. Journal of Parkinson's Disease. 2021;Preprint:1-7.
  7. Singh H and Sittig D.F. (2016) Measuring and improving patient safety through health information technology: The Health IT Safety Framework. BMJ. 25(4): 226-232.
  8. Wachter R. (2015) The Digital Doctor: Hope, Hype and Harm at the Dawn of Medicine’s Computer Age. McGraw-Hill Education.
  9. Draper H., Sorell T. (2013) Telecare, remote monitoring and care. Bioethics. 27(7): 365-372
Subject specific skills

Knowledge and understanding of the concepts of big data, analytic algorithms and other emerging digital technology/analytics and their interaction with digital health.

Transferable skills

The transferable skills gained from the completion of this module include ability to gather and interpret information, ability to analyse data including analysis that informs understanding of inequalities, oral communication skills, ability to make decisions and solve problems, written communication skills, ability to learn quickly, and creative/innovative thinking.

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 10 sessions of 1 hour (7%)
Seminars 5 sessions of 1 hour (3%)
Practical classes 6 sessions of 1 hour (4%)
Other activity 9 hours (6%)
Private study 75 hours (50%)
Assessment 45 hours (30%)
Total 150 hours
Private study description

Students would be expected to engage in 120 hours of self-directed learning (45 hours for assessments) outside other learning and teaching activities outlined above.

Other activity description

Technology-enhanced learning, including the use of online interactive presentations and videos, quizzes (9 hours)

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group A2
Weighting Study time
1500 word essay 50% 22 hours 30 minutes

No formal formative assessment
Summative assessment: 1500 word essay plus up to 20 references of which at least 10 should be to peer reviewed papers. The student may include references to other sources such as websites. Students will choose from a choice of three essay topics each designed to include learning from at least one third of the module. The topics will focus on a patient pathway or other defined aspect of the health system. The students will draw on their learning to discuss the use of two different types of digital health technology that are being or could be used within that pathway/aspect of health system: how the digital health technologies work, where, when and for whom and their health benefits. The text should both describe and evaluate the technologies, critique claims made for the technologies and consider impact on health inequalities.
Infographic 50% 22 hours 30 minutes

Formative assessment mid module: review of chosen AI applications to ensure diversity of applications across class; formative practice; in-class peer-review.

Summative assessment: Infographic about a specific health technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI). Infographic to include up to 12 images each with 1-2 sentences of text written. Audience for infographic is health professionals early in their career; infographic designed to be used in their continuing professional development. The infographic will describe and critique how the AI driven technology works including source of training data used in development and data used for learning algorithms. It will consider implications of use in terms of inequalities and access, data ethics and health service change.
Feedback on assessment

The essay and infographic will be marked using standardised rubrics. Feedback to the students (including individualised feedback) in line with WMS assessment criteria will be given to the students. Further verbal feedback will be available to students on request.

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • UMDA-B990 Undergraduate Health and Medical Sciences
    • Year 3 of B990 Health and Medical Sciences
    • Year 3 of B990 Health and Medical Sciences