Ethical Considerations When Using a Mobile Eye Tracker in a Patient-Facing Area: Lessons from an Intensive Care Unit...

Area of Science:

• Medical technology
• Healthcare research ethics
• Occupational health

Background:

• Eye-tracking devices offer valuable insights into healthcare workflows.
• Implementing novel technologies in clinical settings necessitates careful ethical consideration.
• Incidental capture of sensitive data requires robust privacy protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the ethical and logistical process of designing and conducting an investigator-initiated eye-tracking study in an intensive care unit.
• To address the challenges of informed consent, privacy, and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance when using audiovisual recording devices in healthcare.
• To share lessons learned to facilitate future audiovisual research in healthcare.

Main Methods:

• Development and approval of an investigator-initiated research protocol for eye-tracking device use.
• Deployment of eye-tracking devices resembling eyeglasses in an intensive care unit setting.
• Proactive communication with the institutional review board to address ethical considerations.

Main Results:

• A feasible protocol was established for using eye-tracking technology in a healthcare environment.
• Key ethical considerations including consent, HIPAA compliance, and data privacy were successfully navigated.
• The study demonstrated the potential for eye-tracking data to inform occupational research and quality improvement.

Conclusions:

• Successful implementation of eye-tracking research in healthcare requires meticulous planning and ethical oversight.
• Proactive engagement with institutional review boards is crucial for navigating complex ethical landscapes.
• Eye-tracking technology holds significant promise for advancing healthcare research and improving patient care through workflow analysis.