Exploring attitudes towards AI-based contactless sensors in health – a qualitative study with five stakeholder groups (Preprint)

Hille EM, Bleher H, Coppers B, Engelhardt S, Eskofier B, Garbe L, Heckel M, Liphardt AM, Manlig A, Rohleder N, Samhammer D, Spielmann C, Braun M (2025)

Publication Status: Submitted

Publication Type: Unpublished / Preprint

Future Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

DOI: 10.2196/preprints.75783

Abstract

Background:

Contact is a central issue in health and medicine. The rapid rise of AI-based contactless sensors (AI-CS) is expected to significantly transform how patients are measured, monitored, and understood. These technologies offer a versatile, non-invasive approach to data collection and health assessment. Despite increasing implementation in clinical and research settings, there is a lack of empirical research specifically focusing on AI-CS in health. Moreover, existing studies tend to focus on medical or patient perspectives, neglecting other stakeholders such as researchers, political actors or the general public. Both shortcomings – the lack of empirical research on contactless sensor technologies in health and a broad stakeholder perspective – have not yet been addressed in any empirical study.

Objective:

The study aims providing an in-depth empirical ethical analysis and, through a multi-stakeholder-approach, a uniquely comprehensive overview by addressing the research question: What are attitudes of different stakeholders (patients, healthcare professionals (HCPs), researchers, political stakeholders, and the general public) towards AI-CS and their applications in health?

Methods:

This cross-sectional study employed stratified sampling, following the concept of an innovation pipeline approach. Interviews used a semi-structured interview guide. Interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis with atlas.ti software, applying content-related and scaling structuring techniques. By combining deductive category assignment and inductive category formation, a three-component model of feelings, thoughts, and behavioural aspects was developed as coding scheme. The study followed COREQ (Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research) guidelines.

Results:

The results of the study provide an in-depth analysis of attitudes towards AI-CS in health of different stakeholders, namely their feelings, their thoughts (focusing on opportunities, challenges and values), as well as behavioural aspects (experiences, formulated implications, and preferred actions). Overall, the results show a high level of openness to AI-CS in health across all stakeholder groups. In terms of feelings and their correlation with behavioral aspects, two key trends emerged: First, greater experience and knowledge correlated with a reduced tendency to react emotionally. Second, participants with positive experiences with technologies were generally more open and positive towards contactless sensors. The combined findings on thoughts and behavioural aspects highlighted three key tensions – around contact(lessness) and the importance and ambivalence of touch, between protection and surveillance (particularly regarding path- and context-dependency) and between the benefits and challenges of invisibility (especially in relation to control and governance implications). In addition, the analysis revealed the need for information and consent about AI-CS, and clarified possible technical implementations and fields of application.

Conclusions:

This study provides a comprehensive and empirically grounded ethical analysis of stakeholder attitudes towards AI-CS in health. Its multi-stakeholder approach offers a unique and nuanced understanding of the social and moral landscape surrounding these emerging technologies. The findings offer valuable guidance for the responsible development, implementation, and governance of AI-CS in healthcare contexts.

Authors with CRIS profile

Additional Organisation(s)

Involved external institutions

Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn Germany (DE) Universität Koblenz Germany (DE) Sozialwissenschaftliches Institut der EKD Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Hille, E.M., Bleher, H., Coppers, B., Engelhardt, S., Eskofier, B., Garbe, L.,... Braun, M. (2026). Exploring attitudes towards AI-based contactless sensors in health – a qualitative study with five stakeholder groups (Preprint). (Unpublished, Submitted).

MLA:

Hille, Eva Maria, et al. Exploring attitudes towards AI-based contactless sensors in health – a qualitative study with five stakeholder groups (Preprint). Unpublished, Submitted. 2026.

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