Analyzing the impact of Technological Innovations in Medicine on Global Healthcare Research and Development using a content analysis approach

Sample

Using the thirty journals as data source, researchers conducted online keyword searches for all articles containing the word “technology”. Since there were so much technological innovations in medicine, the investigators focused their search on the most frequently reported technological innovations in fifteen areas of medicine: 1) mRNA technologies, 2) cancer immunotherapy, 3) molecular freeze-frame, 4) neurotechnology, 5) precision medicine, 6) clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), 7) sustainability and decarbonization, 8) regenerative medicine, 9) virtual reality or augmented virtual reality, 10) 3D printing and organ care technology, 11) digital therapeutics, 12) AI, 13) telemedicine and telehealth, 14) health wearables, and 15) technology in mental health.

The investigators have manually browsed each journal throughout the period of the study (January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2022) to identify all articles containing any of the fifteen keywords. Such procedure enabled researchers to compile a large data set of published communication containing or referring to the word “technology”.

Procedure

The investigators recorded and analyzed the occurrences of words, phrases, and sentences related to “technology”. To eliminate data redundancy and to ensure the validity, reliability of collected information the below protocol was followed ( Figure 1).

Figure 1. Procedure.

Results from N = 10,767 data point related to technological innovation in health care

Based on frequency counts and data interactions, three categories were formed then integrated into a framework to answer the research hypotheses. The examination of frequency counts, and the formation of data into categories provide unobtrusive input to healthcare providers, governments, researchers, and the general public about the most advanced incoming technologies of the future ( Table 2). Moreover, Figure 2a displays the percentage of each category relative to the total word count with innovative domains representing the largest proportion (41%) while Figure 2b illustrates the yearly distribution within each category relative to its total count.

Figure 2. Innovative domains frequency count.

The first category, innovative domains was composed of five variables. Precision medicine (n=1448), regenerative medicine (n=1242), and technology in mental health reported the highest frequencies (n=781). Regardless of one’s mental health, technological innovations are being developed to aid people overcome their challenges. Smart phone apps, computer, the internet, AI, and software are some of the reported technological innovations used for mental health treatments ( Figure 3).

Figure 3. Information technology frequency count.

The second category, information technology had five variables. The highest frequencies were reported in the areas of AI (n=1797). Examples include Computed Tomography (CT) scans, x-rays, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRIs) and other images for lesions or other findings that a human radiologist might miss. Furthermore, blood sample data can be integrated so that the machines learn how to identify harmful bacteria, repurposed drug discovery to treat conditions that can be incredibly complicated. ML can classify skin lesions and images as indicators of diabetic retinopathy. Next, highest frequencies were in telemedicine and telehealth (n=1114), such as remote monitoring, real-time interactive services, administrative meetings, continuing medical education, and training. 3D printing and organ care technology, virtual reality or augmented virtual reality and digital therapeutics reported lower frequencies ( Figure 4).

Figure 4. Medicine frequency count.

The third category, “medicine”, had five variables. The highest frequencies were reported in messenger RiboNucleic Acid (mRNA) technologies (n=1008), such as treating existing diseases like cancer, and vaccination for COVID-19, influenza, Lassa fever, malaria, and TB. Subsequent highest frequencies were reported in cancer immunotherapy (n=712) and CRISPR (n=620). Despite its importance, neurotechnology and molecular freeze frame reported the least frequencies (n=33 and n=5 respectively) ( Figure 5).

Figure 5. Medicine category variables.

Smart technologies

Smart technologies show how the healthcare industry adopts technology, transform delivery, and impact patient care. Smart technologies refer to devices that uses the internet, cloud connectivity, telemedicine, biosensors, monitoring remotely, 3D bioprinting, connected inhalers, wearables, augmented reality, genomics, robotics, technology in mental health and most recently AI.¹⁵ Remote monitoring devices include blood pressure monitors, smart thermometers, ECG monitors, connected inhalers, fitness trackers (FitBits), smart watches, and Biosensors. To support proactive care, such technologies are increasingly implemented worldwide. Newer technologies, like cloud, blockchain and AI are being integrated in healthcare to push forward the frontiers of patient services.^16–18

Innovative scientific medical research

Innovative scientific medical research illustrates breakthrough technologies and how innovations shape future healthcare norms. Scientific medical research encompasses a wide range of fields, including biology, chemistry, pharmacology and toxicology,¹⁹ and it can be categorized into three main areas of innovative explorations: basic (experimental), clinical, and epidemiological research.¹⁵ All of this aim to develop new medicines or medical procedures to enhance existing healthcare applications. Modern biomedical research is not only exploring treatments for diseases “that have relatively simple causes and well-understood genetic risk factors”, but also for diseases that has very “complex genetics, with many genes each making relatively small, poorly understood contributions to disease risk”.²⁰ Thus, modern technologies have transformed biomedical research and healthcare by enabling the study of diseases with complex genetic contributions, analyzing large datasets through AI and bioinformatics, and translating discoveries into improved diagnostics, personalized treatments, and more precisely clinical interventions. For example, Innovations in type 1 diabetes research scientists are investigating ways to treat diabetes with stem cell therapies. The goal is to create “glucose-sensing, insulin-producing beta cells, the cells impacted in both type I and type II diabetes”.²⁰ Alongside conventional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, cancer research is increasingly exploring more advanced approaches such as immunotherapy (active and passive), stem cell-based therapies, and nanocarrier-based therapies.²¹

Big data and biobanks

The big data and biobanks reflect adoption of technology for research or decision-making, transformation of practices, and potential impact on patient care. Forms of big data in health care include hospital records (suppliers, legal, financial, government, procedures, policies, compliance, maintenance, etc.), patients medical records, results of medical exams, etc. The integration of biomedical and healthcare data enables healthcare providers to deliver personalized medicine and medical therapies.²² Biobanks are characterized by the data therein (health records and/or lifestyle information) and biological samples from various populations (gene samples, cord blood banks, banks for storage of gametes and embryos for use in IVF, and stem cell bank).²³ Biobanking and biorepositories have been implemented in many areas of public health, such as drug and biomarker development, clinical trials monitoring of the effects of drugs on eventual outcomes, and clinical care for therapy.²³ Today, most healthcare organizations have an abondance of data that could be used to improve business operations and streamline medical procedures.

Future of healthcare technologies

Healthcare innovations are driving technology-based practices as the norm, shaping future industry standards, transforming delivery and organizational practices, and improving patient outcomes. Tech companies are getting involved in reinventing the healthcare sector.²⁴ Amazon Alexa and Apple Siri are paving the way for innovation I healthcare. For example, the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas 12) systems have immensely advanced the field of biomedicine.²⁵ It is about half the size of a credit card, containing a complex network of channels less than the width of a human hair, and can provide coronavirus test results in less than 30 minutes. Similarly, the Personal Care Kit (CareKit) is proof that companies are investing heavily in the healthcare innovations domain.²⁶ Thus, there is a huge demand for healthcare app developers and healthcare software development companies by the disruptors to bring a change. Drone delivering life sustaining medical supplies and connecting hospitals, laboratories physicians, and patients with the objective to save lives, improve patient care, and reduce waiting time.^27,28 A study published in The Lancet Global Health reported that the use of drones for blood product delivery in Rwanda led to shorter delivery times and fewer product expirations, thus improving the efficiency and reliability of blood supply chains in low-resource settings.²⁹

Though technological innovations (digital breakthroughs, new drugs, treatments, new devices, etc.) will continue to transform healthcare industry, it is incumbent upon the healthcare industry has to keep up the pace and embrace innovative technologies to improve patient care.

Advances in medical technologies refers to tools or software developed to improve patient care and overall quality of health. The medical industry is reinventing itself by adopting new technological innovations that not only reduce administrative inefficiencies, but also provides advanced medical treatments. The new technologies eliminated unbearable extended wait times and reduced medical care bills.³⁰

The four highlighted groups of technological innovations provide an overview of the key trends shaping modern medicine. These innovations are further organized into three categories, innovative domains, information technology, and medicine, to structure the analysis and directly address the research questions.

Breakthroughs in innovative domains, such as precision and regenerative medicine, illustrate which technologies are most frequently highlighted in the literature and demonstrate how these innovations are expected to influence future healthcare norms. Innovations in regenerative and precision medicine have improved healthcare accessibility and enabled more personalized patient experiences.³¹ For instance, surgical procedures are being reimagined, and new efficiencies introduced. In this context, robots are frequently assisting surgeons, from open-heart surgeries to minor minimally invasive procedures.³² In addition, virtual augmented reality technologies support physicians by providing visual demonstrations to patients. These technologies have also emerged as promising tools in managing multiple diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Specifically, exposure therapy have enabled patients to train their brain to develop resilience against post-traumatic stress.^33–37

The frequent reporting of information technologies, such as AI and telemedicine, reflects the healthcare industry’s engagement with technological innovations and highlights how these tools are transforming healthcare delivery and organizational practices.³⁸ In the area of information technology such as AI, robotic assisted surgeries, medical diagnosis and surgical procedures, have renovated the industry.³⁹ AI and machine learning have speed up drug research and development, identified new chemical combinations, creating optimal drugs, and occasionally personalized drug treatment.⁴⁰ Furthermore, telemedicine have provided open wide access to healthcare counselors and professionals by providing open lines of communications while reducing extended wait time for medical appointments.⁴¹

Advances in medicine, including mRNA, cancer immunotherapy, and CRISPR, highlight technologies recognized as breakthroughs in the literature and underscore their potential to improve patient care and quality of life. Innovations in Medicine, mRNA, is considered a potential game-changer for a range of infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, malaria, and Lassa fever, which disproportionately affect people in low- and middle-income countries.⁴² Cancer immunotherapies, and CRISPR enabled researchers to design therapeutic treatment that are tailored to specific cells, to potentially repair the cell's ability to make certain proteins. Innovations in this domain are designed to be flexible and scalable. Innovation centers are developing protein-coding sequences, and engineering lipid nanoparticles for targeted delivery to particular tissues.^43–45

Strengths and limitations

This study has several strengths. First, it used a systematic content analysis approach with clearly defined inclusion criteria, which enhances transparency and reproducibility. Second, the use of manual coding improved methodological rigor. Third, the analysis covered a 5 years period and a large dataset, allowing for the identification of meaningful patterns.

Nonetheless, certain limitations should be acknowledged. Content analysis is inherently interpretive, and some degree of subjectivity is unavoidable. Moreover, the dataset was limited to ScienceDirect, which may restrict the generalizability of the findings to other contexts. Finally, this study was limited to the most frequently reported technological innovations across fifteen predefined medical domains. Consequently, less common or emerging innovations may not have been captured. However, focusing on the most frequently reported innovations provided a representative overview of the dominant trends in the literature, ensuring that the analysis highlighted developments with the greatest reported impact and visibility.