Open Access

Although artificial intelligence (AI) and automated decision-making systems have been around for some time, they have only recently gained in importance as they are now actually being used and are no longer just the subject of research. AI to support decision-making is thus affecting ever larger parts of society, creating technical, but above all ethical, legal, and societal challenges, as decisions can now be made by machines that were previously the responsibility of humans. This introduction provides an overview of attempts to regulate AI and addresses key challenges that arise when integrating AI systems into human decision-making. The Special topic brings together research articles that present societal challenges, ethical issues, stakeholders, and possible futures of AI use for decision support in healthcare, the legal system, and border control.

Determinants of household electricity consumption measured by smart meters found by the authors in a scoping review were analyzed for the example of Germany utilizing the 2018 Survey of Income and Expenditure. All variables identified in the scoping review were covered in the survey (number and type of appliances, sociodemographic, and dwelling-related aspects). One can therefore use this large representative data set to test these relationships for German households. Expenditure on electricity is considered an indicator of household electricity consumption. The determinants show weak to moderate correlations with energy expenditure in bivariate analyses. The multivariate analysis shows effects of household-specific, dwelling-related, and appliance-specific factors. Models considering only one aspect overestimate this effect. Thus, all three aspects should be considered simultaneously when explaining residential electricity consumption. The largest effects are found for electricity as the main energy source for heating, the number of household members, as well as their presence at home. While household structure plays an important part in explaining residential energy consumption, dwelling and appliance-related aspects influence it as well. The latter aspects may be influenced by appropriate policy measures.

AIM OF THE STUDY This study was conducted in a pre-post design with a survey of patients who had undergone deep brain stimulation (DBS) as treatment for a neurological movement disorder. The aim of the study was to compare patients' expectations and beliefs before a DBS intervention with patients' subjective experience of this intervention. METHODOLOGY The longitudinal study of patients (n=132) with an indication for DBS therapy was based on a written survey at the time points of preoperative screening (pre-op) and one-year follow-up (post-op). RESULTS Preoperatively, a clear majority of respondents believed DSB to be similar to a pacemaker intervention, but one year after the intervention less than one third did so, as they compared DBS to using a walking stick or glasses. CONCLUSION The experience of DBS in the patient's own body seems to be comparable by means of individually different associations, whereby the comparison with non-invasive aids predominates postoperatively. The discussion of these descriptions in the educational interview can contribute to a realistic horizon of patients' expectations before DBS. ZIEL DER STUDIE Es wird eine Studie im Prä-Post-Design mit einer Befragung von Patient*innen vorgestellt, bei denen zur Therapie einer neurologischen Bewegungsstörung die Indikation für eine Tiefe Hirnstimulation (THS) gegeben war. Die Patient*innen wurden vor und nach der THS-Operation zu ihren präoperativen Assoziationen bzw. postoperativen Wahrnehmungen im Umgang mit einem Hirnschrittmacher befragt. Ziel der Untersuchung ist, die bisherige Praxis der ärztlichen Aufklärung vor einer THS-Intervention um Angaben zur subjektiven Erlebnisqualität dieser Intervention ergänzen zu können. METHODIK Es wurde eine Längsschnittstudie mit Patient*innen (n=132) durchgeführt, in der die Teilnehmenden zweizeitig schriftlich zu Imaginationen zu ihrer subjektiven Erlebnisqualität von THS befragt wurden. Die Untersuchungen erfolgten beim präoperativen Screening (Prä-OP) sowie beim Ein-Jahres-Follow-Up (Post-OP). ERGEBNISSE Präoperativ gab die Mehrheit der Befragten die Assoziation Herzschrittmacher an. Postoperativ wählten nur weniger als ein Drittel diese Option, gleich häufig wie die Assoziationen Gehstock oder Brille. SCHLUSSFOLGERUNG Die Erlebnisqualität von THS im eigenen Körper scheint sich mittels individuell verschiedener Assoziationen vergleichen zu lassen, wobei postoperativ der Vergleich mit nicht invasiven Hilfsmitteln überwiegt. Im Aufklärungsgespräch kann die Thematisierung dieser Beschreibungen bei den Patient*innen zu einem realitätsnahen Erwartungshorizont vor THS beitragen.

The professors from universities and universities of applied sciences and their educational partners who support this initiative are all joined by a research agenda and a sense of responsibility, according to which it is essential for applied research to further explore the effects of technological assistance systems and digital solutions in and for realistic settings with theoretically and methodologically sound and scientific support, based on the highest possible level of evidence, and to make a contribution to evidence-based translation and transferability to society.