Stakeholder engagement and societal impact of AI-enabled CRC screening tools within the ONCOSCREEN project

Abstract

The adoption of AI-enabled healthcare technologies depends not only on technical performance, but also on stakeholder engagement, user acceptance, communication strategies, and measurable societal impact. The Horizon Europe ONCOSCREEN project addresses these challenges through an integrated ecosystem for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and prevention, combining AI-assisted risk stratification, mobile health applications, wearable technologies, clinical decision-support systems, and evidence-based analytics for policy makers. Within this framework, particular emphasis is placed on the engagement of diverse stakeholder groups, including citizens, patients, clinicians, healthcare authorities, researchers, and policy makers. The project incorporates targeted dissemination campaigns, citizen-awareness activities, training sessions, workshops, and participatory co-design approaches in order to increase trust, accessibility, and acceptance of digital health solutions. The project also supports the deployment and operational integration of digital tools within clinical environments, including wearable-supported behavioural analytics, mobile application services for self-assessment and monitoring, and support activities related to multicentric clinical trials. These activities contribute to the broader objective of enabling personalized prevention pathways and improving citizen participation in CRC screening programmes. The paper analyses how stakeholder-oriented communication and engagement strategies can facilitate the adoption of trustworthy AI systems in healthcare and strengthen the societal impact of smart medical technologies. Particular attention is given to the role of collaborative ecosystems, real-world user feedback, and awareness campaigns in supporting resilient, citizen-centric healthcare services within future smart cities. The presented approach demonstrates that sustainable innovation in digital healthcare requires the integration of technological excellence with continuous stakeholder involvement, transparent communication, and evidence-based public health strategies.