In Tap into Research, we often break down articles using data from smartwatches for health research. As well as in research, data from these devices can also play a role in individual care when shared with health providers, because this data reflects people’s day-to-day lives. However, this depends on two things: people wearing their devices and people being willing to share their data. There are many reasons why people might not want to do this. Understanding those reasons could help develop approaches that work better for participants and improve the quality of the data.
In this edition of Tap into Research, we are looking at a study that ran an online survey with 273 people aged 18 to 65, who either currently use or have previously used a smartwatch. They were asked about their experiences of using smartwatches and their views on sharing data.
The first questions explored reasons why people used their smartwatches regularly. These were:
- Habit: People who built the device into their daily routine were more likely to keep wearing it.
- User Satisfaction: A positive experience with the design, performance, and features made a difference.
- Enjoyment: Using the device needed to feel enjoyable and rewarding.
- Usefulness: While important, this ranked lower down the list.
The survey also asked about attitudes to data sharing. People said they were more comfortable sharing their health data through offline methods, like Bluetooth and NFC, rather than over the internet. They also preferred data to be fully anonymised, rather than only partially anonymised.
When it came to sharing data with their doctors, 66% of people felt confident that it could improve their care. But not everyone agreed. About 14% said they wouldn’t feel confident, and 20% were undecided.
Finally, people felt more comfortable sharing their data with doctors and health organisations than with private companies.
Because this study was voluntary and people signed up online, it may have attracted more tech-savvy or health-conscious individuals who use smartwatches. However, it still gave some useful insights into what makes people want to wear their devices, and the barriers to feeling comfortable with sharing data.
When encouraging people to wear their devices, features that support habit-building and make the experience more enjoyable seem important. When it comes to data sharing, people have concerns about data privacy. Offering secure offline options to share data could make people more comfortable, and fully anonymising data where possible is preferred. But since full anonymisation is difficult to achieve, transparency and good communication with participants are key to building trust.
Read the paper: Determinants of continuous smartwatch use and data-sharing preferences with physicians, public health authorities, and private companies: cross-sectional survey of smartwatch users
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