Factors Influencing Smartwatch Use and Comfort with Health Data Sharing: A Sequential Mixed-Methods Study Protocol
Authors: Goodings Anthony James , Tarn Derjung Mimi , Fadahunsi Philip , Henn Patrick , Shiely Frances , O’Donoghue John 
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Smartwatches have become ubiquitous for tracking health metrics. These data sets hold substantial potential for enhancing healthcare and public health initiatives; it may be used to track chronic health conditions, detect previously undiagnosed health conditions, and better understand public health trends. By first understanding the factors influencing one’s continuous use of the device, it will be advantageous to assess factors that may influence a person’s willingness to share their individual data sets. This study seeks to comprehensively understand the factors influencing the continued use of these devices and people’s willingness to share the health data they generate.

Methods and analysis

A two-section online survey of smartwatch users over the age of 18 will be conducted (n≥200). The first section, based on the Expectation-Confirmation Model (ECM), will assess factors influencing continued use of smartwatches while the second section will assess willingness to share the health data generated from these devices. Survey data will be analysed descriptively and based on structural equation modelling.

Subsequently, six focus groups will be conducted to further understand the issues raised in the survey. Each focus group (n=6) will consist of 3 smartwatch users, a general practitioner, a public health specialist, and an IT specialist. Young smartwatch users (aged 18-44) will be included in three of the focus groups and middle-aged smartwatch users (aged 45-64) will be included the other three groups. This is to enhance comparison of opinions based on age groups. Data from the focus groups will be analyzed using the micro-interlocutor approach and an executive summary.

After the focus group, participants will complete a brief survey to indicate any changes in their opinions resulting from the discussion.

Ethics and dissemination

The results of this study will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal, and all associated data will be deposited in a relevant, publicly accessible data repository to ensure transparency and facilitate future research endeavors.

This study was approved by the Social Research Ethic Committee (SREC), University College Cork – SREC/SOM/21062023/2.

Strengths and limitations of this study

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Understanding factors influencing smartwatch use and willingness to share data may provide insights on how to promote a shift from non-continuous to continuous smartwatches uses and how to overcome barriers to sharing of useful health data from smartwatches.

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Examining the privacy concerns of patients regarding the sharing of health data from a smartwatch may provide additional insight into what measures are needed before integration of smartwatch data into healthcare can be normalised.

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The survey will be based on the Expectation Confirmation Model which has been applied previously in similar studies and the combination of quantitative and qualitative methods will enhance the triangulation of findings.

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The findings from this study will be limited to reflecting the view of individuals in Ireland and may not be directly relatable to countries with different systems of healthcare.

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The discussions regarding privacy will be limited to discussing comfort with the collection of data that can currently be acquired from a smartwatch and will not be able to take into account concerns with more advanced data that these devices may be able to acquire in the future.