User Expectations and Willingness to Share Self-Collected Health Data

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Public Health Informatics
• Health Data Management

Background:

• Mobile health technologies have transformed personal health data collection and management.
• The large datasets generated offer significant potential for public health applications.
• Motivating individuals to share their health data for collective benefit remains a key challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors influencing individuals' willingness to share their self-recorded health data.
• To understand the motivations behind health data sharing for public health initiatives.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted with 447 participants.
• Participants answered four questions focusing on health data sharing and motivation.
• Analysis focused on identifying key drivers and barriers to data sharing.

Main Results:

• Participants with chronic diseases expressed concerns regarding data sharing.
• Willingness to share health data among these participants was linked to the provision of personalized feedback.
• Crucial features for health applications identified include functionality, ease of use, and privacy.

Conclusions:

• Personalized feedback can be a significant motivator for health data sharing, particularly for individuals with chronic conditions.
• Addressing privacy concerns and ensuring app usability are essential for encouraging broader participation in health data sharing.
• Leveraging mobile health data requires a user-centric approach that balances individual concerns with public health benefits.