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Wearable activity trackers for nurses' health: A qualitative acceptability study
Catherine Mahoney1, Louise Hoyle2, Casper Van Splunter3
1School of Health and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK.
Nursing Open
|June 17, 2023
Summary
Pre-registered nurses found wearable chest straps acceptable for monitoring their health. However, they emphasized ethical use, cautioning against data misuse for performance management or stigmatization.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Health Technology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Wearable technology offers potential for health behavior change.
- Assessing the acceptability of such technology among healthcare professionals is crucial for effective implementation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the practical, social, and ethical acceptability of using a POLAR® H7 chest-strap device.
- To understand pre-registered nurses' perspectives on wearable technology for health behavior influence.
Main Methods:
- A qualitative acceptability study was conducted using COREQ guidelines.
- Pre-registered nurses participated in simulated nursing tasks wearing the device.
- Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were analyzed thematically.
Main Results:
- Nurses found real-time health monitoring via chest straps acceptable.
- Participants stressed the importance of inclusive and supportive technology use.
- Concerns were raised regarding potential misuse of data for performance management or stigmatization.
Conclusions:
- Wearable chest-strap devices are perceived as acceptable by pre-registered nurses for personal health monitoring.
- Ethical considerations, including data privacy and avoiding misuse, are paramount for successful adoption.
- Future implementations should prioritize supportive and inclusive applications of health technology in nursing.
