Willingness to Share Smartwatch-Generated Health Data Among a Sample of Adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background/Objectives: Wearable devices, such as smartwatches, represent an emerging digital health tool that can enhance patient engagement, support patient-provider communication, and enable more personalized, patient-centered care. Understanding public willingness to share health-generated data with healthcare providers is essential for informing digital health implementation strategies that prioritize patient trust and active participation in the care process. This study aimed to address this gap by assessing the willingness of a sample of smartwatch users in Riyadh to share their health-generated data and identifying factors associated with this willingness. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using venue-based convenience sampling at a large public venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using an electronic self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics, while bivariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression were used to examine factors associated with willingness to share health-generated data. Results: Among the 391 participants, 168 reported owning a smartwatch and comprised the population for the primary analysis of willingness to share health-generated data. Among smartwatch owners (n = 168), 104 (62%; 95% CI: 54-69%) expressed willingness to share their health-generated data. Among those willing to share, healthcare providers were the most preferred recipients (95%, 99/104), followed by family members and friends (63%, 66/104). Most demographic, socioeconomic, health-related, and behavioral characteristics were not significantly associated with willingness to share; however, in bivariate analysis, previous use of online support groups was significantly associated with greater willingness to share health-generated data (OR 5.00; 95% CI: 1.66-15.10; p = 0.002). None of the predictors included in the multivariable model was independently associated with willingness to share. Conclusions: Most smartwatch users were willing to share their health-generated data with healthcare providers, reflecting positive public attitudes toward integrating this data into healthcare systems. These findings support Saudi Arabia's digital health transformation initiatives, while highlighting the need to address privacy, trust, and data governance to enable successful implementation.