Smart Monitoring of Population Health Risk Behaviour

Abstract

Monitoring population-level health-risk behaviour is integral to preventing chronic diseases (i.e., diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, etc.). Physical activity and sleep are the key behaviours which influence human health. Smart technologies can be used to improve real-time monitoring of risky behaviours. The objective of this study is to explore population- and individual-level remote monitoring of sleep, indoor physical activity and sedentary behaviours in Canada using data from the Internet of Things (IoT) (ecobee smart thermostat) and fitness trackers. Method: 386 person-hours of data were collected in a pilot study (n =8) to validate the motion sensor data from ecobee smart thermostats. Then, using “Donate your Data” data from ecobee indicators of population-level health were calculated. Results: A positive Spearman correlation coefficient 0.8 (p>0.0001) was found between standard fitness tracker data and ecobee sensors validating its use for population-level analysis. Our results were similar to the Public Health Agency of Canada’s results derived from self-reported surveillance methods. Discussion: This project demonstrates the use of data from non-health sources, like ubiquitous IoT to curate population- and individual-level health indicators. We will deliver novel indicators and insights into health status through the creation of user-centered designed dashboards for individuals, researchers, and policy-makers.