Health information tailoring and data privacy in a smart watch as a preventive health tool: Qualitative study of users’ perceptions and attitudes

Abstract

Wearable technologies, especially smart watches are recently becoming popular and their health-related functions are well recognized. They can be effective to deliver health information to users, because they are able to track their activities. Whereas there is a privacy concern that users’ personal health data could be misused according to be monitored their physical conditions via the smart watch. In this light of importance, this qualitative study explores the perceptions of smart watches as preventive health tools with 2 subjects: information tailoring and data privacy. This study used multiple methods: online survey, focus group interview and in-depth interview. A total of 12 users including power users and non-power users from Korea participated in a survey, 3 focus group sessions and post interviews. Three main themes emerged: (1) useful high-tech toy, (2) needs of hybrid tailoring service and (3) unnecessary anxiety vs. vague fear. Finally implications and limitations are discussed.