Risk-Reward of Wearable Healthcare Disclosure for Receiving Pain Treatment

Join the Maudsley BRC for a lunchtime seminar with

Cory Robinson

Senior Lecturer/Assistant Professor in Communication Design, Linköping University

Wednesday 19th October, 11.30-12.30pm

Robin Murray Lecture Theatre

Ground Floor, IoPPN Main Building

16 de Crespigny Park, Camberwell, London SE5 8AF

King's College London - Denmark Hill Campus

Wearable technologies have created fascinating opportunities for patients to treat chronic pain in a discreet, mobile fashion. However, many of these health wearables, either by themselves or paired with accompanying smartphone applications, require patients to disclose sensitive information, including health information (heart rate, glucose levels) and personal information (GPS location, email, name, social media accounts, etc).

The delicate balance of protecting patients’ sensitive health data while still receiving effective healthcare can be defined as a risk/reward scenario. Previously, this risk/reward relationship of disclosure has been studied in interpersonal communication, digital communications, and health environments. Individuals using wearables for treatment of chronic pain may also sacrifice social health elements, including their privacy, in exchange for better physical and mental health. Utilizing communication privacy management, a popular disclosure theory, the presentation will explore the policy and ethical ramifications of patients disclosing sensitive health information in exchange for better health treatment and relief of chronic pain.

The seminar will identify scenarios where a user must disclose information, and what factors motivate or dissuade disclosure, and ultimately using a wearable. Practical implications of this seminar include an improved understanding of how and why consumers may disclose personal data to health wearables, and potential impacts for public policy and ethics regarding how wearables and their manufacturers entice disclosure of private health information.

A light sandwich lunch will be provided.