Venancio Santos, Elaine Conceicao
(2023)
Exploring the potential facilitators and barriers of using personal data collected by sensor-based technologies to promote health and well-being.
PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.
Abstract
The growth of the ageing population worldwide raises concerns about human health and well-being. In this context, sensor-based technologies have the potential to support health monitoring activities. This thesis, developed in two studies, presents a detailed understanding of the facilitators of and barriers to acceptability and potential further adoption of sensor-based technologies by older adults. The first study, with twenty-six participants (middle-aged and elderly) from Brazil and England, investigates the acceptability of three sensor-based devices in different contexts. A survey and semi-structured interview were conducted using the vignette technique to explore different devices in three specific scenarios, to monitor mental and physical health and well-being. Using thematic analysis, twenty-eight sub-themes of barriers, facilitators or moderators emerged from the first study. These factors were categorised as data-related factors, user-related factors and technology-related factors. The second study explored the factors influencing participants’ willingness to share personal data collected through sensor-based devices. In this second study, thirty-five participants of sixty-five years and upwards were divided into six focus groups. A mobile App of a sensor-based wearable device, in the format of wireframes, was used to explore aspects specifically related to data sharing and use. As a result of the thematic analysis of focus group data, facilitators and barriers were categorised as data-related factors, user-related factors, technology-related factors and the new theme: third-party-related factors. A total of thirty-five sub-themes of barriers, facilitators or moderators emerged. From these findings, a list of seven main facilitators and three barriers were identified that affect the acceptability of sensor-based technologies, and a further six main facilitators and eight barriers that affect willingness to share personal data. A set of thirteen guidelines based on the findings is presented that address the requirements of older adults to inform designers seeking to design better sensor-based health-related technologies. Overall, the conclusions of this research indicate that older adults see the potential in using wearable devices in their daily life. Many factors investigated in this research can contribute to an understanding of future technology adoption, considering that by exploring acceptability, useful insights for potential adoption can be gained; the adoption of some technologies can critically maximise independence for older adults and consequently improve quality of life. The material collected during these studies can be drawn upon to support the enhanced design of sensor-based technologies that addresses people’s needs and overcomes concerns regarding data privacy and security. A key academic field that this thesis contributed to is the Human-Centered Design (HCD) field by exploring the factors influencing the acceptability and potential adoption of sensor-based technologies among older adults by providing a valuable understanding of older adults’ views on technology. The study helped identify areas for improvement in the design and usability of sensor-based systems to accommodate older adults’ needs better. While this research represents a step towards understanding the relationship between ageing populations and technology adoption, it offers a foundation for further investigation and refinement of sensor-based solutions in the context of HCD. This thesis also contributes to Health and Personal Informatics by promoting the development of more effective and user-friendly health technologies that address users’ unique needs and preferences while focusing on individuals’ tracking and ethical and privacy concerns.
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