Human-Centered Approaches to Medical Wearable Devices for Population Health

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10125/112479

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    Gown, Glove, Gadget: A Qualitative Study Exploring Surgeons’ Use of Wearable Devices in the Operating Room
    (2026-01-06) Helscel, Kristy; Spears, Nathaniel; Oberyszyn, Alex; Marquardt, Matthew; Leahy, Nicholas; Emerson, Angela; Quatman-Yates, Catherine; Crick, James
    This qualitative study explores surgeon experiences using wearable biometric devices in the operating room to support surgeon wellbeing and optimize personal performance. Through semi-structured interviews with attending surgeons and trainees across surgical subspecialties, we identified four themes: (1) increased self-awareness for behavior modification, (2) integration into surgical workflows, (3) challenges with wearable biometric device usability, and (4) future opportunities and broader implications. Participants valued devices that offered intuitive and actionable insights with minimal workflow disruption. However, data complexity and fragmented app ecosystems limited participant engagement. A Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) framework was used to translate qualitative insights into device implementation considerations. Ethical concerns, especially regarding employee privacy and data governance, were noted as potential barriers. These findings highlight both the promise and pitfalls of integrating these devices into surgical practice and suggest the need for thoughtful design, institutional support, and ethical safeguards to maximize device utility and efficacy.
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    Personal Health Information (PHI) Disclosure in the Use of Wearable Fitness Devices: Identifying the Determinants and the Moderating Role of a Pandemic
    (2026-01-06) Amin, M A Shariful; Senn, William
    Wearable fitness devices (WFDs), a subset of wearable Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, are increasingly used for health monitoring and disease prevention. This study identifies factors influencing users’ willingness to disclose personal health information (PHI) in exchange for benefits offered by WFDs. Using an integrated theoretical framework that combines Health Belief Model (HBM) and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the research identifies how perceived benefits, perceived barriers, attitudes, and subjective norms shape PHI disclosure and WFD adoption. Findings reveal that users are more likely to disclose sensitive personal health information (PHI) when they perceive significant health benefits and minimal barriers to using WFDs. However, ongoing concerns about data privacy, security, and the ethical use of PHI continue to pose barriers to wider acceptance. By clarifying the psychological and behavioral drivers of PHI disclosure, the study offers insights for healthcare providers, policymakers, and technology developers to promote responsible WFD adoption and enhance public health outcomes.
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    When Surgeons Skip Water: Exploring the Feasibility of Real-Time Sweat Sensor Data and Its Potential Value in the Operating Room
    (2026-01-06) Spears, Nathaniel; Helscel, Kristy; Marquardt, Matthew; Leahy, Nicholas; Emerson, Angela; Hagen, Joshua; Quatman-Yates, Catherine; Quatman, Carmen
    Surgeons maintain intense focus and accuracy while completing complex tasks under significant stress, opening the door for research and interventions to optimize surgical performance. Dehydration is a potential target as it is common among surgeons and linked to worsened mood, focus, and psychomotor skills. Objectively monitoring sweat rate and relative dehydration has potential to elucidate relationships between hydration and cognitive performance in the peri-operative environment. This mixed-methods approach sought to assess the feasibility and value of continuously monitoring surgeon hydration with biosensors. We found that current hydration tracking technology is unable to reliably determine skin-based fluid loss in the operating room. Additionally, survey data from 24 surgeons revealed an average daily non-caffeinated fluid intake of 47 ounces per day, which is below recommended amounts. Semi-structured interviews (n=14) revealed desire for improved real-time hydration data due to the frequency of reported “purposeful dehydration”, negative dehydration symptoms, and self-imposed break avoidance.
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