TY  - JOUR
AU  - Kang, Harjeevan Singh
AU  - Exworthy, Mark
PY  - 2022
DA  - 2022/7/13
TI  - Wearing the Future—Wearables to Empower Users to Take Greater Responsibility for Their Health and Care: Scoping Review
JO  - JMIR Mhealth Uhealth
SP  - e35684
VL  - 10
IS  - 7
KW  - wearable
KW  - device
KW  - tracker
KW  - activity tracker
KW  - fitness tracker
KW  - technology
KW  - MedTech
KW  - HealthTech
KW  - sensor
KW  - monitor
KW  - gadget
KW  - smartwatch
KW  - empowerment
KW  - self-care
KW  - management
KW  - behavior
KW  - responsibility
KW  - attitude
KW  - personalization
KW  - mobile phone
KW  - self-management
KW  - smartphone
KW  - wearable electronic devices
KW  - health promotion
KW  - health behavior
KW  - mHealth
KW  - digital health
KW  - health care wearables
KW  - scoping review
AB  - Background: Wearables refer to devices that are worn by individuals. In the health care field, wearables may assist with individual monitoring and diagnosis. In fact, the potential for wearable technology to assist with health care has received recognition from health systems around the world, including a place in the strategic Long Term Plan shared by the National Health Service in England. However, wearables are not limited to specialist medical devices used by patients. Leading technology companies, including Apple, have been exploring the capabilities of wearable health technology for health-conscious consumers. Despite advancements in wearable health technology, research is yet to be conducted on wearables and empowerment. Objective: This study aimed to identify, summarize, and synthesize knowledge on how wearable health technology can empower individuals to take greater responsibility for their health and care. Methods: This study was a scoping review with thematic analysis and narrative synthesis. Relevant guidance, such as the Arksey and O’Malley framework, was followed. In addition to searching gray literature, we searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, HMIC, and Cochrane Library. Studies were included based on the following selection criteria: publication in English, publication in Europe or the United States, focus on wearables, relevance to the research, and the availability of the full text. Results: After identifying 1585 unique records and excluding papers based on the selection criteria, 20 studies were included in the review. On analysis of these 20 studies, 3 main themes emerged: the potential barriers to using wearables, the role of providers and the benefits to providers from promoting the use of wearables, and how wearables can drive behavior change. Conclusions: Considerable literature findings suggest that wearables can empower individuals by assisting with diagnosis, behavior change, and self-monitoring. However, greater adoption of wearables and engagement with wearable devices depend on various factors, including promotion and support from providers to encourage uptake; increased short-term investment to upskill staff, especially in the area of data analysis; and overcoming the barriers to use, particularly by improving device accuracy. Acting on these suggestions will require investment and constructive input from key stakeholders, namely users, health care professionals, and designers of the technology. As advancements in technology to make wearables viable health care devices have only come about recently, further studies will be important for measuring the effectiveness of wearables in empowering individuals. The investigation of user outcomes through large-scale studies would also be beneficial. Nevertheless, a significant challenge will be in the publication of research to keep pace with rapid developments related to wearable health technology. 
SN  - 2291-5222
UR  - https://mhealth.jmir.org/2022/7/e35684
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/35684
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35830222
DO  - 10.2196/35684
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/35684
ER  -