Examining the ethical dimensions of wearable and sensing technologies in mHealth research

Researchers are increasingly using mobile technologies to monitor and influence health behaviors. Devices used in mHealth research (e.g., mobile phones, wearable cameras, geographic tracking devices) may be worn, carried by or implanted in research subjects to monitor/record behavior, activity level, location, and physiological functions.  Devices may also be programed to interact with the research subject to promote, for example, increased exercise or adherence to a medication schedule. Despite the potential for improved individual wellness and decreased health care costs, the ethical and regulatory dimensions must be carefully considered before the application of mHealth research becomes widespread. Researchers and ethics review board members are independently questioning the mHealth ethics. For example: What concerns relate to personal information collected? How are participant risks qualified? When should non-participants who are imaged be consulted? What are appropriate standards for sharing images and GPS data within the research team and among external collaborators? To gain insight on perceptions of risk, benefits and informed consent, we gathered Institutional Review Board (IRB) correspondence (e.g., determination letters, email correspondence) and consent forms from researchers who use mobile tracking or imaging devices in health research. The documents were de-identified and analyzed using inductive content analytic methods to identify salient themes and patterns. Additional data were collected from a convenience sample of ethics review board members to qualify risk and benefits of these mHeath devices. Results of this analysis describe the ethical challenges when using tracking and imaging technologies in health research and offer recommendations to enhance responsible research practices.