Research on Wearable Effectiveness
Wearables range from consumer fitness devices to sophisticated medical and research-grade sensors. Some, like the iTBra or microchip implants used to replace keys and passwords, are designed to detect early signs of cancer while others monitor air quality or atrial fibrillation.
A multi-stakeholder workgroup convened by two NIH Big Data to Knowledge Centers of Excellence recently discussed two successful digital health interventions that use wearables to identify key features responsible for their success.
How Effective is Wearable Technology?
Wearable technology is a powerful category of Internet of Things devices with practical daily life uses, like monitoring your heartbeat or tracking your workout. Some wearables can be worn as accessories, embedded in clothing, implanted in the body, or even tattooed on the skin.
Wearables that track physical activity provide valuable health information, such as a patient’s metabolic rate and fitness level. They can help improve a patient’s lifestyle, which in turn can promote positive health outcomes and reduce the need for clinic visits.
A number of studies have shown that patients who use wearable devices tend to make better lifestyle choices, such as exercising regularly and avoiding unhealthy foods. Other factors that may contribute to the success of a wearable device are its cost, ease of use, and convenience.
A few health systems have developed effective digital health programs that incorporate wearables. For example, Kaiser and Ochsner’s programs pair a portable at-home digital device, such as a glucometer or blood pressure monitor, with customized software to wirelessly transmit data directly into a patient’s electronic health record (EHR). They also include staff support between clinic visits through health coaching, automated appointment reminders, disease-focused digital education, and remote medication dosing. These digital health programs are a good model for incorporating wearables into a holistic integrated care delivery system that supports better clinical utilization of health data.
There are already some medical devices being developed that can help patients with specific chronic diseases. For example, there are currently watch-like devices that allow people with Parkinson’s disease to monitor their condition between doctor’s visits. However, a lot of research is needed before these types of devices are widely available.
One of the biggest issues with wearables is that they can often be inaccurate. For instance, some fitness trackers can give false readings, leading people to think they are exercising harder than they actually are. This can be dangerous, especially for people with health conditions like heart disease.
Another problem with wearables is that they tend to have a short battery life. It is important to remember to charge them regularly, which can be a hassle for some people. In addition, some people find that wearing a device is uncomfortable or distracting.
Despite the limitations, there are some promising signs that wearable technology can improve healthcare. In particular, a recent study found that 80% of wearable users at risk for cardiovascular disease would be willing to share their data with their healthcare providers. This could be an important step towards improving healthcare and decreasing disparities. The workgroup also highlighted two different digital health programs in different health systems that have successfully integrated wearables and achieved positive clinical outcomes.
What is the Future of Wearable Technology?
In the future, wearables are likely to become more integrated into clothing and accessories. For example, a company called Epeas is working on making sensors that are second-skin, meaning they look and feel like your own skin and could be used for authentication such as unlocking your door or entering your office building. Disney already uses a similar device with its MagicBands that allow customers to gain entry to rides and hotels as well as purchase things in the park.
Other trends include smart clothing that combines sensors with textiles to create garments that monitor vital signs and other health data, as well as wearable jewelry such as rings that track your heart rate and activity level. Lastly, virtual and augmented reality are becoming increasingly popular for healthcare applications. These technologies can be used for training doctors and nurses and for pain management.
The use of wearable technology can help reduce the need for patients to visit medical facilities. This can lower costs for both patients and healthcare providers. It also allows nurses to focus on patients and their needs more, leading to a better experience for both parties. The use of wearables can also improve patient compliance. A recent study found that 80% of wearable users who are at risk for cardiovascular disease would share their tracking information with their healthcare provider, regardless of age, education, income and race/ethnicity.
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