Quantified Self - between lifestyle and medicine
The trend of fitness wristbands and health apps for self-measurement and self-optimisation is called "Quantified Self". This phenomenon was analysed for Switzerland taking into account social, medical, economic, technical, legal and ethical perspectives, opportunities and risks were identified and recommendations for decision-makers were derived.
Fitness wristbands and health apps are becoming increasingly widespread among the population. The associated trend towards self-measurement and self-optimisation is called Quantified Self. There are advantages to the Quantified Self trend, such as self-determined and self-responsible management of health and one's own resources. New opportunities arise for health and disease management, the provision of services and the health system as a whole. At the same time, however, there are grey areas, limits and hurdles that make their use in a medical context difficult or questionable. Data quality and data protection of the collected health data are often poor. The scientific basis of the measurement, the processing and interpretation as well as further use of the data are often non-transparent and not validated. In addition, there is a lack of binding national and international standards and laws to assess the quality and trustworthiness of Quantified Self devices and services.
The aim of the study Quantified Self - Interface between Lifestyle and Medicine was to analyse the status and future development of the phenomenon for Switzerland. The following perspectives were considered in the study: societal, medical, economic, technical, legal and ethical. Finally, the project identified opportunities and risks and derived recommendations for decision-makers. The IZT was responsible for the elaboration of the economic developments as well as for the derivation of such options for action that are relevant for technology assessment.
Info
Project management
Employees
- Britta Oertel
- Mattis Jacobs
Fields of research
Title
Quantified Self - between lifestyle and medicine
Duration
2016 to 2017
Grant/contracting authority
Project partner
Info
Title
Quantified Self - between lifestyle and medicine
Duration
2016 to 2017
Grant/contracting authority
Project partner