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PeerJ. Computer Science 2022On January 8, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially announced a new virus in Wuhan, China. The first novel coronavirus (COVID-19) case was...
BACKGROUND
On January 8, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially announced a new virus in Wuhan, China. The first novel coronavirus (COVID-19) case was discovered on December 1, 2019, implying that the disease was spreading quietly and quickly in the community before reaching the rest of the world. To deal with the virus' wide spread, countries have deployed contact tracing mobile applications to control viral transmission. Such applications collect users' information and inform them if they were in contact with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19. However, these applications might have affected human rights by breaching users' privacy.
METHODOLOGY
This systematic literature review followed a comprehensive methodology to highlight current research discussing such privacy issues. First, it used a search strategy to obtain 808 relevant papers published in 2020 from well-established digital libraries. Second, inclusion/exclusion criteria and the snowballing technique were applied to produce more comprehensive results. Finally, by the application of a quality assessment procedure, 40 studies were chosen.
RESULTS
This review highlights privacy issues, discusses centralized and decentralized models and the different technologies affecting users' privacy, and identifies solutions to improve data privacy from three perspectives: public, law, and health considerations.
CONCLUSIONS
Governments need to address the privacy issues related to contact tracing apps. This can be done through enforcing special policies to guarantee users privacy. Additionally, it is important to be transparent and let users know what data is being collected and how it is being used.
PubMed: 35111915
DOI: 10.7717/peerj-cs.826 -
The International Journal of Behavioral... Jul 2018Social media has been widely adopted by young adults, consequently health researchers are looking for ways to leverage this engagement with social media for the delivery...
BACKGROUND
Social media has been widely adopted by young adults, consequently health researchers are looking for ways to leverage this engagement with social media for the delivery of interventions and health promotion campaigns. Weight gain and sub-optimal dietary choices are common in young adults, and social media may be a potential tool to facilitate and support healthier choices.
METHODS
We conducted a mixed-methods systematic review of studies examining social media use for nutrition-related outcomes in young adults. Seven databases [EBscohost, ERIC, ProQuest Central, PubMed, Ovid, Scopus, and Emerald] were systematically searched; 1225 abstracts were screened, and 47 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. Study designs included both quantitative, such as experimental and observational studies, and qualitative, such as focus groups and interviews, approaches. Quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Quantitative and qualitative results were examined separately, and then synthesized.
RESULTS
Twenty-one studies were included although their use of social media was highly variable. The main purpose of social media was to provide information and social support to participants. In the nine randomized controlled trials, social media was used as one aspect of a multi-faceted intervention. Interventions had a positive statistically significant impact on nutritional outcomes in 1/9 trials. Engagement with the social media component of interventions varied, from 3 to 69%. Young adults appear to be open to receiving healthy eating and recipe tips through social media, however, they are reluctant to share personal weight-related information on their online social networks.
CONCLUSIONS
Information-dissemination is now an acceptable use of social media by young adults. Using social media effectively for social support, either via private groups or public pages, requires careful evaluation as its effectiveness is yet to be demonstrated in experimental designs. Concerns about public social media use may be a contributing factor to poor engagement with social media in research intervention studies aimed at influencing weight. Future research should consider how to best engage with young adults using social media, how to more effectively use social media to support young adults and to facilitate social and peer-to-peer support in making healthier choices.
Topics: Adult; Body Weight; Diet; Feeding Behavior; Health Behavior; Health Promotion; Humans; Information Dissemination; Male; Obesity; Privacy; Social Media; Social Support; Young Adult
PubMed: 30041699
DOI: 10.1186/s12966-018-0696-y -
Journal of Medical Internet Research May 2024Mobile health (mHealth) apps have the potential to enhance health care service delivery. However, concerns regarding patients' confidentiality, privacy, and security... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Mobile health (mHealth) apps have the potential to enhance health care service delivery. However, concerns regarding patients' confidentiality, privacy, and security consistently affect the adoption of mHealth apps. Despite this, no review has comprehensively summarized the findings of studies on this subject matter.
OBJECTIVE
This systematic review aims to investigate patients' perspectives and awareness of the confidentiality, privacy, and security of the data collected through mHealth apps.
METHODS
Using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted in 3 electronic databases: PubMed, Ovid, and ScienceDirect. All the retrieved articles were screened according to specific inclusion criteria to select relevant articles published between 2014 and 2022.
RESULTS
A total of 33 articles exploring mHealth patients' perspectives and awareness of data privacy, security, and confidentiality issues and the associated factors were included in this systematic review. Thematic analyses of the retrieved data led to the synthesis of 4 themes: concerns about data privacy, confidentiality, and security; awareness; facilitators and enablers; and associated factors. Patients showed discordant and concordant perspectives regarding data privacy, security, and confidentiality, as well as suggesting approaches to improve the use of mHealth apps (facilitators), such as protection of personal data, ensuring that health status or medical conditions are not mentioned, brief training or education on data security, and assuring data confidentiality and privacy. Similarly, awareness of the subject matter differed across the studies, suggesting the need to improve patients' awareness of data security and privacy. Older patients, those with a history of experiencing data breaches, and those belonging to the higher-income class were more likely to raise concerns about the data security and privacy of mHealth apps. These concerns were not frequent among patients with higher satisfaction levels and those who perceived the data type to be less sensitive.
CONCLUSIONS
Patients expressed diverse views on mHealth apps' privacy, security, and confidentiality, with some of the issues raised affecting technology use. These findings may assist mHealth app developers and other stakeholders in improving patients' awareness and adjusting current privacy and security features in mHealth apps to enhance their adoption and use.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO CRD42023456658; https://tinyurl.com/ytnjtmca.
Topics: Humans; Confidentiality; Telemedicine; Mobile Applications; Computer Security; Privacy
PubMed: 38820572
DOI: 10.2196/50715 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2022Electronic voting systems must find solutions to various issues with authentication, data privacy and integrity, transparency, and verifiability. On the other hand,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Electronic voting systems must find solutions to various issues with authentication, data privacy and integrity, transparency, and verifiability. On the other hand, Blockchain technology offers an innovative solution to many of these problems. The scalability of Blockchain has arisen as a fundamental barrier to realizing the promise of this technology, especially in electronic voting. This study seeks to highlight the solutions regarding scalable Blockchain-based electronic voting systems and the issues linked with them while also attempting to foresee future developments. A systematic literature review (SLR) was used to complete the task, leading to the selection of 76 articles in the English language from 1 January 2017 to 31 March 2022 from the famous databases. This SLR was conducted to identify well-known proposals, their implementations, verification methods, various cryptographic solutions in previous research to evaluate cost and time. It also identifies performance parameters, the primary advantages and obstacles presented by different systems, and the most common approaches for Blockchain scalability. In addition, it outlines several possible research avenues for developing a scalable electronic voting system based on Blockchain technology. This research helps future research before proposing or developing any solutions to keep in mind all the voting requirements, merits, and demerits of the proposed solutions and provides further guidelines for scalable voting solutions.
Topics: Blockchain; Electronics; Politics; Privacy; Technology
PubMed: 36236684
DOI: 10.3390/s22197585 -
Mobile and Wearable Technology for the Monitoring of Diabetes-Related Parameters: Systematic Review.JMIR MHealth and UHealth Jun 2021Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide and causes several million deaths every year. Such a dramatic scenario... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide and causes several million deaths every year. Such a dramatic scenario puts some pressure on administrations, care services, and the scientific community to seek novel solutions that may help control and deal effectively with this condition and its consequences.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to review the literature on the use of modern mobile and wearable technology for monitoring parameters that condition the development or evolution of diabetes mellitus.
METHODS
A systematic review of articles published between January 2010 and July 2020 was performed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Manuscripts were identified through searching the databases Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed as well as through hand searching. Manuscripts were included if they involved the measurement of diabetes-related parameters such as blood glucose level, performed physical activity, or feet condition via wearable or mobile devices. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
RESULTS
The search yielded 1981 articles. A total of 26 publications met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Studies predominantly used wearable devices to monitor diabetes-related parameters. The accelerometer was by far the most used sensor, followed by the glucose monitor and heart rate monitor. Most studies applied some type of processing to the collected data, mainly consisting of statistical analysis or machine learning for activity recognition, finding associations among health outcomes, and diagnosing conditions related to diabetes. Few studies have focused on type 2 diabetes, even when this is the most prevalent type and the only preventable one. None of the studies focused on common diabetes complications. Clinical trials were fairly limited or nonexistent in most of the studies, with a common lack of detail about cohorts and case selection, comparability, and outcomes. Explicit endorsement by ethics committees or review boards was missing in most studies. Privacy or security issues were seldom addressed, and even if they were addressed, they were addressed at a rather insufficient level.
CONCLUSIONS
The use of mobile and wearable devices for the monitoring of diabetes-related parameters shows early promise. Its development can benefit patients with diabetes, health care professionals, and researchers. However, this field is still in its early stages. Future work must pay special attention to privacy and security issues, the use of new emerging sensor technologies, the combination of mobile and clinical data, and the development of validated clinical trials.
Topics: Blood Glucose; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Exercise; Humans; Monitoring, Physiologic; Wearable Electronic Devices
PubMed: 34081010
DOI: 10.2196/25138 -
Pregnancy and childbirth during incarceration: A qualitative systematic review of lived experiences.BJOG : An International Journal of... Aug 2022Incarcerated individuals who experience pregnancy or childbirth in correctional facilities face unique considerations for obstetric care and consequently are at greater... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Incarcerated individuals who experience pregnancy or childbirth in correctional facilities face unique considerations for obstetric care and consequently are at greater risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.
OBJECTIVES
To characterise patient experiences regarding pregnancy and childbirth during incarceration via qualitative synthesis.
SEARCH STRATEGY
Medline-OVID, EMBASE, CINAHL, Sociological Abstracts, Social Work Abstracts, Web of Science, Scopus and PsycInfo were systematically searched from inception to 24 December 2020. Supplementary searches were performed using the Scopus database.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Only original, peer-reviewed literature was examined. Eligible studies were assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research.
RESULTS
After screening 4173 original database citations, 24 studies that met inclusion criteria were included and analysed via thematic analysis. The 24 studies included perspectives from 645 female patients who had experienced incarceration, 69 healthcare providers and 70 prison staff. Key patient-reported concerns for the well-being of pregnant individuals during incarceration included mental health challenges, dehumanisation of prenatal care and delivery, lack of privacy, stigma, psychological trauma, lack of emotional support and shackle usage during pregnancy and/or labour. The studies reported a lack of support for patients to access female correctional officers or guards, privacy during intimate examinations, timely medical care and support for breastfeeding. Above all, the psychological trauma of separation from one's newborn after birth was of utmost devastation.
CONCLUSIONS
Our systematic review highlights the dire need for accountability and interventions to improve pregnancy and childbirth care for incarcerated individuals.
TWEETABLE ABSTRACT
This systematic review describes lived experiences of pregnancy & childbirth during incarceration, including dehumanisation, psychological trauma, and use of shackles.
Topics: Correctional Facilities; Female; Health Personnel; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Parturition; Pregnancy; Prenatal Care; Qualitative Research
PubMed: 35274810
DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.17137 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2023As the Internet of Things (IoT) concept materialized worldwide in complex ecosystems, the related data security and privacy issues became apparent. While the system... (Review)
Review
As the Internet of Things (IoT) concept materialized worldwide in complex ecosystems, the related data security and privacy issues became apparent. While the system elements and their communication paths could be protected individually, generic, ecosystem-wide approaches were sought after as well. On a parallel timeline to IoT, the concept of distributed ledgers and blockchains came into the technological limelight. Blockchains offer many advantageous features in relation to enhanced security, anonymity, increased capacity, and peer-to-peer capabilities. Although blockchain technology can provide IoT with effective and efficient solutions, there are many challenges related to various aspects of integrating these technologies. While security, anonymity/data privacy, and smart contract-related features are apparently advantageous for blockchain technologies (BCT), there are challenges in relation to storage capacity/scalability, resource utilization, transaction rate scalability, predictability, and legal issues. This paper provides a systematic review on state-of-the-art approaches of BCT and IoT integration, specifically in order to solve certain security- and privacy-related issues. The paper first provides a brief overview of BCT and IoT's basic principles, including their architecture, protocols and consensus algorithms, characteristics, and the challenges of integrating them. Afterwards, it describes the survey methodology, including the search strategy, eligibility criteria, selection results, and characteristics of the included articles. Later, we highlight the findings of this study which illustrates different works that addressed the integration of blockchain technology and IoT to tackle various aspects of privacy and security, which are followed by a categorization of applications that have been investigated with different characteristics, such as their primary information, objective, development level, target application, type of blockchain and platform, consensus algorithm, evaluation environment and metrics, future works or open issues (if any), and further notes for consideration. Furthermore, a detailed discussion of all articles is included from an architectural and operational perspective. Finally, we cover major gaps and future considerations that can be taken into account when integrating blockchain technology with IoT.
Topics: Blockchain; Ecosystem; Internet of Things; Privacy; Technology; Computer Security
PubMed: 36679582
DOI: 10.3390/s23020788 -
Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease 2021The advent of mobile applications for health and medicine will revolutionize travel medicine. Despite their many benefits, such as access to real-time data, mobile apps... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The advent of mobile applications for health and medicine will revolutionize travel medicine. Despite their many benefits, such as access to real-time data, mobile apps for travel medicine are accompanied by many ethical issues, including questions about security and privacy.
METHODS
A systematic literature review as conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Database screening yielded 1795 results and seven papers satisfied the criteria for inclusion. Through a mix of inductive and deductive data extraction, this systematic review examined both the benefits and challenges, as well as ethical considerations, of mobile apps for travel medicine.
RESULTS
Ethical considerations were discussed with varying depth across the included articles, with privacy and data protection mentioned most frequently, highlighting concerns over sensitive information and a lack of guidelines in the digital sphere. Additionally, technical concerns about data quality and bias were predominant issues for researchers and developers alike. Some ethical issues were not discussed at all, including equity, and user involvement.
CONCLUSION
This paper highlights the scarcity of discussion around ethical issues. Both researchers and developers need to better integrate ethical reflection at each step of the development and use of health apps. More effective oversight mechanisms and clearer ethical guidance are needed to guide the stakeholders in this endeavour.
Topics: Humans; Mobile Applications; Privacy; Travel Medicine
PubMed: 34256131
DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2021.102143 -
The Journal of Adolescent Health :... Nov 2022Technology-based services, including telehealth, text messaging, and the internet are increasingly popular methods for adolescents and young adults (AYA) to access... (Review)
Review
Technology-based services, including telehealth, text messaging, and the internet are increasingly popular methods for adolescents and young adults (AYA) to access sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and healthcare. This systematic review examined AYA perceptions of privacy and confidentiality of technology-based SRH services. The PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO were systematically searched in May 2021 to capture relevant qualitative or quantitative articles from the past 10 years. Included studies had AYA (i.e., mean age, 13-26-years with <10% of the sample outside this range), technology-based services for SRH, and outcomes of perceived privacy or confidentiality. Twenty-eight articles were included (N = 8638 AYA). Most studies utilized the internet and mobile apps to address human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV), sexually transmitted infections, and general SRH topics. Most AYA reported that these services were private and confidential, with minimal differences across SRH topic addressed. More interactive services had greater concerns (e.g., family or friends seeing notifications). Most AYA considered technology-based SRH to be confidential and private. As technology will likely remain an integrated part of healthcare delivery, improving the privacy and confidentiality of these services can facilitate AYA's independent and autonomous engagement in SRH care, and potentially improve their SRH outcomes.
Topics: Young Adult; Adolescent; Humans; Adult; Reproductive Health Services; Sexual Behavior; Reproductive Health; Sexual Health; Technology; Adolescent Health Services
PubMed: 35717326
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.05.012 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2022Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) is an identity model centered on the user. The user maintains and controls their data in this model. When a service provider requests data... (Review)
Review
Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) is an identity model centered on the user. The user maintains and controls their data in this model. When a service provider requests data from the user, the user sends it directly to the service provider, bypassing third-party intermediaries. Thus, SSI reduces identity providers' involvement in the identification, authentication, and authorization, thereby increasing user privacy. Additionally, users can share portions of their personal information with service providers, significantly improving user privacy. This identity model has drawn the attention of researchers and organizations worldwide, resulting in an increase in both scientific and non-scientific literature on the subject. This study conducts a comprehensive and rigorous systematic review of the literature and a systematic mapping of theoretical and practical advances in SSI. We identified and analyzed evidence from reviewed materials to address four research questions, resulting in a novel SSI taxonomy used to categorize and review publications. Additionally, open challenges are discussed along with recommendations for future work.
Topics: Classification; Humans; Privacy
PubMed: 35957198
DOI: 10.3390/s22155641