The Rise of Consumer Health Wearables: Promises and Barriers

Abstract

Will consumer wearable technology ever be adopted or accepted by the medical community?Patients and practitioners regularly use digital technology (e.g., thermometers and glucose monitors) to identify and discuss symptoms.In addition, a third of general practitioners in the United Kingdom report that patients arrive with suggestions for treatment based on online search results [1].However, consumer health wearables are predicted to become the next "Dr Google."One in six (15%) consumers in the United States currently uses wearable technology, including smartwatches or fitness bands.While 19 million fitness devices are likely to be sold this year, that number is predicted to grow to 110 million in 2018 [2].As the line between consumer health wearables and medical devices begins to blur, it is now possible for a single wearable device to monitor a range of medical risk factors (Fig 1).Potentially, these devices could give patients direct access to personal analytics that can contribute to their health, facilitate preventive care, and aid in the management of ongoing illness.However, how this new wearable technology might best serve medicine remains unclear. Do Wearables Affect Behaviour? Healthy IndividualsAt present, wearables are more likely to be purchased by individuals who already lead a healthy lifestyle and want to quantify their progress [2].The majority of wearable manufacturers (e.g., Fitbit, Jawbone, and Nike) stress the potential of their devices to become an "all-inone" platform for improving physical performance and positive habit formation.Wearable Summary Points• Consumer wearables can provide patients with personalized health data, which could assist with self-diagnosis and behaviour change interventions.• There are a number of concerns about the safety, reliability, and security of using consumer wearables in health care.• Practitioners and researchers should consider how these technological advances may impact health care in the 21st century.