The Quantified SelfThe potential of self-monitoring for Health

Promotion

Health PromotionHealth promotion is the process of enabling

people to increase control over, and to improve, their health.

It moves beyond a focus on individual behaviour towards a wide range of social and environmental interventions

The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (WHO)

Quantified Self for Health PromotionDeveloping Personal Skills

Self-awareness & self-optimisation understanding data

Strengthening Community Action Asthmapolis Google flu trends

Building Healthy Public Policies Big data to guide policy makers

Creating Supportive Environments Providing resources for tracking

Re-orientating Healthcare Services Prevention practises over curative measures Promotion of QS by Health care professionals

Research AimTo explore the experiences and impact self-

monitoring and data collection has had on the lives of self-trackers, and the potential for their data to be used to better understand behaviour change mechanisms for human health and wellbeing.

ObjectivesExplore the driving factors and reasons behind

individuals’ self-tracking and self-monitoring habits. Gain insight into what participants have discovered

through their self-tracking and self-monitoring habits. Discover the perceived benefits and barriers to self-

tracking. Gain insight into the experiences self-trackers have had

with their chosen habit. Explore participants’ views on the potential for

integration of self-tracking and self-monitoring behaviour into mainstream daily life

MethodologyMixed methods approach

Online questionnaire semi-structured interviews

Data Collection & AnalysisSurvey MonkeySkype SPSS Inductive thematic analysis

ResultsDemographics

25 respondents, 11male 8 female 6 undisclosedAge range: 18-84 (M=25-34)High socio-economic status

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

Perc

enta

ge o

f Use

rs

Catagories of Tools

Tools Used

Benefits

Evidence based

approach to health

Improve/ optimise health

Greater understanding of oneself

Mindfulness

Self-awareness/

self-knowledge

Preventative

Barriers

Consistency/

forgetfulness

Time-costs

Frequency and effort

Poor inter-operability

Skills required

Lack of privacy

Cheating

0% 50% 100%

Yes

No

Confidentiality Concerns

0% 20% 40% 60%

Yes

No

Familiarity with privacy Terms and Conditions of Devices

0% 20% 40% 60%

YesNo

I don't know

Devices used Sharing with a Third Party

0% 50% 100%

Yes

No

Willing to Share Data Anonymously

Overall positive experience of self tracking Satisfied with the available tools, process and

usability of the devices Self-awareness and self-knowledge to

optimise healthDesire to anonymously share data

Interview ResultsDemographics

11 Interviews, 8 males, 3 femalesExperience 6 months- 40 yearsHigh Socio-economic Status

22 variables of tracking20 tools mentionedTime-costs:2.5mins-1hours

Motivations & data UsageMotivations

Cue to action Curiosity Sports school or work requirements

Usage surgery, treatment and illness management self-diagnosis Accountability self-knowledge objective decision making prevention

Process & ImpactProcess

quick and easy Consistency Cheating passive tracking Stressful obsessive

Impact rational decision making Confidence Support self-efficacy

Benefits and BarriersBarriers

Inter-operability Correlations passive tracking interpretation of data & context self-doubt

Benefits Motivating objective viewpoint improve performance Lifestyle overall health

London Survey ComparisonsRespondents:

London: 105 Dublin: 25

Measuring weight: London: 47% Dublin: 70%

Pen and paper still being used to track London: 28% Dublin: 32%

Willingness to share data London:84% Dublin: 90%

Summary of ResultsMotivations

Self-knowledge self-optimization curiosity

Engagement Fitness Weight Nutrition sleep

Perception of time consumption

Data Usage informed choices Motivate Empowerment self-awareness self-efficacy

Barriers interpretation of data Correlations & Context Consistency psychological stresses

Self-awareness“It is like when you are driving a car and you

see the fuel gauge. If you couldn’t see the fuel gauge you would just drive on but because you see it, you say ‘oh I am running low on fuel’ so I suppose if you see your weight going up or down, you can take action”

Psychological Stress“I staggered home with my flashlight

knowing that I’d advance to sixty-five thousand, and that there will be no end to it until my feet snap off at the ankles. Then it’ll just be my jagged bones stabbing into the soft ground. Why is it some people can manage a thing like a Fitbit, while others go off the rails and allow it to rule, and perhaps even ruin, their lives?” (Sedaris, 2014)

Future Integration in IrelandReputation: “nerdy”, time consumingEarly adopters & innovatorsRole of Health Care ProfessionalsAdaption of devices to better suit the needs

of individuals

Recommendations for TechnologySecuring continued engagement from its

usersAvoiding early drop-offs in usageIncreasing devices passive tracking abilitiesProviding more cross-connection and

correlations of variables between devicesMust convey the meaning behind the data Make more suggestions to the user as to how

to improve their results

Recommendations for ResearchStudy the defining characteristics of self-trackers, for example,

personality types and traits

Study the current and potential uses of self-tracking within alternative social classes, for which the experiences, perceived benefits and barriers may vary widely

Research on the actual impact self-tracking has on its users published work focused on initial integration and adoption, neglected to look at the effects of long term adoption and sustainable behaviour change

Evidence base required to promote more active integration of self-monitoring in to health promotion and primary care practices