Unveiling Public Perspective on Digital Health Tech & Data Use
- Effective use of health technologies and data hold potential for improving health care quality and efficiency. Public support for these technologies varies, with women and those most likely to be on low or no income significantly less supportive. It’s important to engage with a wide range of the public to avoid uneven uptake among different social groups.
- There is public support for the use of data for purposes outside of care delivery, such as service planning and research (termed secondary uses). However, this support is nuanced, with young people appearing least likely to trust organisations with their health data for secondary uses. Around one in five people do not support many secondary uses of data, even with anonymisation.
- There is ongoing work to build trust in the use of health data. With intense public scrutiny expected following the award of the £330m contract to deliver NHS England’s Federated Data Platform, it’s critical to ensure data collection, storage and use is trustworthy. Public engagement is crucial, with NHS England planning large-scale engagement events in 2024 and 2025 as part of the Data Saves Lives Strategy. In light of varying attitudes among different age groups, it’s particularly important that young people’s voices are heard and help shape future policy.
Optimal Utilization of Health Technologies and Data
Advanced uses of health technologies and data harbor immense prospects for enhancing healthcare quality and efficiency. Public approval of the innovative applications of technology in healthcare varies, highlighting the necessity for comprehensive public engagement when considering these technologies.
The Importance of Inclusive Public Engagement
Public acceptance of technologies depends significantly on the user characteristics and the manner of application. Concerning this, women and low-income individuals are often less supportive of these applications. Therefore, policymakers and NHS leaders must prioritize public engagement to ensure equitable access and outcomes.
Public Perception Towards Data Usage for Secondary Purposes
Public sentiment supports the use of data for service planning and research, or secondary uses, even by commercial organizations. However, the younger demographic is less trusting, and 1 in 5 people are against secondary data uses, even with anonymization. This mistrust could impact data quality and representation if these individuals opt-out of their data utilization.
Building Trust in Health Data Use
Trust in the use of health data needs enhancement, especially in the context of the £330m contract for delivering NHS England’s Federated Data Platform. Ensuring transparency in the collection, storage, and use of data is crucial for public support and risk management.
Public Engagement in Health Data Use
National and local governments and public sector organizations are heightening public engagement on health data usage. For instance, NHS England is planning large-scale engagement events as part of the Data Saves Lives Strategy. As these public engagement events on health data usage launch next year, engaging young people effectively to capture their perspectives will be critical.
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