Digital Data

DigitalData

DigitalData

Theavailability of social media platforms has enabled individuals toshare more personal information without the knowledge of pendingrisks. Companies can easily access private information regardingdemographics, contacts, and pictures of people and use it without theindividual’s consent for marketing and advertisement. It is prudentto have strict guidelines on how health providers should handlepatient information. A violation of the directives by exposingprivate health information puts the patient at risk. Although thereis a danger in sharing personal information, people are glad toparticipate in research according to mobile health technologies.However, they are reluctant to let their personal information be usedwithout their consent. People sign privacy agreements but do notremember what is presented to them, sometimes because of thecomplexities of the terms. There is need to have simplified texts onmedical procedures and shortened consent procedures to make it easierfor patients (Smith, Grande and Merchant, 2016).

Patientsshare information to the public, but do not know how that informationis used. There is the need for transparency in the privacy consentwhich states how the data would be utilized. Digital data can beemployed in research, but the risks must be assessed before adecision is made. Medical professionals call for the legal protectionof health information which is critical to the safety of the patient.There need to be strict regulations on non-health consumer privacy,for instance, the use of encryption and anonymization techniques thatdo not reveal the identity of the patients, hence, ensuring theirsafety. Social media is useful in predicting health concerns, monitordiet, check progress on exercise and predict health care utilization.The health information is essential and will continue to be, butthere need to be criteria to gauge the transparency of theinformation. Researchers should engage consumers to participate fullyin research so that more information is shared, consent is granted,and safety ensured.

Reference

Smith,R. J., Grande, D., &amp Merchant, R. M. (2016). Transformingscientific inquiry: Tapping into digital data by building a cultureof transparency and consent.&nbspAcademicMedicine,&nbsp91(4),469-472.