Mobile, wearable and ingestible health technologies : towards a critical research agenda

Rich, EJ; Miah, A

Abstract

In this article, we review critical research on mobile and wearable health technologies focused on the promotion of ‘healthy lifestyles’. We begin by discussing key governmental and policy interests which indicate a shift towards greater digital integration in health care. Subsequently, we review relevant research literature, which highlights concerns about inclusion, social justice, and ownership of mobile health data, which we argue, provoke a series of key sociological questions that are in need of additional investigation. We examine the expansion of what counts as health data, as a basis for advocating the need for greater research into this area. Finally, we consider how digital devices raise questions about the reconfiguration of relationships, behaviours, and concepts of individuality.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 6, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jul 28, 2016
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jun 21, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 28, 2017
• Journal: Health Sociology Review
• Print ISSN: 1446-1242
• Publisher: Routledge
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 84-97
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14461242.2016.1211486
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14461242.2016.1211486
• Related Public URLs: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rhsr20/current