Datafication of Care: Security and Privacy Issues with Health Technology for People with Diabetes

Through the conceptual framework of datafication, dataism and dataveillance, this study investigates beliefs and attitudes regarding datafication and the related privacy and security concerns among individuals with Type 1 diabetes. Qualitative research was conducted through interviews among fifty-tw...

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Main Authors: Alessia Bertolazzi, Katarzyna Marzęda-Młynarska, Justyna Kięczkowska, Maria Letizia Zanier
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-08-01
Series:Societies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/14/9/163
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author Alessia Bertolazzi
Katarzyna Marzęda-Młynarska
Justyna Kięczkowska
Maria Letizia Zanier
author_facet Alessia Bertolazzi
Katarzyna Marzęda-Młynarska
Justyna Kięczkowska
Maria Letizia Zanier
author_sort Alessia Bertolazzi
collection DOAJ
description Through the conceptual framework of datafication, dataism and dataveillance, this study investigates beliefs and attitudes regarding datafication and the related privacy and security concerns among individuals with Type 1 diabetes. Qualitative research was conducted through interviews among fifty-two individuals with Type 1 diabetes in Poland and Italy. The findings reveal a dynamic interplay between self-discipline and empowerment. The majority of interviewees emphasized the benefits of technologies for gaining a better understanding of their health condition and for more effective disease management. However, a minority of interviewees perceived the negative effects of datafication, including dataveillance, which leads to hyper-control of the disease, and dataism, characterized by excessive reliance on and dependency on technology. Critical beliefs about technologies fuelled rejection attitudes, leading some interviewees to suspend or abandon their use. Lastly, reflexivity on privacy and security issues appears to be low, particularly among older individuals with lower levels of education and socioeconomic status. This results in a poor understanding and underestimation of the potential risks associated with security and privacy. The findings increase the understanding of the factors that can facilitate or hinder the adoption of technology among people with diabetes.
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spelling doaj-art-4007ef4d6507442bb986f648c24f65402025-08-20T01:55:52ZengMDPI AGSocieties2075-46982024-08-0114916310.3390/soc14090163Datafication of Care: Security and Privacy Issues with Health Technology for People with DiabetesAlessia Bertolazzi0Katarzyna Marzęda-Młynarska1Justyna Kięczkowska2Maria Letizia Zanier3Department of Political Science, Communication and International Relations, University of Macerata, 62100 Macerata, ItalyInstitute of International Relations, Faculty of Political Science and Journalism, Department of International Security, University of Maria Curie-Skłodowska, 20-031 Lublin, PolandInstitute of International Relations, Faculty of Political Science and Journalism, Department of International Security, University of Maria Curie-Skłodowska, 20-031 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Political Science, Communication and International Relations, University of Macerata, 62100 Macerata, ItalyThrough the conceptual framework of datafication, dataism and dataveillance, this study investigates beliefs and attitudes regarding datafication and the related privacy and security concerns among individuals with Type 1 diabetes. Qualitative research was conducted through interviews among fifty-two individuals with Type 1 diabetes in Poland and Italy. The findings reveal a dynamic interplay between self-discipline and empowerment. The majority of interviewees emphasized the benefits of technologies for gaining a better understanding of their health condition and for more effective disease management. However, a minority of interviewees perceived the negative effects of datafication, including dataveillance, which leads to hyper-control of the disease, and dataism, characterized by excessive reliance on and dependency on technology. Critical beliefs about technologies fuelled rejection attitudes, leading some interviewees to suspend or abandon their use. Lastly, reflexivity on privacy and security issues appears to be low, particularly among older individuals with lower levels of education and socioeconomic status. This results in a poor understanding and underestimation of the potential risks associated with security and privacy. The findings increase the understanding of the factors that can facilitate or hinder the adoption of technology among people with diabetes.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/14/9/163digital health technologydiabetesdataficationsecurityprivacydataveillance
spellingShingle Alessia Bertolazzi
Katarzyna Marzęda-Młynarska
Justyna Kięczkowska
Maria Letizia Zanier
Datafication of Care: Security and Privacy Issues with Health Technology for People with Diabetes
Societies
digital health technology
diabetes
datafication
security
privacy
dataveillance
title Datafication of Care: Security and Privacy Issues with Health Technology for People with Diabetes
title_full Datafication of Care: Security and Privacy Issues with Health Technology for People with Diabetes
title_fullStr Datafication of Care: Security and Privacy Issues with Health Technology for People with Diabetes
title_full_unstemmed Datafication of Care: Security and Privacy Issues with Health Technology for People with Diabetes
title_short Datafication of Care: Security and Privacy Issues with Health Technology for People with Diabetes
title_sort datafication of care security and privacy issues with health technology for people with diabetes
topic digital health technology
diabetes
datafication
security
privacy
dataveillance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/14/9/163
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AT justynakieczkowska dataficationofcaresecurityandprivacyissueswithhealthtechnologyforpeoplewithdiabetes
AT marialetiziazanier dataficationofcaresecurityandprivacyissueswithhealthtechnologyforpeoplewithdiabetes