Data privacy concerns and use of telehealth in the aged care context: An integrative review and research agenda. (April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pool, Javad; Akhlaghpour, Saeed; Fatehi, Farhad; Gray, Leonard C.
• Is Part Of: International journal of medical informatics. Volume 160(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Subjects: Telehealth -- Aged care -- Privacy concerns -- Data protection; Medical informatics -- Periodicals; Information science -- Periodicals; Computers -- Periodicals; Medical technology -- Periodicals; Medical Informatics -- Periodicals; Technology, Medical -- Periodicals; Computers; Information science; Medical informatics; Medical technology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 610.285
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2022.104707
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1386-5056

Abstract

Highlights: We propose a privacy theory for telehealth use in the aged care context. Our theory explains how improper telehealth practice raises privacy concerns. Findings highlight the role of context in privacy concerns for older users. Privacy protection practices can facilitate the adoption and use of telehealth in aged care. This study informs policy makers towards achieving success in telehealth adoption and use. Abstract: Objective: Effective use of telehealth offers substantial benefits to older persons and aged care providers. However, data privacy concerns challenge the effective use of telehealth and subsequent business value. Through developing a theoretical model, we explain how privacy concerns can influence the adoption ad use of telehealth in this complex context. Method: An integrative review of empirical investigations was conducted by linking privacy concerns, telehealth use, and aged care. We searched three major databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) for articles published until December 2020. Articles were analyzed and presented using an integrative theoretical model that we labeled CPCPO (Context-Privacy Concerns-Practice-Outcomes). Results: Our review revealed that privacy concerns are a contextual concept, i.e., different contexts (users, telehealth systems, aged care services, data) produce different privacy concerns. We found that privacy concerns were more voiced in home telecare and were associated with the degree of telemonitoring and surveillance. Contextual privacy concerns were related to video recording, behavioral data (e.g., sleep patterns and eating behavior), location data, and future use of data. These concerns can influence the adoption and use of telehealth. However, privacy protection practices (e.g., informed consent) can help in reducing the concerns and improving the acceptance of telehealth for older persons. Conclusion: CPCPO offers contextual explanations of telehealth privacy concerns and systems use. For improving telehealth acceptance, privacy concerns of data processing (e.g., recording, collection, storage, and secondary use) must be addressed by performing data protection practices. Based on the review results, we suggest avenues for future research.