Literature on Wearable Technology for Connected Health: Scoping Review of Research Trends, Advances, and Barriers

• DOI: 10.2196/14017
• Publication Date: 2019-09-05T10:30:16Z
• Authors: Tatjana Loncar-Tu...; Eftim Zdravevski; José Machado da S...; Ioanna Chouvarda; Vladimir Trajkovik
• Keywords: Scope (computer science); Wearable Technology; Digital Health; Health Technology; Identification; Scientific literature

Background Wearable sensing and information communication technologies are key enablers driving the transformation of health care delivery toward a new model connected (CH) care. The advances in wearable last decade evidenced plethora original articles, patent documentation, focused systematic reviews. Although technological innovations continuously respond to emerging challenges technology availability further supports evolution CH solutions, widespread adoption wearables remains hindered. Objective This study aimed scope scientific literature field pervasive monitoring time interval from January 2010 February 2019 with respect four important pillars: technology, safety security, prescriptive insight, user-related concerns. purpose this was multifold: identification (1) trends milestones that have driven research decade, (2) concerns barriers user perspective, (3) addressing these issues. Methods followed scoping review methodology identify process available literature. As surpasses possibilities manual search, we relied on natural language processing tool kit ensure an efficient exhaustive search corpus three large digital libraries: Institute Electrical Electronics Engineers, PubMed, Springer. based keywords properties be found articles using engines libraries. Results annual number publications all segments shows increasing trend 2019. technology-related topics dominated contributions, by delivery, safety, whereas were topic least addressed. evidences sensor (miniaturization placement), architectures fifth generation (5G) cellular network data analytics, cloud edge computing architectures. lag battery makes energy efficiency relevant consideration design both sensors computational offloading. most addressed (technology) acceptance privacy, gaps indicate more efforts should invested into formalizing clear use cases timely valuable feedback recommendations. Conclusions confirms applications domain becoming mature established as domain. current bring progress sustainable recommendations, enforcement privacy design, energy-efficient sensing, seamless monitoring, low-latency 5G communications. To complement achievements, future work involving stakeholders providing evidence improved pathways cost-effectiveness is needed.