Wearable Data Sharing and Equity Monitoring for Privacy Concern in Chronic Illness Groups

Abstract

The rapid proliferation of wearable health technologies has revolutionized chronic illness management by enabling continuous, real-time monitoring of physiological signals. However, the collection and transmission of highly sensitive health data generate profound privacy concerns among patient populations. This study systematically investigates the factors shaping privacy concerns in wearable data sharing, with a specific focus on the role of equity monitoring in chronic illness groups. Integrating privacy calculus theory with socioeconomic equity frameworks, we establish a comprehensive model to analyze how perceived benefits, perceived risks, trust in healthcare institutions, and digital equity impact patients' willingness to share data. Through a survey of chronic illness patients, we examine the structural relationships between these variables. The empirical findings indicate that while health benefits strongly motivate data sharing, privacy concerns remain a substantial barrier, particularly exacerbated by perceived inequities in data access and algorithmic bias. Moreover, equity monitoring acts as a critical moderator that can mitigate privacy anxieties when patients perceive that data collection leads to fairer healthcare distribution. This research contributes to health informatics literature by providing a nuanced understanding of how privacy and equity intersect in digital health ecosystems, offering actionable insights for clinicians, developers, and policymakers aiming to design inclusive and secure health-monitoring interventions.