Old data in new media? Problematic popularity of digital health data and consumer devices

Abstract

Digital health data and devices have become increasingly popular in contemporary consumer cultures. This resonates with research on the expansion of health data ecosystems and the rise of consumerism in medicine. The proliferation of popular health devices, such as activity trackers and smartwatches, however, does not simply reinforce existing dynamics of medicalization or economization. The expansion of digital health data opens up a contested space in local settings, such as doctor-patient interactions, where data and devices are evaluated and negotiated, depending on and varying by condition, medical discipline, and type of patient. We focus on these negotiations by analyzing how popular apps and devices create instances of problematic popularity when popular devices and personal data conflict with professional authority. Our analysis draws on 35 qualitative interviews with patients and doctors from various disciplines. It highlights the diversity of professional and personal data practices as well as the commonalities that emerge as digital health data and devices become more popular.