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Layering Trust in Intimate Digital Health Technologies

Objective
This project will produce a landmark, large-scale qualitative study of the first algorithmic contraceptive on the market. Natural Cycles offers an algorithmic contraceptive option to more than 700,000 users worldwide. This provides an excellent testbed for studying how trust is developed, experienced, and maintained between primary and secondary users as well as an algorithmic health service. Crucial insights will be gained into e.g. the mechanisms by which users choose to trust and continue trusting an algorithmic digital health technology, with a focus on psychological, contextual and interpersonal factors.

Image Layering Trust in Intimate Digital Health Technologies

Background
Algorithmic systems and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are poised to disrupt how we deliver and experience healthcare, providing new solutions to personal and public health issues. Trust has been identified as one key foundation for the success of digital health technologies. Mechanisms that promote trust are critical areas for research and innovation. Health interventions are often designed for use – and behaviour change – at an individual level. However, health choices, health behaviours, and critically trust in healthcare service providers are interpersonal and socially constructed. This calls for research on trust in health technologies engaging with the wider social context of ‘use’ when examining how trust is developed and maintained.

Image Layering Trust in Intimate Digital Health Technologies

Crossdisciplinary collaboration
The researchers in the team represent the School of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, KTH, and the Department of Computer and Systems Sciences (DSV), Stockholm University.

Watch the demo video of IntimateHealth here:

Contacts

Picture of Madeline Balaam

Madeline Balaam

Associate Professor, Division of Media Technology and Interaction Designs at KTH, Co-PI: Mid-sized Seated Haptic Interactions for Autonomous Vehicles, Main supervisor: Technology Mediated Collective Caring through Menstrual and Reproductive Journeys, Former Co-supervisor: Relational Aspects of Care in Intimate Digital Health Technologies, Former Co-PI: Layering Trust in Intimate Digital Health Technologies, Digital Futures Faculty

+46 8 790 66 27
balaam@kth.se
Picture of Airi Lampinen

Airi Lampinen

Associate Professor, Department of Computer and Systems Sciences (DSV) at Stockholm University, Co-supervisor: Technology Mediated Collective Caring through Menstrual and Reproductive Journeys, Co-PI: Digital Futures Drone Arena, Former Co-PI: Layering Trust in Intimate Digital Health Technologies, Former Main supervisor: Relational Aspects of Care in Intimate Digital Health Technologies, Digital Futures Faculty

+46 08 16 16 19
airi@dsv.su.se