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. 2023 Nov 4;21:100247. doi: 10.1016/j.wnsx.2023.100247

Table 2.

Summary of merits and challenges/drawbacks of SmartWear devices and applications.

Benefits of SmartWear Challenges and Drawbacks of SmartWear
Clinical
  • -

    Non-invasive

  • -

    Continuous monitoring of vital parameters

  • -

    Improved quality of life

  • -

    Increased patient empowerment/engagement

  • -

    Remote medication adherence monitoring

  • -

    Access to medical services (ex. rehabilitation)

  • -

    Prevention and prediction (ex. seizures)

  • -

    Post-operative assessment and decreased length of stay

  • -Accuracy concerns

  • -

    Over-reliance by providers and patients

  • -

    Compliance with device use
Technical
  • -

    Ease of use

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    Many patients already own popular smart devices

  • -

    Familiarity with many popular devices (ex. Smartwatches and smartphones)

  • -

    Comfortable/discreet devices
  • -

    Some devices must be charged consistently

  • -

    Software and hardware malfunctions

  • -

    Need for data visualization software and integration into current electronic medical record systems

  • -

    Regulatory oversight and standardized guidelines for secure transmission of private health data
Societal
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    Decreased number of in-person visits may improve healthcare reach for rural patients and/or low socioeconomic status
  • -

    Persons of low socioeconomic status may not be able to afford devices without insurance coverage

  • -

    Data generated by devices may be prone to bias based on user population, thus skewing tools such as machine learning models

  • -

    Protection of patient data from purchase for financial gain such as advertisements