Table 4.
Assessment of privacy and security in regard to data gathering, sharing, and security as described in the privacy policy.
| Privacy and security question | Total, n (%) (n=81) | TCMa, n (%) (n=41) | Modern medicine, n (%) (n=40) | P value | |
| Is the privacy policy available without the need to download the app? |
|
|
|
.02 | |
|
|
No | 15 (18.5) | 13 (31.7) | 2 (5.0) |
|
|
|
Yes | 66 (81.5) | 28 (68.3) | 38 (95.0) |
|
| Is the privacy policy available within the app? |
|
|
|
.004 | |
|
|
No | 24 (29.6) | 18 (43.9) | 6 (15.0) |
|
|
|
Yes | 57 (70.4) | 23 (56.1) | 34 (85.0) |
|
| Is there a short-form notice highlighting key data practices? |
|
|
|
.008 | |
|
|
No | 48 (59.3) | 27 (65.9) | 21 (52.5) |
|
|
|
Yes | 23 (28.4) | 6 (14.6) | 17 (42.5) |
|
|
|
Not applicable | 10 (12.3) | 8 (19.5) | 2 (5.0) |
|
| Is the privacy policy available in any other language? |
|
|
|
.23 | |
|
|
No | 78 (96.3) | 41 (100) | 37 (92.5) |
|
|
|
Yes | 3 (3.7) | 0 (0) | 3 (7.5) |
|
| Does the app collect personally identifiable information? |
|
|
|
.004 | |
|
|
No | 14 (17.3) | 12 (29.3) | 2 (5.0) |
|
|
|
Yes | 65 (80.2) | 27 (65.9) | 38 (95.0) |
|
|
|
Not specified | 2 (2.5) | 2 (4.9) | 0 (0) |
|
| Does the app share users' data with a third party? |
|
|
|
<.001 | |
|
|
No | 16 (19.8) | 11 (26.8) | 5 (12.5) |
|
|
|
Yes | 44 (54.3) | 12 (29.3) | 32 (80.0) |
|
|
|
Not specified | 21 (25.9) | 18 (43.9) | 3 (7.5) |
|
| Does the app say how the users' data security is ensured (eg, encryption, authentication, fire wall)? |
|
|
|
<.001 | |
|
|
No | 25 (30.9) | 23 (56.1) | 2 (5.0) |
|
|
|
Yes | 56 (69.1) | 18 (43.9) | 38 (95.0) |
|
aTCM: traditional Chinese medicine.