Wearables are “seamlessly embedded portable computers worn on the body”. Examples include consumer products marketed as wellness gadgets, such as smartwatches produced by Apple or activity trackers from Fitbit, and more specialized medical devices, such as those that can detect electrolyte levels or screen blood for cancer cells.
As technology advances, it may be expected that wearables will become more advanced in their health care capabilities. A future vision for wearables has been discussed, concerning the potential application of on-teeth sensors, smart contact lenses, electronic epidermal tattoos, smart patches, and smart textiles. Any data from wearables may be integrated with health systems and potentially inform care plans.
There are several ways in which wearables may assist in empowering patients. First, wearables may minimize the impact of health care on the daily routine of patients. Wearables may offer greater convenience if they reduce the need for patients to invest time in booking appointments with health care professionals, plan their schedule around such appointments, or commit time and money for appointment-related travel. Wearables have already been shown to reduce the need for certain in-person appointments.
Next, wearables collecting data throughout the day may provide a richer data set than snapshot reading records obtained during visits to a health care facility. Such data may be collected more readily around individuals’ normal daily activities, whether at rest or on exertion, which may be useful for heart rate readings, for example.
Although it has been stated that wearables can empower and emancipate patients to manage their own care, the efficacy of these devices has attracted skepticism from some physicians, especially because the technology is emerging. However, change should be welcome, as patients are an “untapped resource”. If patients were to take a more proactive role in their care, then the effects on the “quality and sustainability of health systems” could be transformative.
However, the accuracy of wearables is a concern that may deter their use, especially if they fail to produce reliable data. Therefore, regulatory oversight may be beneficial in ensuring that only accurate, tested devices are in circulation. Medical devices are regulated in the United Kingdom by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Nonetheless, certain wearables may not be regulated by the MHRA, as devices such as the Fitbit explicitly state that they are neither medical devices nor are “intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease”. Therefore, this may undermine the perceived efficacy of such devices and thereby fuel the skepticism of health care professionals. However, as wearables become more accurate, this is likely to change; some consumer-targeted wearables, such as Apple Watch, have already received Food and Drug Administration approval in the United States. Consequently, it seems to be only a matter of time before approval is sought under the MHRA.
1. According to the passage, which of the following best describes the major advantage of wearables for patients?
2. What is the author’s attitude toward the skepticism from physicians about wearables?
3. What can be inferred about the data collected by wearables compared with that obtained in hospitals?
4. According to the passage, one potential barrier to the adoption of wearables is that ________.
5. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A.They allow doctors to track patients’ daily behavior in real time.
B.They can reduce the disruption caused by traditional medical appointments.
C.They guarantee more accurate medical diagnoses and treatments.
D.They can completely replace hospital-based examinations.
A.The author acknowledges it but believes progress should still be welcomed.
B.The author fully agrees with the physicians’ doubts.
C.The author argues that skepticism has already been proven unnecessary.
D.The author ignores it and focuses only on patients’ perspectives.
A.It is less reliable because it lacks medical supervision.
B.It is more difficult to interpret for medical purposes.
C.It offers a broader and more continuous record of patients’ health.
D.It needs to be verified by snapshot readings at clinics.
A.users are unwilling to share personal data with health systems
B.their accuracy may be questioned if they produce unreliable data
C.patients prefer traditional face-to-face medical consultations
D.they are too expensive for most patients to afford
A.All wearables are currently regulated by the MHRA in the UK.
B.Fitbit and similar devices are classified as medical equipment.
C.Some consumer wearables have already gained FDA approval in the US.
D.The MHRA has banned the sale of unregulated wearable devices.
