Digital Health Generation 2019

Hosted as part of the Wellcome Trust funded project ‘The Digital Health Generation: The impact of ‘healthy lifestyle’ technologies on young people’s learning, identities and health practices’ a collaborative research programme by the University of Bath, University of Salford, and the University of Canberra. Find out more at our project website: https://www.digitalhealthgeneration.net and follow us on twitter: @DigiHealthGen. Research team: Professor Emma Rich, Professor Andy Miah, Dr Sarah Lewis, Professor Deborah Lupton. .

Digital health technologies have attracted much attention in recent years, particularly with the rapid growth in mobile phone apps, wearable technologies, virtual reality, and other digital tools to manage many aspects of our health. Many of these technologies are being adopted by schools, parents, coaches, health professionals and others as tools to encourage young people to adopt healthy lifestyles.

While there is huge potential for digital health technologies to improve health care, there remain many pressing questions about their adoption, particularly in terms of data sensitivity, privacy, security, and ownership. The regulation of products and services is still mostly unresolved for many applications, and we know little about how people make sense of their health and their own bodies/minds through such technologies.

This event will address these crucial issues surrounding the future of digital health care, focusing on the impact of digital health technologies on young people’s health and wellbeing.

What’s happening at the event?

• The event will report on a two year research project funded by the Wellcome Trust investigating young people’s experiences and views of digital health technologies and the impact on their health and wellbeing. We will share evidence from research with over 1,000 young people and from interviews with parents and discuss the issues for health practice, challenges and consider future directions for young people and digital health.
• Panel Discussion with leading experts in the field
• hear from the NHS apps and wearable team about what NHS Digital is doing, along with its newly launched Apps Library, and work towards identifying solutions for guidance on digital adoption
• Exhibitions of digital health technologies (e.g. app developers) and research

Is this event for you?

Do you…

…have a responsibility for young people’s health?

…work within the healthcare sector, as clinicians, support services, or research teams?

….work directly with young people in a variety of settings, such as schools or clubs?

If so, then this event is designed with your needs in mind.

During the day, you will learn about key trends in digital technology, which will affect your practice over the next 10 years and hear evidence of how young people understand and use digital health technology and how this might impact their identities and health behaviours.

Registration is free and includes lunch and refreshments. Full programme to follow.