Living with Technology. Data work and smartwatch data trends for patients with serious mental illnesses

Abstract

As healthcare is being reshaped by technology, researchers are increasingly relying on patients to generate data. However, the efforts patients dedicate to data collection for research and treatment purposes are seldom scrutinised. We examine the data work of 21 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder who participated in our digital mental health intervention, equipped with a smartwatch and a mobile application. We offer in-depth insights into their somatic experiences while living with technology over time by analysing the impact of data work when living with technology. Our paper offers insights into the data work of patients, highlighting its importance as a valuable resource for future digital mental health interventions. We outline what living with technology for individuals with serious mental illnesses entails by unravelling their data work into five themes. Moreover, we provide a model that others can use when incorporating somatic IS artifacts into practice.