title: An ethical framework for automated, wearable cameras in health behavior research.
abstract: Technologic advances mean automated, wearable cameras are now feasible for investigating health behaviors in a public health context. This paper attempts to identify and discuss the ethical implications of such research, in relation to existing guidelines for ethical research in traditional visual methodologies. Research using automated, wearable cameras can be very intrusive, generating unprecedented levels of image data, some of it potentially unflattering or unwanted. Participants and third parties they encounter may feel uncomfortable or that their privacy has been affected negatively. This paper attempts to formalize the protection of all according to best ethical principles through the development of an ethical framework. Respect for autonomy, through appropriate approaches to informed consent and adequate privacy and confidentiality controls, allows for ethical research, which has the potential to confer substantial benefits on the field of health behavior research.
authors: British Heart Foundation Health Promotion Research Group, Department of Public Health, University of Oxford, United Kingdom. paul.kelly@dph.ox.ac.uk
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Kelly
authors: Simon J
authors: SJ
authors: Marshall
authors: Hannah
authors: H
authors: Badland
authors: Jacqueline
authors: J
authors: Kerr
authors: Melody
authors: M
authors: Oliver
authors: Aiden R
authors: AR
authors: Doherty
authors: Charlie
authors: C
authors: Foster
mesh_terms: D040421:Cell Phone / Q000295:instrumentation*; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D003219:Confidentiality; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000941:ethics* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D010781:Photography / Q000295:instrumentation*