Benjamin Rader, Neil K. R. Sehgal, Julie Michelman, Stefan Mellem, Marinanicole D. Schultheiss, Tom Hoddes, Jamie MacFarlane, Geoff Clark, Shawn O’Banion, Paul Eastham, Gaurav Tuli, James A. Taylor, John S. Brownstein
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
In pandemic mitigation, strategies such as social distancing and mask-wearing are vital to prevent disease resurgence. Yet, monitoring adherence is challenging, as individuals might be reluctant to share behavioral data with public health authorities. To address this challenge and demonstrate a framework for conducting observational research with sensitive data in a privacy-conscious manner, we employ a privacy-centric epidemiological study design: the federated cohort. This approach leverages recent computational advances to allow for distributed participants to contribute to a prospective, observational research study while maintaining full control of their data. We apply this strategy here to explore pandemic intervention adherence patterns. Participants (n = 3808) were enrolled in our federated cohort via the “Google Health Studies” mobile application. Participants completed weekly surveys and contributed empirically measured mobility data from their Android devices between November 2020 to August 2021. Using federated analytics, differential privacy, and secure aggregation, we analyzed data in five 6-week periods, encompassing the pre- and post-vaccination phases. Our results showed that participants largely utilized non-pharmaceutical intervention strategies until they were fully vaccinated against COVID-19, except for individuals without plans to become vaccinated. Furthermore, this project offers a blueprint for conducting a federated cohort study and engaging in privacy-preserving research during a public health emergency.
期刊介绍:
npj Digital Medicine is an online open-access journal that focuses on publishing peer-reviewed research in the field of digital medicine. The journal covers various aspects of digital medicine, including the application and implementation of digital and mobile technologies in clinical settings, virtual healthcare, and the use of artificial intelligence and informatics.
The primary goal of the journal is to support innovation and the advancement of healthcare through the integration of new digital and mobile technologies. When determining if a manuscript is suitable for publication, the journal considers four important criteria: novelty, clinical relevance, scientific rigor, and digital innovation.