A critical view of ehealth data and their interpretation, as presented at Pint of Science 2017.

1. @mariawolters / mariawolters.net / https://www.slideshare.net/mariawolters
Oh Data, Where Art
Thou?
Maria Wolters
School of Informatics
University of Edinburgh
#pint17
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References: See mariawolters.net/ehealth-data/pint-of-science

2. The Argument
• Data points have no meaning by themselves
• When assigning meaning to data, we need to consider context:
• When
• Where
• Life history
• Social norms
• External Events
Context of measurement
Context of person
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3. Data Points: Step Count, Tears (in mL)
3
Simba Pipsqueak. 200[9?] - May 12, 2017
http://www.reykjavik.com/icelandair-launch-new-aurora-themed-plane/

4. Symptom and Cause
❖ p(cause | symptom): what is the likely illness, given the
observable signs?
❖ p(symptom | cause): what symptoms is a person likely
to exhibit, given the cause?
❖ p(symptom): what symptoms is a person likely to
exhibit
❖ p(cause): what causes are likely?
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5. Diagnosis is hard
❖ Many illnesses have similar symptoms
❖ Symptoms can be caused by events that are not illness
❖ Illnesses are like buses: they come in groups
5

6. 6
https://www.sireninteractive.com/sirensong/rare-disease-where-precision-medicine-was-born/

7. 7

8. ❖ „You have dementia. Here’s a leaflet. Goodbye.“
❖ „That doesn’t mean we should take care of the person
who sits at home, eats poorly, and gets diabetes.“
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Mike Mulvaney, US Director of Office of Management and Budget
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mick-mulvaney-health-care-poor-choices_us_5916466de4b00f308cf55a21?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

9. Detecting Symptoms is Hard
❖ Sensory loss makes it hard to perceive test instructions
❖ Self image makes it hard to admit problems
❖ Fear of retaliation means that problems are actively
hidden
❖ Measurement is work
❖ Measurement is always inaccurate to some degree
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10. TRACKER
when
who job (e.g. nurses)
allergies
wrist anatomy
forgetting
to wear to bringto charge
worried well
techy
motivated for change
not tracking
during lazy days
device
breaks
no longer holds charge
lost / stolen
what
swimming
weightlifting
team sports
no Internet
style / fashion
stigma
Self-reported
effort
if there is a need

11. The Argument: Reprise
• When estimating p(cause), p(symptom), p(cause|symptom),
and p(symptom|cause), we need to consider context:
• When
• Where
• Life history
• Social norms
• External Events
Context of measurement
Context of person
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12. What Can We Do?
❖ Every diagnosis is a working hypothesis - don’t believe anyone
who sells certainty
❖ Consider the context - measurement, person, politics
Questions?
mariawolters.net / @mariawolters
Slides on https://www.slideshare.net/mariawolters
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References: See mariawolters.net/ehealth-data/pint-of-science