UNSTRUCTURED
The democratization of digital health technologies in research necessitates a steadfast commitment to the foundational principles of bioethics: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. All stakeholders within the digital health ecosystem, including researchers and industry players, must actively integrate bioethical considerations such as privacy, security, data governance, and equitable distribution of benefits into the development and deployment of digital health tools. Researchers bear a responsibility to engage patient stakeholders throughout the design and testing phases of digital health interventions. This inclusive approach fosters trust and enhances participation in research studies. Just as in medical decisions, respecting patient autonomy entails facilitating active involvement in decision-making processes and providing accessible, timely, and comprehensive information in lay-friendly and multi-lingual formats. Given the dearth of evidence in established frameworks and informational strategies to enhance digital health literacy, the global digital health community must adopt a more deliberate and coordinated approach to identifying and addressing these research gaps. By doing so, we can ensure that the benefits of digital health technologies are equitably distributed and that individuals are empowered to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.