Quit Sense app privacy policy
The Quit Sense app has been developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge and the University of East Anglia, UK. The core team are:
Data collected by Quit Sense:
As part of this research the Quit Sense app collects data from you including: 1) a few personal details about you; 2) survey data (e.g., in end of day questions); 2) data from location and accelerometers (if your phone’s activity recognition is switched on); and 3) audio clips if you choose to provide them.
All data collected by the app will initially be sent to a University of Cambridge server and stored securely. Data will then be transferred to the University of East Anglia for processing (e.g., cleaning, transcription) analysis, and secure storage.
1. Personal details (first name, sex, age range and whether you are pregnant) so messages can be tailored and to provide us with some basic demographic information on the participant sample. This data will be anonymised (identifying/personal details like your name removed) and then securely stored by the University of East Anglia for 20 years before being destroyed.
2. Survey data (e.g., end of day questions) is collected to see how your quit attempt is going. This data will be anonymised and securely stored by the University of East Anglia for 20 years before being destroyed.
3. Location data. GPS location data is collected by the app using the mobile phone’s inbuilt mobile sensors (e.g., GPS) and this data is therefore personally identifying. The data is collected in order to tailor the timing and content of app support messages to each location (e.g., home, work) and in order to improve our understanding of how different locations influence smoking behaviour. Any data sets where location data is combined with anonymised study data will also be stored securely. All research data collected for this study (including location data) will be kept for 20 years before being destroyed. Location data will not be made available as an open data set outside of Quit Sense collaborations (see list below).
4. Audio data. Participant feedback on the app and study is being collected as part of the study’s qualitative process evaluation. Audio clips will be processed, anonymised, and analysed after which the audio recordings themselves will be destroyed. Any anonymised data (e.g., transcriptions) will be kept as research data for 20 years by the University of East Anglia before being destroyed.
More details about how we will look after your data
The University of Cambridge is the data processor and the University of East Anglia is the Data Controller. This means that UEA determines why and how personal data will be collected and used, either alone, or jointly with others. UEA’s handling of personal data is regulated by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Our registration number is Z8964916. See our ICO register entry. See UEA’s further information page here.
The Chief Investigator of this study (Dr Felix Naughton) is the Data Custodian (manages access to the data). This means we are responsible for looking after your information and using it properly.
The lawful basis for the data processing is your consent. Your rights to access, change or move your information are limited as we need to manage your information in specific ways to comply with certain laws and for the research to be reliable and accurate.
To safeguard your rights, we will use the minimum personally identifiable information possible. Your data may be looked at by authorised people from regulatory organisations to check that the study is being carried out correctly. All these people will have the duty of confidentiality to you as a research participant and we will do our best to meet this duty.
Sharing of data and research outcomes
Information that we collect as part of this study will be analysed, and fully anonymised findings will be shared in reports, presentations, and journals. When sharing findings, we may use direct quotes (e.g., from your feedback) but these would not be linked to you. Your name will not be used.
In addition to the University of East Anglia, the following organisations who collaborate with us on this project will have access to the research data: The University of Cambridge, The University of Nottingham and Imperial College London.
In accordance with the University of East Anglia, the Government, and our funders’ policies we may share our research data with researchers in other Universities and organisations, including those in other countries, for research in health and social care. Sharing research data is important to allow peer scrutiny, re-use (and therefore avoiding duplication of research) and to understand the bigger picture areas of research. Location data collected by the app, however, will not be made available as an open data set outside of Quit Sense collaborations
After the study ends
Once your involvement in the study has ended, you will no longer receive communications from the study team other than a copy of the findings, if you have requested one. You will be sent an SMS or email to inform you that your participation in the study has ended.
You will still be able to access and use the Quit Sense app on your mobile if you wish to do so. If you continue to use the app, it will continue to collect research data that we may use as part of the study analyses. After the study ends Quit Sense will no longer have technical support and you will not be able to update or reinstall it. If you wish, you can uninstall the app following the usual process for removing apps from your phone.
For further information please contact the research team:
Telephone: 01603 593053
Email: quitsense@uea.ac.uk