Changing Health-Related Behaviors 6: Analysis, Interpretation, and Application of Big Data.

The behavior of individuals can affect both their own health and the health of those around them. Furthermore, the behavior of healthcare providers obviously affects the health of those receiving the care. In both of these cases, and in spite of its known benefits, behavior change is difficult for most people. To make change easier, big data can provide insight through an objective and nonjudgmental perspective. It may also help make specific, individualized, evidence-based recommendations for effective change. We provide a historical perspective on data and health and then describe the value of adding big data systems and how they are implemented. We discuss some of the sources of big data and how it is collected. We also review the additional challenges for analysis, interpretation, and application of big data that require specific technologies. We end with a summary of current uses of big data for behavior change and suggestions for additional approaches, which may be of benefit.