Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Jun 20, 2025
Date Accepted: Sep 15, 2025
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Technology-Facilitated Trauma in Sexual and Reproductive Health-Related Digital Technologies: A Qualitative study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Digital health technologies are increasingly used as complementary and/or alternative means of seeking sexual and reproductive health services. Despite their increasing prevalence, there is an emerging concern that such platforms could inadvertently trigger or perpetuate trauma among end-user patients.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to develop a theoretical account of how digital health technologies can cause or perpetuate emotional trauma among people who seek technology-based sexual and reproductive health services
Methods:
We employed Charmaz’s constructivist grounded theory approach by conducting interviews with 25 participants who have used government and other regulated digital health platforms (i.e., web-based platforms and mobile health applications) to access sexual and reproductive health information or services including STI testing, contraception, and abortion. Data analysis occurred alongside data collection and data were analyzed inductively using open, axial, and theoretical coding
Results:
We developed a theoretical model that shows that technology-related harm can occur in two main ways – digital platform design features (ie., navigation challenges, data, and security breaches, and inappropriate display of content) and digital platform-facilitated interpersonal interactions (targeted campaigns and depersonalized digital health interactions). While these activities can all cause some harm, these activities are likely to lead to emotional trauma if users have prior trauma.
Conclusions:
It is increasingly recognized that web-based platforms provide opportunities for advancing sexual and reproductive health and services. At the same time, these technologies can also serve as conduits through which trauma can be triggered, perpetuated, and exacerbated. To mitigate technology-related trauma, both technology developers (particularly designers) and technology implementors (health providers) must adopt patient-centered strategies that not only prevent trauma but promote users' emotional well-bein
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