University of Bristol Lead Applicant: Dr Anya Skatova in the Bristol Medical School
International Collaborator: Dr Anna-Leena Vuorinen, Tampere University, Finland.
Digital footprint research examines data from online and offline activities, such as shopping, social media use, and other digital interactions. This research can offer valuable insights into behavioural patterns and health outcomes.
Progress in the field is hindered by inconsistent data collection and sharing practices across countries, driven by differences in laws, cultures, and administrative procedures. These inconsistencies make it difficult to assess how shopping behaviours impact health across different populations.
Our workshop addresses these challenges by bringing together international partners to explore standardised approaches for linking individual shopping data with health surveys. Hosted by Tampere University— renowned for its leadership in large-scale data linkages and industry partnerships — the event will foster collaboration between the Digital Footprints Lab (DFL) at the University of Bristol, Tampere University, and the University of Helsinki. Experts in integrating shopping data with health surveys will join industry stakeholders, including representatives from one of Finland’s largest retailers, to share their experiences.
The two-day workshop includes talks on global data linkage challenges, ethical considerations, and industry collaboration. A roundtable discussion will explore future applications of public health data and foster partnerships to advance the field.
