Trust-building self-assessment tool for health data policies in the digital age in the WHO European Region

Overview

Trust is fundamental to the success of digital health initiatives, as it increases participation in and the legitimacy of health systems. A previous interview study involving 57 health policy professionals across Europe revealed that trust is frequently perceived as a vague and abstract concept, thus, hampering its translation into concrete digital health policy measures. Policy professionals raised the need for structured guidance to support the integration of trust-building principles into health policies. Addressing this gap is the aim of this publication. Building on comprehensive conceptual frameworks on trust in health systems and health data sharing, the WHO Regional Office for Europe developed this self-assessment tool, a self-assessment tool, through 18 online stakeholder consultations with digital health policy professionals. By breaking down the concept of trust into manageable components and by guiding policy professionals through a step-by-step process, the tool supports policy professionals involved in the formulation of policies across the WHO European Region in the development of policies that actively contribute to fostering and sustaining trust. The tool’s adaptability across different governance contexts makes it relevant in international settings.