REBECCA Final Workshop in Rennes: Exploring patient trust, data privacy, and digital innovation in cancer care

On June 5th, 2025, the REBECCA project held its Final Workshop in Rennes, coinciding with the EHMA Conference 2025 organised by the European Health Management Association. This milestone event gathered a diverse group of stakeholders — including patients, healthcare professionals, researchers, and policy experts — all united by a common goal: to advance health data management and improve the quality of life for cancer patients through digital innovation.

The workshop centred around two dynamic thematic discussion tables that sparked rich dialogue on key aspects of the REBECCA system and its future.

Table 1: The REBECCA App — Patient Impact, Data Privacy, and Clinical Collaboration

Facilitated by representatives from Bröstcancerföreningen Amazona Stockholm and the INCLIVA Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria, this session explored crucial questions around patient willingness to share personal health information within the REBECCA system. Participants discussed the benefits for patients balanced against concerns about data security and the importance of clear, comprehensible communication about how data is handled.

Key topics included:

  • The option for users to switch off GPS location tracking when desired, and transparency about data processing practices.
  • Sensitivity around sharing social media and internet history, with an emphasis on the challenges faced by healthcare professionals introducing such systems to patients.
  • Insights from a student nurse who expressed enthusiasm for using REBECCA in her future career and confidence in recommending it to patients.
  • The significance of language and tone in the app’s user interface to maintain engagement and build trust, along with questions about translation resources used to ensure accessibility.
  • Strategies to encourage long-term patient engagement, including how the system can offer rewarding experiences to sustain use over time.

Table 2: Health Authorities & Regulators — Building Trust and Scaling Adoption

This session focused on the broader policy and regulatory environment needed to support the successful rollout of REBECCA across Europe. Discussions highlighted:

  • The vital role of building patient trust in sharing sensitive health data through the REBECCA360º platform.
  • Development of policies and frameworks to facilitate wider adoption and integration.
  • Ensuring interoperability with existing national and EU-wide health data infrastructures.
  • Queries about plans to migrate REBECCA to a standardized platform to support future scalability and exploitation.

The workshop was an invaluable opportunity to gather feedback, foster collaboration, and align on next steps towards making REBECCA a trusted, effective tool in cancer care.

A heartfelt thank you goes to all partners, facilitators, and attendees who contributed to this inspiring event.