Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 28'th May 2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to mhSTRIDE, an app developed by the Division of Nutrition at St. John’s Research Institute. The app is designed as part of a research initiative to reduce sedentary time during work hours. It is intended solely for research use by individuals who have consented to participate in the study.

We are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, share, and protect your information when you use the mhSTRIDE mobile application (“App”).

By using the App, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following data when you register and use the App:

• Personal Information: Height, weight, and email address
• Activity Data: : Data related to movement and sedentary behavior, collected through app interactions or device sensors will be anonymised.This information will be collected with informed consent from the participants and is used solely for research purposes by the research team.

3. How We Use Your Information

We collect information for the following purposes:

• To analyze physical activity patterns and assess changes in sedentary behavior during work hours.
• To generate anonymized datasets for research analysis and publication.
• To communicate essential updates or instructions related to the study.
• To improve app usability and participant engagement, where applicable.

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

Your data is securely stored on cloud servers managed under account owned by St. Johns research institute. We have implemented appropriate technical and organizational safeguards to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the data collected. Access is restricted to authorized personnel, and data is stored securely in compliance with institutional and ethical guidelines.

5.Third-party access and sharing

We do not sell or rent your personal information. Data may be shared only under the following circumstances:

• With Research Team Members: Data may be accessed by authorized investigators for research purposes in accordance with approved study protocols.
• With Institutional Review Boards (IRB): Study data may be reviewed during audits or ethical oversight procedures.
• Legal Compliance: If required, we may disclose information in response to applicable legal obligations or regulations.

Any data shared outside the research team will be anonymized and aggregated to prevent identification.

6.Data Retention

Data will be retained only for as long as necessary to complete the research study and meet ethical, legal, or institutional requirements. After the conclusion of the study, all personally identifiable information will be deleted or anonymized.

7.Permissions

The app may request access to the following permissions on your Android device:

• Location- to identify your city/region during sign-in
• Storage- to record the daily step count
• Notifications- to send timely reminders to take walking breaks.

8.Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted within the App and reflected with an updated effective date. Continued use of the App after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

9.Contact Us

For questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, contact: