Cardiologists and endocrinologists review wearable technology data the most often among specialties, according to a new American Medical Association survey.
The “2026 AMA Multi-Country Study on Consumer Wearable Data in Clinical Practice” surveyed 2,222 physicians surveyed from January through early March 2026. It surveyed physicians in the U.S., Canada, U.K., France, Germany and Spain. The survey examined current behaviors, barriers to integration, trust in device data, reimbursement dynamics and structural factors for consumer-grade wearable devices in clinical practice. It analyzed non-prescription, commercially marketed technology used to monitor personal health, fitness and performance, and excluded any prescription medical devices.
Here are five findings.
1. Cardiologists and endocrinologists used wearable data the most, followed by primary care physicians, neurologists and pulmonologists. These last three specialties reported having more limits in data relevance, confidence and practicality.
2. Most physicians reported reviewing enabled data in some capacity, with only 3% of physicians never reviewing it. Fewer than 1 in 4 physicians reported weekly patient requests to review wearable data. But when patients ask, physicians typically review it.
3. The data categories most commonly reviewed were heart physiology, activity and function; biometric and physical events and alerts; and sleep metrics.
4. Most physicians reported using wearables personally.
5. No more than 6% of physicians currently integrate wearable data into their clinical workflows across all six countries.
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