Educating Students About Digital Health Research Ethics: Curricula Review and Expert Interview Study

Ethics education in digital health research develops through the interplay of formal coursework and practice-based training, each fostering complementary skills needed for data-intensive and collaborative environments. Together, these pathways support students in identifying ethical issues, applying principles contextually, anticipating emerging risks, and communicating across disciplines; however, access to experiential learning opportunities remains inconsistent. Strengthening ethics training will require expanding structured early research engagement, cultivating communities of practice, and translating tacit ethical reasoning into accessible resources. Integrating ethical reflection into routine research activities may better prepare future digital health researchers to responsibly design and govern sociotechnical health systems.