Trust Analysis Canvas for Teaching in the Field of Digital Public Health and Medicine: Tutorial

Abstract Trust is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone for the successful implementation of digital public health initiatives, from mobile apps to the use of artificial intelligence in medicine, yet it remains underrepresented in educational curricula. In the course of our research and teaching activities in the field of trust in digital public health and medicine, we identified a gap in existing educational resources that aimed at supporting students in conducting structured trust analyses. Digitalization introduces new complexities into trust relationships, as interactions become increasingly mediated by digital tools. Preparing future professionals, therefore, demands fostering a critical understanding of how trust operates within digital systems, especially in the health sector. To address this gap, we developed and tested the first Trust Analysis Canvas for Teaching (TACT), a tool designed to guide students in conducting trust analyses of case studies in digital public health and medicine. Grounded in conceptual research on trust in health systems and health data sharing, we (1) developed the canvas content and reviewed it with two trust researchers; (2) tested and iteratively refined the tool with 23 students (3 BSc, 14 MSc, and 6 PhD) from diverse disciplines and academic levels through in-person and online focus groups at the universities of Zurich and Bern; (3) collaborated with a graphic designer to optimize its visual layout; and (4) translated the final canvas into French, Italian, German, and Spanish to ensure accessibility across disciplines, academic levels, and languages while maintaining a clear and engaging visual design. This paper introduces TACT, a canvas comprising 16 guiding questions organized around 6 core dimensions, designed to enable students from diverse disciplinary backgrounds and academic levels to engage with the complex concept of trust in a structured and guided manner, thereby addressing the identified gap in the current curricula. We outline the development process and provide a practical, step-by-step tutorial demonstrating its application through a written trust analysis of a digital health case study, supported by references to relevant literature.