The Use of Cookies and Cookie Consent Dialogs on the Websites of Swiss Hospitals Between 2023 and 2024

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Presented at HICSS 2025 by

Decision-making regarding cookies and cookie consent dialogs on hospital websites is challenging. On the one hand, their use can offer hospitals various advantages when interacting with their target groups. On the other hand, they are controversial as hospital websites are critical areas where people are vulnerable or at risk of disclosing sensitive information. Furthermore, Switzerland has introduced its new Federal Act on Data Protection in September 2023, which might have prompted hospitals in Switzerland to adapt the use of cookies on their websites and their cookie consent dialogs. In this study, we used data from 268 hospitals in Switzerland to analyze how hospitals changed their use of cookies and cookie consent dialogs between 2023 and 2024 and what factors might have influenced this. Based on our findings, we reflect on policy aspects related to cookies and cookie consent dialogs on hospital websites in Switzerland and other countries.