JMIR Human Factors

Hospital-based makerspaces have emerged as collaborative environments for technical innovation, where designers cocreate with health care professionals and patients to resolve specific problems experienced in practice. As end users, patients can offer unique insights that could drive the development of patient-centered health care services or research. However, cocreation with patients within a makerspace environment is still rare—representing a missed opportunity to use their insights to develop innovations that meet their needs. Patient-designer interactions are underaddressed in the literature, and a deeper understanding could enhance their effectiveness.

Mental health problems are prevalent among young people aged 16 to 24 years. With the health care system prioritizing severe cases, most young people wait months before accessing professional support. One-to-one helplines offer alternative and accessible mental health services for young people with emotional support, psychoeducation, and signposting. Signposting empowers young people to access long-term support beyond a brief helpline session. However, young people often choose not to access the signposts. Despite its importance, there is a dearth of existing research examining signposting via digital mental health helplines for young people.

Youth suicide is a public health crisis. In addition to suicide mortality, many youth experience and live with suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). STBs have serious consequences for youth mental health and are associated with suicide. Despite recognition of the incidence and severity of STBs, barriers to accessing support are prevalent. Digital mental health (DMH) and digitally delivered measurement-based care (MBC) may improve access to treatment among youth and enhance clinical response to suicide risk and crises.

Rare diseases affect approximately 20 million Europeans, presenting unique challenges such as delayed diagnoses, limited therapies, and significant personal and financial burden. While resilience-supporting factors such as peer support are available and artificial intelligence–based diagnostic tools are being developed further, there is a lack of a dedicated online social network connecting patients, caregivers, relatives, and experts. This study presents the development and preliminary findings of Unrare.me, a novel social network designed to provide a secure space for experts and individuals affected by rare and chronic diseases (diagnosed and undiagnosed).

Approximately 19% of adults in Europe are affected by chronic pain, which reduces the quality of life. Pain-management mobile health (mHealth) apps offer a promising solution for self-management, but user engagement and adherence can limit their clinical impact. User experience design and research play a crucial role in optimizing usability and long-term adoption of digital health interventions.

Taiwan’s status as a super-aged society underscores the need for efficient strategies to promote healthy aging. While the benefits of mindfulness-based interventions for sleep and mental health are evident, there is a shortage of cultural adaptations for Taiwan’s older adults. Current courses mainly focus on mindfulness-based stress reduction, while neglecting mindfulness-based elder care, and mindful sustainable aging principles. However, the abstract nature of some mindfulness concepts, combined with limited digital support and localized resources, makes it challenging for older adults to engage effectively.

Hospitals face increasing pressure to accelerate digital transformation. Modifiable off-the-shelf technologies (MOTs) combine standardized products with limited adaptability, offering promising opportunities for rapid digitalization. However, implementing MOTs in complex hospital settings involves multiple barriers, facilitators, and organizational dynamics that require deeper investigation.

There are around 20,000 mental health apps available in app stores. The Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps (ORCHA), a United Kingdom digital health compliance company, has assessed a number of digital mental health apps with regard to their quality, professional and clinical assurance, data privacy, and user experience. This study analyzes the data that were collected by ORCHA when they assessed mental health apps.

Digital interventions for mental health and well-being are increasingly moving beyond screen-based applications toward more embodied approaches, necessitating design methodologies that emphasize bodily experiences. Soma design offers a distinctive interaction design approach that integrates bodily awareness with aesthetic appreciation, viewing the mind and body as an inseparable whole.

It is unclear why some smartphone apps designed for people with psychosis are engaging, while others are not. One possible explanation is the apps’ persuasive features and the operationalization and implementation of these features.

The utility of online engagement in enhancing quality of life and mitigating social isolation among older adults is well documented. However, its relationship with cognitive functioning, particularly through online engagement, requires further exploration.

Digital health interventions can be effective at changing behavior, but achieving long-term adherence remains a challenge. One psychological barrier to health behavior change is , or the tendency to prefer smaller, short-term rewards over larger, long-term rewards. Episodic Future Thinking (EFT) can disrupt future discounting and is a promising technique for improving health behavior, but such interventions have not been co-designed to address end user needs.