JMIR Human Factors

Digital healthcare applications (DiGA) have been integrated into Germany’s healthcare system since 2019, offering certified medical devices for various health conditions. This study focuses on deprexis and Selfapy, the first two permanently approved DiGA for depressive disorders in Germany, to evaluate their usability for people ≥ 60 years. The study’s significance is underscored by the underrepresentation of older people in previous DiGA studies, accompanied with an emergent risk of distribution inequalities for this vulnerable population.

Regular lifestyle modification is crucial for chronic kidney disease (CKD) management, yet older patients often struggle to sustain behavior change and rely on support from their significant others such as family caregivers or partners. In such cases, both members of the dyad require accessible, jointly usable tools to maintain healthier behaviors over time. Given the ubiquity of instant messaging platforms, a digital intervention delivered via such a platform offers strong potential to empower CKD dyads in active lifestyle modification.

Subjective report of pain remains the gold standard for assessing symptoms in patients with chronic pain and their response to analgesics. This subjectivity underscores the importance of understanding patients’ personal narratives, as they offer an accurate representation of the illness experience.

Within the surgical field, there has been an evolution in the application of robotic technology. Fully automatic robotic systems and augmented visualization tools are being introduced and may eventually replace existing surgical extenders, such as the da Vinci surgical system. The literature on public perception of robotic surgery is growing, however, specific drivers of these attitudes remain under investigation.

Mobile health (mHealth), defined as health care facilitated by mobile devices, offers a promising strategy for enhancing disease management and treatment for patients with chronic conditions. However, there is limited information about how patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) use mHealth and their digital preferences.

Palliative care supports individuals with incurable, life-threatening illnesses focusing on symptom management and quality of life. Access to timely care, including essential medications, is often limited, particularly in rural areas, leading to gaps in home-based care. Digital health technologies, including drone-based delivery systems, have potential to address such logistical challenges. For these technologies to be effective, they must be adapted to the specific needs of patients and caregivers, which often differ from general healthcare contexts, especially in remote areas.

The aging population presents challenges for healthcare systems. Assistive technologies (ATs) like telemonitoring, fall detection, and self-monitoring devices offer potential solutions to support older adults and their care. However, successful implementation relies on their acceptance, which remains poorly understood, particularly among non-users.

Digital health tools such as smartphone apps have the potential to improve supportive cancer care. Although numerous smartphone apps for supportive care are available, few are designed using a user-centered approach. Such an approach is crucial for successful implementation, as it may improve user engagement, usability, and adoption in clinical settings.

Telepsychiatry has gained considerable attention, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although various factors influence the choice between online and offline modalities, differences among populations remain underexplored.

The growing prevalence of allergic diseases, alongside a shortage of trained allergists, creates significant challenges in delivering timely care, especially for underserved populations. Telemedicine presents a promising solution, offering remote care through digital tools. While telemedicine has been widely adopted in other fields, its use in allergy care remains underexplored.

Background: Latinas are one of the largest and fastest-growing female ethnic groups in the United States (US) and have high levels of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviors (SB), contributing to a disproportionate burden of chronic health conditions. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) involves the use of smartphone-based data collected in real-time to assess health behaviors and outcomes.

The rapid expansion of virtual care during COVID-19 accelerated the development of Virtual Hospital at Home, a model that delivers hospital-level care in patients’ homes through remote monitoring, virtual communication, and in-person support when required. While Virtual Hospital at Home offers potential to improve patient-centered care and health equity, rapid implementation often overlooked culturally diverse and underserved populations, including South Asian communities who experience disproportionate chronic disease burden and barriers to accessing culturally relevant services. Strategies are needed to ensure equitable design and adoption of Virtual Hospital at Home models.