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uHealth Interventions and Digital Therapeutics for Better Diseases Prevention and Patient Care

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Care Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 3649

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Silvia Gabrielli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Digital Health Research, Bruno Kessler Foundation, 38122 Trento, Italy
Interests: co-design of digital health interventions; digital therapeutics; persuasive interfaces for personal healthcare; serious games for rehabilitation; virtual reality applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advances in the design of uHealth interventions and digital therapeutics are revolutionizing the way in which current challenges related to prevention and public health are tackled. Digital tools such as virtual coaching systems, virtual reality environments and telecare solutions are providing new opportunities to offer more engaging strategies to promote healthy lifestyles in the non-clinical population and deliver scalable and sustainable therapies that healthcare systems can manage. However, understanding how to best tailor these new digital interventions to the needs and preferences of users is complex, requiring multi-disciplinary knowledge and the use of iterative design and evaluation methods. More evidence-based research is needed to fully assess the feasibility and effectiveness of these new solutions, as this could prevent any possible lack of adherence and engagement by stakeholders that may lower the potential impacts of these solutions on the healthcare system.

In this Special Issue, we will cover the full spectrum of uHealth-related research that includes theoretical, methodological, original qualitative and quantitative research, as well as review articles.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Multimodal Technologies and Interaction.

Prof. Dr. Silvia Gabrielli
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • uHealth
  • evidence-based
  • digital therapeutics
  • behavior-change interventions for health
  • virtual coaching
  • public health interventions
  • prevention
  • healthy lifestyles
  • ehealth services
  • virtual reality

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 911 KB  
Article
Unlocking the Potential of mHealth: Integrating Behaviour Change Techniques in Hypertension App Design
by Emily Motta-Yanac, Riley Victoria, Naomi J. Ellis and Christopher James Gidlow
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(10), 1487; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22101487 - 25 Sep 2025
Viewed by 827
Abstract
Background: Smartphone apps offer a promising avenue for delivering scalable interventions for hypertension self-management. This study aimed to characterise the behaviour change technique ontology (BCTO) elements present in apps available on popular platforms, map the theoretical domains framework (TDF), and describe the apps’ [...] Read more.
Background: Smartphone apps offer a promising avenue for delivering scalable interventions for hypertension self-management. This study aimed to characterise the behaviour change technique ontology (BCTO) elements present in apps available on popular platforms, map the theoretical domains framework (TDF), and describe the apps’ functionalities. Methods: A comprehensive search of app stores was conducted to identify relevant hypertension self-management apps. The identified apps were then analysed for BCTO elements, which were subsequently mapped to TDF. App functionalities and quality were assessed as well. Results: Functionalities such as self-monitoring were consistently observed across all app types, aligning with established hypertension self-management strategies. However, other key functionalities, including goal setting via reminders, communication with healthcare professionals, and data export capabilities, were less prevalent. AI-empowered apps incorporated a broader range of behaviour change techniques compared to non-AI and RCT-tested apps, suggesting a potentially more comprehensive approach to supporting behaviour change. The domains of “Knowledge”, “Emotions”, “Behavioural regulation”, “Skills”, and “Beliefs about Consequences” were most frequently targeted by app developers. AI-empowered apps incorporated a broader range of BCTs compared to non-AI and RCT-tested apps, potentially offering more comprehensive support for behaviour change. Conclusions: While existing hypertension self-management apps incorporate a variety of BCTs, there is room for improvement in terms of incorporating a wider range of functionalities and BCTOs, particularly those targeting more intrinsic and habitual aspects of behaviour. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue uHealth Interventions and Digital Therapeutics for Better Diseases Prevention and Patient Care)
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Review

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20 pages, 1956 KB  
Review
Interoperability as a Catalyst for Digital Health and Therapeutics: A Scoping Review of Emerging Technologies and Standards (2015–2025)
by Kola Adegoke, Abimbola Adegoke, Deborah Dawodu, Akorede Adekoya, Ayoola Bayowa, Temitope Kayode and Mallika Singh
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(10), 1535; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22101535 - 8 Oct 2025
Viewed by 2000
Abstract
Background: Interoperability is fundamental for advancing digital health and digital therapeutics, particularly with the integration of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and federated learning. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where digital infrastructure remains fragmented, face specific challenges in implementing standardized and [...] Read more.
Background: Interoperability is fundamental for advancing digital health and digital therapeutics, particularly with the integration of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and federated learning. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where digital infrastructure remains fragmented, face specific challenges in implementing standardized and scalable systems. Methods: This scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O’Malley framework, refined by Levac et al., and the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. Five databases (PubMed, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and Google Scholar) were searched for peer-reviewed English language studies published between 2015 and 2025. We identified 255 potentially eligible articles and selected a 10% random sample (n = 26) using Stata 18 by StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX, USA, for in-depth data charting and thematic synthesis. Results: The selected studies spanned over 15 countries and addressed priority technologies, including mobile health (mHealth), the use of Health Level Seven (HL7)’s Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) for data exchange, and blockchain. Interoperability enablers include standards (e.g., HL7 FHIR), data governance frameworks, and policy interventions. Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) face common issues related to digital capacity shortages, legacy systems, and governance fragmentation. Five thematic areas were identified: (1) policy and governance; (2) standards-based integration; (3) infrastructure and platforms; (4) emerging technologies; and (5) LMIC implementation issues. Conclusions: Emerging digital health technologies increasingly rely on interoperability standards to scale their operation. Although global standards such as FHIR and the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) are gaining momentum, LMICs require dedicated governance, infrastructure, and capacity investments to make equitable use feasible. Future initiatives can benefit from using science- and equity-informed frameworks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue uHealth Interventions and Digital Therapeutics for Better Diseases Prevention and Patient Care)
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