Journal of Medical Internet Research

Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly being used for text-based emotional support. However, general-purpose LLMs may not consistently recognize emotional cues, adapt supportive strategies to contexts, or generate responses aligned with psychologically informed communication. The limited availability of large-scale, structured Chinese counseling data further constrains the development of models for context-sensitive emotional support.

AI is a broad field encompassing various techniques, which include algorithms that learn from data to perform automated tasks without explicit human programming. Public health aims to protect and improve the health of communities and populations at the local, regional, national, and global levels, but it typically has limited resources. While AI may lead to improved efficiency or effectiveness of public health interventions, the adoption of AI interventions should be informed by evidence of effective use in practice.

Addressing the burnout epidemic among health care providers remains one of the foremost challenges of modern health care systems. Past researchers have turned to passively gathered biometric data from wearable devices to identify key variables that predict burnout. However, this has resulted in limited success.

Digital health interventions, including mobile health apps, increasingly complement outpatient mental health care. In Germany, certified digital health applications (DiGA [Digitale Gesundheitsanwendungen]) can be prescribed and reimbursed in the statutory health care system. However, real-world evidence on patient-reported use of DiGA for mental disorders remains limited.

Digital health technologies are transforming health care by improving access, efficiency, and quality of care. However, recent studies highlight that digitalization can unintentionally reinforce or deepen existing social and health inequalities, as not all population groups benefit equally from digital progress. The concept of digital determinants of health (DDoH) has emerged to better capture how digital factors shape health opportunities and outcomes. The systematic incorporation of DDoH and other health determinants shaped by digitalization into strategic planning remains limited. As a result, health systems may lack structured approaches to identify them and anticipate their equity implications.

AI-enabled patient profiling has been proposed to organize heterogeneous patient data and support personalized nursing care and health support. Given the growing use of AI, machine learning, large language models (LLMs), digital phenotyping, and digital twins in health care, it is important to clarify how patient profiling has been conceptualized, applied, and evaluated in nursing-relevant contexts.

Emerging evidence indicates that immersive virtual reality can be used therapeutically and has demonstrated efficacy in promoting the mental health of older adults. Nevertheless, there remains a paucity of qualitative research examining the specific experiences underpinning these benefits.

Medication nonadherence remains a major global health challenge, contributing to preventable disease, hospitalizations, and health care costs. Mobile health (mHealth) apps incorporating gamification and financial incentives have shown potential to improve adherence; however, most research has focused on patient perspectives, with limited understanding of how nonpatient stakeholders perceive their feasibility, risks, and implementation. Understanding nonpatient stakeholder perspectives in relation to patient viewpoints is essential for informing future policy development and establishing practical, industry-supported safeguards that protect consumers while enabling innovation.

Meyer-Keirath and colleagues found no significant difference in posttreatment symptoms between video-based and face-to-face psychotherapy. However, the wide confidence interval indicates substantial imprecision, while the prediction interval suggests that comparative effects may vary considerably across settings; neither supports a conclusion of equivalence. For health services, symptom outcomes alone tell only part of the story. Future studies should report, by randomized group, who starts treatment, who discontinues it, and who completes the final assessment. These are distinct outcomes that may differ between delivery formats and affect the interpretation of symptom results. Video-based psychotherapy is a reasonable option, but its value should be assessed across the full treatment pathway. Adequately powered noninferiority trials should identify which patients can access, remain in, and benefit from each format.

Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective for HIV prevention, but its real-world impact depends on sustained adherence. Long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) may reduce the burden of daily or event-driven pill use. In China, many oral PrEP users obtain medication online, but little is known about their prior CAB-LA awareness or willingness to consider it.

Electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) can support patient-centered oncology care, but in early breast cancer, it is unclear whether real-time ePRO-triggered triage adds benefit beyond lower-intensity app-based support and scheduled ePRO collection.