JMIR Formative Research

Smartphone-based digital phenotyping has emerged as a promising approach for monitoring mental health using passive behavioral data. Prior studies have linked smartphone-derived features to depression and anxiety severity; however, knowledge regarding whether short-term changes in symptoms can be captured using passive smartphone data in general population samples remains limited, as does the understanding of how such findings should be interpreted vis-à-vis behavioral patterns and demographic variability.

Medical and welfare facilities in the Noto region of Japan were severely affected by the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake and subsequent torrential rains. Staff working in these facilities were disaster survivors and frontline caregivers with limited psychological support. Nonverbal social robots may provide companionship and emotional comfort; however, their effects on the health-related quality of life (QoL) and well-being of care staff in disaster-affected settings remain unclear.

Psychological distress is common among patients with cancer, and it negatively impacts treatment adherence and quality of life. Radiotherapy, with its unique procedures, such as daily sessions and physical immobilization, may induce distress distinct from general cancer anxiety. However, existing screening tools cannot differentiate these distress sources. This study leverages online patient narratives and natural language processing to distinguish radiotherapy-specific distress from general cancer distress.

Patients with facial paralysis require detailed clinical assessment and long-term follow-up to monitor facial function. The current standard of care for evaluating facial symmetry and movement uses validated clinician scoring tools such as the House-Brackmann facial paralysis score or the Electronic Clinician-Graded Facial Function Scale (eFACE). Existing tools are difficult to use in normal clinic workflows and do not provide real-time facial movement tracking, representing an unmet need. Therefore, we developed FaceADE, a novel iOS app leveraging native 3D image acquisition capabilities on the iPhone to rapidly quantify facial movement in patients with facial paralysis.

Serious games are increasingly used in professional health education and maternal health promotion. However, most pregnancy-related digital interventions target specific behaviors and do not provide a comprehensive, longitudinal simulation of the pregnancy journey that incorporates psychosocial and administrative aspects.

mWorks is a co-designed, web-based self-management intervention developed to empower persons with common mental disorders who are on sick leave during the return-to-work process. However, limited knowledge of how mWorks is delivered and engaged with in real-world settings constrains further development and implementation. In line with the Medical Research Council framework for complex intervention evaluation, such an approach is required to examine (1) contextual factors influencing implementation, (2) fidelity and variation in delivery, and (3) how service users and professionals experience and respond to the intervention.

Remote measurement technology (RMT) is increasingly used in health research to collect real-world data relevant to clinical states (eg, sleep, activity, and stress). Concerns exist about the impact of remote tracking via personal devices and wearables on individuals with or at risk of eating disorders (EDs) by promoting a focus on exercise, diet, and appearance. There is a lack of research applying RMT to EDs.

Very low uptake in workplace semen analysis research is difficult to interpret, particularly in employer-adjacent settings, where nonparticipation may reflect limited recruitment reach, limited understanding of the occupational rationale, low perceived relevance, or procedure-related concerns.

Parents increasingly consult the internet, both websites and, more recently, artificial intelligence chatbots, for information on autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the comparative quality of these two source types, especially across languages, remains underexplored.

In older adults with chronic constipation, symptoms of defecation difficulty often persist despite improvements in bowel movement frequency. However, constipation-related symptoms have rarely been examined as independent outcomes.

Heart failure is a chronic condition that significantly impacts patients’ quality of life and increases health care burden. Effective self-monitoring and lifestyle modification are essential components of heart failure management and can support improved health outcomes. Mobile health technologies, such as smartphone apps, are increasingly used to assist patients with heart failure in self-management. However, evidence regarding patient engagement, user experience, and the effectiveness of these mobile health tools remains limited and continues to evolve.

The current level of insulin knowledge, attitudes, and practices of patients self-administering their first insulin injection needs to be improved. There is an emerging need to develop a program for patients self-administering their first insulin injection based on the e-coach model derived from the temporal self-regulation theory.