Journal of Medical Internet Research
The leading peer-reviewed journal for digital medicine and health and health care in the internet age.
Editor-in-Chief:
Gunther Eysenbach, MD, MPH, FACMI, Founding Editor and Publisher; Adjunct Professor, School of Health Information Science, University of Victoria, Canada
Impact Factor 5.8 CiteScore 14.4
Recent Articles
The security and privacy of health care information are crucial for maintaining the societal value of health care as a public good. However, governance over electronic health care data has proven inefficient, despite robust enforcement efforts. Both federal (HIPAA [Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act]) and state regulations, along with the ombudsman rule, have not effectively reduced the frequency or impact of data breaches in the US health care system. While legal frameworks have bolstered data security, recent years have seen a concerning increase in breach incidents. This paper investigates common breach types and proposes best practices derived from the data as potential solutions.
Social media platforms have transformed the dissemination of health information, allowing for rapid and widespread sharing of content. However, alongside valuable medical knowledge, these platforms have also become channels for the spread of health misinformation, including false claims and misleading advice, which can lead to significant public health risks. Susceptibility to health misinformation varies and is influenced by individuals’ cultural, social, and personal backgrounds, further complicating efforts to combat its spread.
Evaluation research increasingly needs alternatives to target or gross rating points to comprehensively measure total exposure to modern multichannel public education campaigns that use multiple channels, including TV, radio, digital video, and paid social media, among others. Ratings data typically only capture delivery of broadcast media (TV and radio) and excludes other channels. Studies are needed to validate objective cross-channel metrics such as impressions against self-reported exposure to campaign messages.
Malaria infection is associated with many adverse outcomes for pregnant women and neonates, yet pregnant women in East and Southern Africa remain frequently exposed to malaria. Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) can help prevent malarial infections and the associated adverse events. The Hati Salama (HASA) study was a cluster-randomized controlled trial implemented in 100 antenatal health facilities in urban and rural settings of Tanzania that provided pregnant women in both intervention and control groups with e-vouchers to redeem for LLINs for malaria prevention. The intervention group received behavior change communication mobile messages across a 14-day period while the e-voucher was active, and no significant difference between the rates of e-voucher redemption was found across the two groups.
Video abstracts can be useful in health research. A video abstract provides key messages about a research article and can increase public engagement, spark conversations, and may increase academic attention. A growing number of open source software programs make it easier to develop a video abstract. This viewpoint provides practical tips for creating a video abstract for health research.
Recent surveys indicate that 48% of consumers actively use generative artificial intelligence (AI) for health-related inquiries. Despite widespread adoption and the potential to improve health care access, scant research examines the performance of AI chatbot responses regarding emergency care advice.
eHealth literacy is critical for evaluating abilities in locating, accessing, and applying digital health information to enhance one’s understanding, skills, and attitudes toward a healthy lifestyle. Prior research indicates that enhancing eHealth literacy can improve health behaviors such as physical activity (PA). Physical literacy (PL) refers to the ability to develop sustainable PA habits, taking into account various aspects of an individual. Notably, university students have shown a decline in PA and possess low PL levels. However, the connection between eHealth literacy and PL in this demographic has not been extensively studied, and it remains uncertain whether PA acts as a mediator between eHealth literacy and PL.
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