JMIR J Med Internet Res Journal of Medical Internet Research 1438-8871 JMIR Publications Toronto, Canada v26i1e60025 39496147 10.2196/60025 Research Letter Research Letter Advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Through Digital Health Research: 25 Years of Contributions From the Journal of Medical Internet Research Eysenbach Gunther Ibeneme Sunny Sahu Aditya Kumar Raman Raghu PhD 1
Amrita School of Business Amrita School of Computing, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Amritapuri Kerala, 690525 India 91 9895028779 raghu@amrita.edu
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0851-9742 Singhania Monica PhD 2 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2655-2685 Nedungadi Prema PhD 1 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8774-3541 Amrita School of Business Amrita School of Computing, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Kerala India Faculty of Management Studies University of Delhi New Delhi India Corresponding Author: Raghu Raman raghu@amrita.edu 2024 4 11 2024 26 e60025 29 4 2024 27 6 2024 29 6 2024 10 8 2024 ©Raghu Raman, Monica Singhania, Prema Nedungadi. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 04.11.2024. 2024

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 sustainable development goal topic modeling public health surveillance gender equality non-communicable disease social media COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus machine learning artificial intelligence AI digital health Introduction

Celebrating 25 years of the Journal of Medical Internet Research’s influence, we examine its contributions to the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs) [1]. Our study explores the interconnectedness of the SDGs using the SDG framework [2]. We aimed to:

Analyze Journal of Medical Internet Research publications using a topic modeling approach to identify predominant topics;

Map these topics to relevant SDGs to illustrate the journal’s impact on global health and equity;

Demonstrate the interdisciplinary nature of digital health research and its relevance to sustainable development.

 Methods

Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive search on Scopus for articles published between 1999 and 2023 and found 8124 publications. Using inbuilt SDG mapping queries, we narrowed the results to 3550 publications (Multimedia Appendix 1) to identify relevant topics and their alignment with the SDGs [3]. The analysis used BERTopic, an advanced topic modeling technique, to review 25 years of Journal of Medical Internet Research publications. We used co-citation mapping to visualize SDG linkages and BERTopic to identify semantic connections [4].

 Results

Figure 1 presents a network visualization of SDG interconnectivity to highlight the interdisciplinary nature of the research published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research [5]. Central to this network is SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), which shows strong ties to SDGs 5 (Gender Equality), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). These linkages highlight how advancements in health contribute broadly to gender equality, social equity, justice, and economic development, indicating a holistic approach that integrates health with key SDGs.

Figure 2 shows major topics mapped to SDGs. SDG 3, which accounts for 79.8% of the publications, indicates that the journal primarily focused on health and well-being. Other notably featured SDGs include 9 and 10, with significant contributions to innovation in health care and reducing inequalities. SDGs 5 and 16 are also highlighted, supporting gender equality and the development of peaceful societies. Less-represented SDGs, such as SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SGD 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), suggest expanding research areas, with environmental sustainability goals showing potential for future focus.

Interdisciplinary research published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research as a network of the United Nations sustainable development goals.

Major topics of works published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research mapped to the United Nations SDGs. AI: artificial intelligence; SDG: sustainable development goal.

 Discussion Principal Findings

The 6 topics with significant keywords in the Journal of Medical Internet Research collectively emphasize the use of digital health to address diverse global health challenges, aligning with several SDGs (Multimedia Appendix 2). The significance of these topics is emphasized in studies such as those on chronic disease management [6,7], artificial intelligence (AI)–driven pandemic management [8,9], health care access [10], diabetes and cardiovascular health management [11], social media impact during pandemics [12], and health equity through digital interventions [13,14]. The topics below outline the diverse ways research from this journal has contributed to the SDGs:

Advancing chronic disease management and patient support via digital health:

Highlights how digital interventions support patients with chronic disease management from diagnosis to recovery, enhancing autonomy and treatment adherence

Aligns with SDG 3

AI-driven pandemic management:

Showcases the use of AI in enhancing health care delivery and informing public health policies during pandemics

Aligns with SDGs 3 and 9

Digital health to bridge gaps in health care access and equity:

Use of digital health technologies to make health care more accessible and equitable

Supports SDGs 10 and 16 by improving access to quality care for underserved populations

Empowering health equity through digital interventions

Centers on reducing health disparities through digital interventions (eg, HIV prevention and health care for marginalized populations)

Supports SDG 3.3 in combating communicable diseases

Digital empowerment in diabetes management and cardiovascular health:

Uses digital platforms to improve self-care, clinical outcomes, and health literacy in managing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases

Aligns with SDG 3.4 in reducing mortality from noncommunicable diseases

Navigating public sentiment and information flow on social media during pandemics:

Explores how social media can shape public sentiment and spread information during health crises, including how misinformation affects public behavior and governance

Digitization can negatively impact the SDGs. COVID-19 worsened digital inequity, deepening divides in racialized communities and limiting access to essential services [15]. Significant challenges and financial losses in web-based research with underserved populations exist, emphasizing digitalization’s negative impact on data quality and resource efficiency [16]. To enhance the contributions of the Journal of Medical Internet Research to SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), we recommend prioritizing interdisciplinary research, launching special issues on these topics, forming partnerships with educational and environmental organizations, promoting specific funding opportunities, and organizing workshops.

 Limitations and Conclusion

Our study is constrained by the selected database and SDG mapping approach, which may limit its comprehensiveness. Additionally, while BERTopic modeling offers robust analysis, its inherent limitations and the subjective nature of topic interpretation could lead to oversimplifications and biases, necessitating expert review and validation. Despite these limitations, this study underscores the pivotal role of the Journal of Medical Internet Research in advancing the UN SDGs.

Dataset generated and analyzed during this study.

Major topics, top keywords, and SDG focus. AI: artificial intelligence; SDG: sustainable development goal.

 Abbreviations AI

artificial intelligence

 PRISMA

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

 SDG

sustainable development goal

 UN

United Nations

 Data Availability

The dataset generated and analyzed during this study is available in Multimedia Appendix 1.

None declared.

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