DIGITAL HEALTH最新文献

{"title":"Wandering at the crossroads of using a smartphone among nursing home residents: A qualitative descriptive study.","authors":"Qiyuan Huang, Yuanfeng Lu, Sheng Wu, Wan Cheng, Huangqin Liu, Huimin Xiao","doi":"10.1177/20552076251386671","DOIUrl":"10.1177/20552076251386671","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Internet has been integrated into various aspects of senior life. However, the popularity of digitization does not mean that digital devices are well-inclusive. It is considered important to explore the willingness of nursing home residents to use smartphones in the context of the development of \"Digital China.\"</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To explore the perceptions and concerns of smartphone use in nursing home residents.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The study employed a descriptive qualitative design. A purposive sample of 22 nursing home residents was recruited as participants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data between April 2024 and June 2024. Interviews were transcribed, and analyzed by the qualitative content analysis method.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Nursing home residents were wandering at the crossroads of smartphone use. Four specific categories emerged: (1) Positive appraisal of smartphones' value; (2) Internal cognitive biases in smartphone use; (3) Objective constraints on smartphone use; and (4) Practical strategies for digital inclusion. Their cognitive biases involved low perceived usefulness, lack of basic knowledge, and technological anxiety; and the objective constraints were physical aging, unfriendly operating systems, and poor digital inclusion environments. Residents expected instrumental digital support including visual smartphone use guidelines, peer or intergenerational beside guidance, and digital life scenarios.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study clarifies the subjective and objective challenges encountered by nursing home residents in using smartphones. It provides fresh insights from the perspective of nursing home residents for developing environmentally sensitive digital inclusion intervention strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":51333,"journal":{"name":"DIGITAL HEALTH","volume":"11 ","pages":"20552076251386671"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12508548/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145281719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prediction of new-onset atrial fibrillation in sepsis patients by machine learning: A systematic review.","authors":"Shuxuan Ye, Wan Xu, Zhiyu Jiang, Yujie Zhan, Yuqiang Shen, Lan Su, Keda Yang, Bin Ju","doi":"10.1177/20552076251384237","DOIUrl":"10.1177/20552076251384237","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>New-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) occurs in approximately 23% of patients with sepsis and is independently associated with increased mortality. Therefore, early prediction of NOAF has significant clinical value. However, current artificial intelligence (AI) models predominantly rely on tabular data. These unimodal AI models face limitations in predicting NOAF as they fail to fully utilize the predictive potential arising from the interplay of multimodal data.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We reviewed current Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) approaches for atrial fibrillation (AF) prediction. It summarizes the selected features in ML models for predicting AF in ICU patients, and the advantages of time-window selection in DL models using electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. Notably, we compared these models in terms of feature selection, prediction horizons, and performance when applied to tabular data and ECG signal features. To enhance the predictive capability of ML for NOAF in patients with sepsis, we drew inspiration from multimodal models developed for other diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, and proposed integrating tabular data and ECG signal data within a multimodal framework.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This study systematically analyzed the application of ML and DL in AF prediction. After screening, 12 studies (6 ML, 6 DL) were included. ML models, based on electronic medical records (EMR) or ECG features, achieved prediction windows ranging from minutes to hours with AUCs of 0.74-0.90. DL models processing raw ECG signals extended prediction windows to days, achieving AUCs of 0.74-0.96, with performance improving with larger datasets. A Transformer-based multimodal model (integrating clinical data and ECG) was proposed to enhance AF prediction in sepsis patients, though further validation is needed for cross-modal data fusion feasibility.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Transitioning from unimodal predictive models to multimodal frameworks that combine tabular clinical data and raw ECG signals is feasible within the current deep-learning framework. This approach has the potential to significantly improve the early prediction capabilities of NOAF in sepsis patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":51333,"journal":{"name":"DIGITAL HEALTH","volume":"11 ","pages":"20552076251384237"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12508553/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145281717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effects of online media use on the mental health of Chinese older adults: A multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) model.","authors":"Xue Zhang, Ning Lu, Jing Dai, Yunjuan Yang, Nannan Xu, Qi Qi, Xuan He, Wei Li","doi":"10.1177/20552076251383393","DOIUrl":"10.1177/20552076251383393","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Online media has become an increasingly important part of older adults' daily lives in the digital era. This study aims to examine the effects of online media use and its frequency on the mental health of older adults in China, with a particular focus on the mediating role of life satisfaction.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using data from the 2020 wave of the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), this study analyzed a nationally representative sample of 3118 Chinese older adults. A multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) model was employed to assess the impact of both online media use types and usage frequency on mental health. Further mediation analysis was conducted to investigate whether life satisfaction mediates these relationships. Sensitivity analyses were performed using different estimators (maximum likelihood (ML), asymptotic distribution free (ADF), and generalized structural equation model (GSEM)), and robustness was tested with 2016 and 2018 CLASS data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Findings show that both online media use and online media use frequency are significantly and positively associated with mental health among Chinese older adults. Specifically, informational media (e.g. News reading app), entertainment platforms (e.g. TikTok and Kwai), and utility tools (e.g. Alipay and Taobao) exhibit strong positive effects, with news reading app showing the most prominent impact. A dose-response pattern was observed: older adults who engage with online media more frequently report better mental health outcomes. Notably, life satisfaction serves as a significant mediator in these relationships, accounting for 12.8% of the total effect of media use and 5.4% of the effect of use frequency on mental health.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Online media use, especially frequent engagement with digital platforms, enhances older adults' mental health, not only directly but also indirectly by improving life satisfaction. These results offer valuable empirical evidence for understanding the mechanisms through which digital participation promotes psychological wellbeing in later life and highlight the importance of fostering digital literacy and inclusive media environments for the aging population.</p>","PeriodicalId":51333,"journal":{"name":"DIGITAL HEALTH","volume":"11 ","pages":"20552076251383393"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12501440/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145253651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Theoretical appraisal of explanatory paradigms for artificial intelligence usage by medical doctors.","authors":"Lemuel Clark Velasco, Wei-Tsong Wang","doi":"10.1177/20552076251384221","DOIUrl":"10.1177/20552076251384221","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into medical practice has generated both enthusiasm and hesitation among physicians, yet no comprehensive theoretical appraisal has systematically evaluated the paradigms used to explain this phenomenon. This study aims to critically assess existing theories, conceptual models, and frameworks to determine their capacity to explain AI acceptance and resistance among medical doctors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A structured critical examination was conducted using the developed T2P2 criteria, which categorizes 12 evaluation dimensions into theoretical, technological, professional, and personal groups. A structured paradigm search across Scopus and Web of Science research articles identified 28 peer-reviewed studies that applied 21 distinct paradigms to examine AI usage by physicians. Each paradigm was then evaluated using a trichotomous rating scale alongside interpretive analysis to assess both quantitative alignment and conceptual coherence.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the evaluated paradigms, the Social Cognitive Theory, Self-Determination Theory, and Dual Factor Model consistently met the T2P2 criteria, demonstrating strong explanatory sufficiency across internal psychological mechanisms and external structural factors. Other paradigms, while useful in specific contexts, often exhibited insufficiency in intelligent systems relevance, complimentary duality, professional functionality, specialization applicability, pedagogical usability, and healthcare context specificity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study clarifies the theoretical robustness of existing paradigms in explaining AI usage among medical doctors, highlighting the need for integrative paradigms that account for both cognitive-motivational and socio-technical factors. The findings inform IS researchers, clinicians, and policymakers on selecting appropriate explanatory paradigms for responsible AI integration in healthcare.</p>","PeriodicalId":51333,"journal":{"name":"DIGITAL HEALTH","volume":"11 ","pages":"20552076251384221"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12501463/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145253289","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Older persons' experiences of one-to-one in-home support for their digital needs: A qualitative study of a Digital Coach service.","authors":"Elisabeth Berglund Kristiansson, Cecilia Åberg, Anna K Dahl Aslan, Mia Berglund","doi":"10.1177/20552076251384828","DOIUrl":"10.1177/20552076251384828","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Older persons (those 65 years of age and older) have the lowest digital competence and are thus at an increased risk of exclusion from a digitalizing society. To bridge this digital divide, several Swedish municipalities have introduced a service called Digital Coach (DC), where older persons can request in-home support for their digital needs. Little is known about older persons' experiences of this unique service.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To study older persons' experiences of one-to-one in-home support, with their digital needs, through the DC service.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative study was conducted through interviews, and the data were analysed using qualitative content analysis following the approach of Graneheim and Lundman.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The older persons (<i>n</i> = 14) expressed awareness of the importance of digital competence to keep up with the times to avoid exclusion and vulnerability. They requested support to become part of a digital society. The DC service was experienced as providing respectful support at home, which is considered a calm, safe environment. They expressed that the support made them feel valued and increased opportunities for independence and social participation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Older persons found one-to-one in-home support to be the optimal form of support for their digital needs. The support gave them the best conditions to achieve digital competence, and without the support, would have felt stranded. Efforts to support older persons' digital competence should be based on the older persons' own digital needs and be provided in their home.</p>","PeriodicalId":51333,"journal":{"name":"DIGITAL HEALTH","volume":"11 ","pages":"20552076251384828"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12495190/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145234039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perceptions and telemonitoring potential of smart toothbrushes among dental professionals and the public: A cross-sectional survey.","authors":"Yiseul Choi, Jaeyeon Kim, Yoolbin Song, Wonse Park","doi":"10.1177/20552076251382816","DOIUrl":"10.1177/20552076251382816","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Toothbrushing is a fundamental method for maintaining oral hygiene and preventing oral diseases. However, verifying proper brushing techniques remains challenging without professional feedback. With advancements in digital healthcare, smart toothbrushes equipped with self-tracking features offer potential for telemonitoring oral hygiene. This study aimed to assess awareness, perception, and potential telemonitoring applications of smart toothbrushes among dental professionals and the general public.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between September and October 2023, targeting 600 participants, including 200 dentists, 200 dental hygienists, and 200 members of the general public. The questionnaire evaluated demographics, oral hygiene behaviors, familiarity with smart toothbrushes, willingness to use or pay for telemonitoring services, and preferences regarding app functions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>More than 85% of participants reported that they were unfamiliar with smart toothbrushes. Nevertheless, 80% of dental professionals and 87% of the general public indicated willingness to recommend or use them. Females and younger individuals showed higher expectations regarding the effectiveness of smart toothbrushes, while older adults demonstrated greater willingness to pay for professional feedback. App feature preferences differed by age and sex, with younger participants favoring interactive functions and older adults preferring educational content. A notable discrepancy was observed between patients and professionals in terms of acceptable service fees.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite low awareness, both professionals and the public showed strong interest in adopting smart toothbrushes. For successful integration into telemonitoring, strategies to enhance public awareness, address financial barriers, and develop user-centred systems are essential.</p>","PeriodicalId":51333,"journal":{"name":"DIGITAL HEALTH","volume":"11 ","pages":"20552076251382816"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12495205/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145234037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cognitive abilities and internet use among older adults in the Czech Republic and Slovenia.","authors":"Peter Seljak, Tomas Dosedel, Barbara Grintal, Zdenka Milič Kavčič, Jana Goriup, Voyko Kavcic","doi":"10.1177/20552076251380646","DOIUrl":"10.1177/20552076251380646","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Information and communication technologies (ICT) now play a vital role in addressing a wide range of personal and societal needs across various domains. This cross-sectional study investigates the association between cognitive abilities and ICT use among older adults in the Czech Republic and Republic of Slovenia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe wave 8 (2019) for the Czechia and Slovenia. Cognitive abilities were measured through 10-word list learning tasks and numeracy tests, while digital engagement was assessed by the frequency of internet use in the past 7 days.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Descriptive analyses and regression modeling revealed that higher cognitive abilities were significantly associated with greater ICT use in both Czechia and Slovenia, even after excluding individuals with probable cognitive impairments. This association remained robust after controlling for age, education, gender, and living arrangements. In addition to advancing age, lower cognitive functioning emerged as a key predictor of digital exclusion. Notably, by age 85, only 30% of cognitively healthy individuals in Czechia and 20% in Slovenia reported using internet.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Cognitive functioning is a significant and independent predictor of ICT use among older adults in both Czechia and Slovenia. Even after accounting for demographic and social factors, individuals with higher cognitive abilities were more likely to engage with digital technologies. These findings highlight the importance of integrating cognitive health into digital inclusion strategies targeting older populations, particularly in aging societies where technological access is essential for social participation and well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":51333,"journal":{"name":"DIGITAL HEALTH","volume":"11 ","pages":"20552076251380646"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12495204/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145234051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The associations between patterns of Internet use and depressive symptoms among older adults in China: A latent class analysis.","authors":"Rong Ji, Yuqian Sheng, Caiqi Zheng, Weichao Chen","doi":"10.1177/20552076251384837","DOIUrl":"10.1177/20552076251384837","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Depression is increasingly becoming a global concern among older adults. Many existing studies have found an association between Internet use and mental health in later life. However, most of this research has relied on a variable-centered approach, which may overlook the heterogeneity in Internet use behaviors. We adopted a person-centered approach to explore distinct patterns of Internet use and their associations with depressive symptoms among older adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using data from the 2022 China Family Panel Studies, 3975 older adults (aged ≥ 60 years) reported their Internet use and depressive symptoms after excluding samples with missing core values. Latent class analysis (LCA) was employed to analyze the potential classification of Internet use.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>LCA identified three distinct Internet use profiles: low digital engagement (Class 1, 51.4%), active social engagement (Class 2, 36.1%), and high comprehensive digital engagement (Class 3, 12.5%). Compared to Class 1, both Classes 2 and 3 showed negative associations with depressive symptoms. Heterogeneity analyses revealed that adults under 70 years, males, and rural residents demonstrated stronger associations between Internet use and reduced depressive symptoms.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Internet use has a significant negative impact on depressive symptoms. The results provide an empirical reference for the prevention and intervention of mental disorders in older adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":51333,"journal":{"name":"DIGITAL HEALTH","volume":"11 ","pages":"20552076251384837"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12495201/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145234034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Home-based telerehabilitation for pediatric neurological motor disorders: Current trends and future perspectives. A systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Valeria Calcaterra, Luca Marin, Luca Guardamagna, Alessandro Gatti, Virginia Rossi, Pamela Patanè, Matteo Vandoni, Gianvincenzo Zuccotti","doi":"10.1177/20552076251357504","DOIUrl":"10.1177/20552076251357504","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Telerehabilitation is a rapidly growing area within telehealth, providing clinical rehabilitation services through telecommunication technologies to enhance accessibility, improve care quality, and support patient functionality. Pediatric motor rehabilitation has gained increasing recognition for its vital role in promoting neuromotor development, coordination, and independence in children with congenital or acquired motor disabilities. This systematic review analyzed home-based telerehabilitation interventions for pediatric neurological motor disorders, from the neonatal period onward, aiming to outline current trends and future directions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A comprehensive search was conducted across Medline, EBSCO, and Web of Science, covering records up to February 2025. Peer-reviewed articles were included without restrictions on study design. The focus was on pediatric and adolescent populations with neurodevelopmental or neuromuscular disorders undergoing telerehabilitation or remote rehabilitative interventions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings support the potential efficacy of tele-neurorehabilitation in improving motor outcomes, with promising results for children with cerebral palsy and hemiplegia. Interventions were shown to enhance motor function (SMD = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.72), range of motion (SMD = 0.31; 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.51), and walking ability (SMD = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.46), suggesting that remote rehabilitation can be an effective complement or alternative to traditional in-person therapy in pediatric care. Moreover, beyond functional improvements, several studies reported positive effects on children's quality of life, highlighting the broader psychosocial benefits of remote interventions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results underscore the holistic value of telerehabilitation, reinforcing its role as a comprehensive and accessible strategy in pediatric rehabilitation services. Multidimensional assessments are essential to capture the broader benefits of telerehabilitation and to guide the development of more holistic, child- and family-centered care models.</p>","PeriodicalId":51333,"journal":{"name":"DIGITAL HEALTH","volume":"11 ","pages":"20552076251357504"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12495214/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145234059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Views on the usability and usefulness of the PeerConnect app among Ontario public safety professionals.","authors":"Gillian Foley, Marcella Cassiano, Rosemary Ricciardelli","doi":"10.1177/20552076251384142","DOIUrl":"10.1177/20552076251384142","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Public safety professionals (PSPs) (e.g. police officers, correctional workers, and paramedics) are regularly exposed to potentially psychologically traumatic events that leave them vulnerable to occupational and posttraumatic stress injuries. In response, PSP organizations have developed and implemented peer support programs, as well as peer support apps, to promote health awareness among workers. This study was designed to evaluate the usability, usefulness, efficacy (i.e. self-reported mental health), and thoughts moving forward on whether to continue providing the PeerConnect app. A sample of PSPs (<i>N</i> = 455) from across 28 PSP organizations in Ontario, Canada, specifically 14 police services, 13 emergency services, and the Ontario provincial correctional service, participated in an online survey intended to explore PSPs' views and experiences with the app. Of the 455 PSPs surveyed, 226 were PeerConnect users, and 229 were non-users. A series of <i>t</i>-tests and chi-square tests were conducted to compare users and non-users. Overall, the Connect feature was the most used by the PSPs. Among Connect users, 74.8% used the feature primarily to provide peer support, while 21.8% used the feature primarily to receive peer support. When assessing the usefulness of the app, 70.8% of app users were satisfied with the app, although only 40.3% of users found the app \"extremely\" or \"very\" useful in serving their well-being. When asked whether their organization should continue providing access to PeerConnect, 88.9% of users believed so. Findings demonstrate that PSPs who used PeerConnect were generally satisfied with the app and its features; however, there were barriers, such as a lack of internet access at work, that may have prevented non-users from using the app and highlighted the need for refinements in design, implementation, and integration into organizational culture. In response, we suggest public safety organizations consider finding innovative ways to continue to offer peer support opportunities for PSPs.</p>","PeriodicalId":51333,"journal":{"name":"DIGITAL HEALTH","volume":"11 ","pages":"20552076251384142"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12489217/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145234110","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}