International Journal of Nursing Information

Virtual Reality Therapy for Reducing Anxiety in Patients with Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis

Awaludin Jahid Abdillah — 2025-07-31

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) presents both a biological challenge and a substantial psychological burden, particularly anxiety, which often disrupts treatment adherence and diminishes patients' quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Virtual Reality (VR) therapy as a non-pharmacological intervention for reducing anxiety levels among DR-TB patients. A quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group approach was employed. A total of 384 participants were recruited from Indonesia and Philippines. Anxiety levels were assessed using the validated Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests to assess within-group changes, and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to control for potential confounding variables and determine between-group differences. The results revealed a statistically significant reduction in anxiety scores in the VR group compared to the control group (p < 0.001), with participants reporting improved emotional regulation and reduced psychological distress. These findings suggested that VR therapy was an effective non-pharmacological strategy for managing anxiety in DR-TB patients. The study contributed to the digital mental health literature by offering culturally relevant evidence on the application of immersive therapy in two high-burden TB countries. Integrating VR therapy into TB care protocols may enhance holistic patient management, particularly in resource-constrained healthcare systems.

The Role of Telemedicine in Digital Transformation Based on Patient Perceptions of Healthcare Accessibility and Efficiency

Khaled Mohamed Salem Blhaj — 2025-07-31

The rapid adoption of telemedicine is transforming global healthcare systems by enhancing access and improving service efficiency, particularly in regions with limited healthcare infrastructure. However, the success of telemedicine depends not only on technology but also on how patients perceive and experience these services. This study aims to investigate the role of telemedicine in advancing digital transformation by analyzing patient perceptions of its impact on healthcare accessibility and service efficiency. A quantitative research method was applied using a structured questionnaire distributed to 150 patients who had used telemedicine services. Participants were selected from two developing countries, Libya and Indonesia, to provide cross-national perspectives. The collected data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling to evaluate the relationships among perceived accessibility, efficiency, and the contribution of telemedicine to digital transformation. The results show that patient perceptions play a significant role in determining the effectiveness of telemedicine in improving access and efficiency. Patients generally view telemedicine as a vital component of digital healthcare transformation, although variations exist due to differences in digital literacy and healthcare infrastructure. This study concludes that telemedicine can significantly support digital transformation if patient-centered design and localized implementation strategies are prioritized. The main contribution of this research is the empirical evidence highlighting the importance of patient perception in digital health adoption and offering insights for policymakers, healthcare providers, and technology developers to enhance telemedicine integration in diverse healthcare systems.

Digital Aromatherapy Solutions: Leveraging Lemon Scent Technology to Alleviate Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnant Women

Reni Anggraeni — 2025-07-31

Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP) are often perceived as normal conditions, yet they can significantly affect a pregnant woman’s quality of life. With limited use of pharmacological treatments due to concerns for fetal safety, digital innovation has opened new opportunities for non-invasive maternal care. One emerging approach is digital aromatherapy, which combines the convenience of technology with the benefits of natural therapy to help alleviate common pregnancy-related discomforts. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a lemon-scented digital aromatherapy intervention in reducing symptoms of NVP. A pre-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design was used, involving 100 pregnant women from Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia. Participants used a mobile-controlled digital diffuser with lemon essential oil for 20 minutes, twice daily, over a period of seven days. The severity of nausea and vomiting was measured using the Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea (PUQE) scale before and after the intervention. The results showed a statistically significant reduction in PUQE scores post-intervention (p < 0.001), indicating a notable decrease in symptom severity. No adverse effects were reported throughout the intervention period. These findings indicate that lemon-based digital aromatherapy is a safe, effective, and accessible complementary approach for managing NVP. This study contributes to the advancement of digital maternal health by introducing a culturally adaptable, user-friendly, and scalable non-pharmacological solution for pregnancy-related symptoms.

Rethinking Climate Justice in the Digital Age: Pathways to Resilient Health Systems for Marginalized Communities

Ashima Jha — 2025-07-31

Climate change is not only an environmental challenge but a profound justice crisis, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities in low- and middle-income regions by intensifying social, economic, and health inequalities. In the digital age, rethinking climate justice requires integrating digital health innovations to strengthen health system resilience and equity. This study aims to reconceptualize climate justice in the digital age by examining the disproportionate health impacts of climate change on marginalized communities, evaluating the potential of digital innovations to strengthen resilient and equitable health systems, and proposing inclusive pathways that align digital transformation with human rights to safeguard vulnerable populations. The research employed a qualitative review and analytical approach, drawing on interdisciplinary literature from environmental sociology, climate policy, human rights law, and international development. It examined the intersection of environmental degradation, social exclusion, and health vulnerabilities, focusing on women, children, indigenous peoples, and ethnic minorities. Findings indicated that digital tools, including telemedicine and mobile health applications, enhanced healthcare access, system responsiveness, and equitable service delivery in climate-impacted regions. However, persistent barriers such as digital divides, weak infrastructure, and insufficiently inclusive governance limited their effectiveness. By bridging climate justice and digital health, the study offered actionable policy pathways and research directions to promote equitable health resilience amid escalating climate risks. These insights underscored the need for an integrated, rights-based, and intersectional framework that aligned digital transformation with climate justice, enabling inclusive policies and interventions that protected vulnerable populations and strengthened long-term health system adaptability.

Users’ Perceptions of Mobile Health Apps: Usability, Communication Enhancement, and Healthcare Service Improvement

Jonathan Rey B. Sulayao — 2025-07-31

The digital transformation in healthcare has driven the emergence of mHealth applications as strategic innovations that bridge the gap between the limitations of conventional service methods and the demands of modern healthcare delivery. However, the effectiveness of mHealth applications largely depends on how users perceive their usability, their role in enhancing communication, and their contribution to improving healthcare services. This study aims to analyze user perceptions of mHealth applications with a focus on three key dimensions: usability, communication enhancement, and healthcare service improvement. A quantitative approach with a cross-sectional survey design was employed, involving 200 participants from Indonesia and the Philippines selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected via an online questionnaire consisting of 15 items and analyzed using multiple linear regression. The findings reveal that, as perceived by mHealth users, usability exerts a significant effect on communication, and communication acts as a strong predictor of healthcare service improvement. Furthermore, increased usability is consistently predicted to enhance communication effectiveness and healthcare quality, whereas reduced usability may potentially diminish both. In conclusion, as perceived by users, mHealth applications have demonstrated clear advantages over conventional service methods in terms of efficiency, accessibility, and continuity of care. This study contributes by integrating usability, communication, and healthcare service improvement into digital health technology adoption literature, while also offering practical guidance for developers and policymakers in creating more efficient, user-friendly, and sustainable healthcare systems based on user perceptions.