Nelson Advisors referenced in JMIR Mental Health article 'Expected Competencies and Personal Attributes of Digital Health Navigators to Support Digital Mental Health Care'

Nelson Advisors has been referenced in the JMIR Mental Health article 'Expected Competencies and Personal Attributes of Digital Health Navigators to Support Digital Mental Health Care'

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/org/science/article/pii/S2368795926000417

Digital mental health apps (DMHAs), and in particular digital therapeutics (DTx), offer promising opportunities to support mental health care. However, their effective use in outpatient settings in Germany remains limited. To overcome this gap, the role of digital health navigators (DHNs) has been introduced. DHNs are trained individuals who support patients and health care professionals in selecting, using, and integrating DMHAs into care. Despite increasing interest in this role, there is limited evidence on the competencies, knowledge, and personal attributes required for DHNs to work effectively in mental health settings.

However, widespread adoption remains limited in Germany [20,21]. Several key factors contribute to this [20,22], including the fact that many health care professionals (HCPs), particularly physicians, lack sufficient knowledge and awareness of DTx, their benefits, and effective implementation strategies. Time constraints faced by HCPs also pose a challenge, limiting their capacity for patient onboarding and explaining DTx usage. The complexities of integrating DTx into existing health care workflows, alongside concerns surrounding data security and patient privacy, represent additional barriers to their widespread adoption [23]. Furthermore, low patient adherence and engagement significantly hinder the successful integration of DTx [24], as well as low digital literacy among patients and HCPs [25-27].

21) The German Digital Health Act (DiGa): strategy, impact, challenges and future direction
Healthcare.digital (2025)
https://www.healthcare.digital/single-post/the-german-digital-health-act-diga-strategy-impact-challenges-and-future-direction