Software Features in eHealth and Speech Applications for Long-Term User Adherence: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

eHealth applications have become increasingly important in supporting healthcare delivery, rehabilitation, and behaviour change, with speech-language therapy emerging as one of the domains benefiting from these technologies. However, the specific software features and design trends driving engagement and effectiveness in this field remain insufficiently mapped. This research applies bibliometric analysis to identify emerging trends in software features implemented in eHealth and speech therapy applications. The analysis included 560 publications retrieved from IEEE Xplore, MEDLINE, Scopus, and the Web of Science Core Collection databases. Performance analysis examined publication trends, geographical distribution, publication sources, and citation impact, while science mapping was conducted to identify key research themes through keyword co-occurrence analysis. The findings reveal that eHealth research is strongly interconnected around themes including gamification, mobile applications, health games, motivation, physical activity, and medication adherence. Gamification represents a central research theme, emphasizing the role of game elements, motivational mechanisms, and Self-Determination Theory in promoting user engagement and long-term participation. Mobile applications provide the main technological context for implementing these mechanisms, while serious games demonstrate their application in healthcare interventions. The results highlight that effective eHealth solutions, including rehabilitation and speech therapy, require not only technological innovation but also theoretically grounded approaches integrating motivation and behaviour change principles.

Keywords: eHealth applications, Software features, Gamification, Adherence, Self-determination Theory, Speech therapy, Stuttering intervention

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1008135