Empowering Citizen Participation in Digital Health: Requirements for Effective e-Participation Platforms

Digital transformation in healthcare creates new opportunities for citizen participation through e-Participation platforms. However, practical and inclusive participation in the development and evaluation of digital health interventions (DHI) remains limited. This multi-method study addresses the requirements for effective digital participation platforms in the health sector. Drawing on systematical platform analyses, interdisciplinary focus groups, and expert interviews, the research identifies key principles such as low-threshold access, participatory features, inclusive design, and transparent processes. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing technological, methodological and social factors, providing evidence-based recommendations for policymakers and platform developers to facilitate sustainable and equitable participation. This work provides a framework for the bridging of theory and practice, thus contributing to more democratic and effective citizen participation in digital health systems.