Special Issue

Aims and Scope

The empowerment of patients is emerging as a central focus in the digital transformation of healthcare. The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), and Explainable AI (XAI) presents an unprecedented opportunity to develop transparent, intuitive, and patient-centered technologies. However, while AI advancements—such as Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning (DL), and Natural Language Processing (NLP)—offer transformative tools for diagnostics, treatment, and personalized care, their complexity often limits patients’ trust, understanding, and engagement.

Patient empowerment relies on solutions that demystify complex AI-driven insights, fostering trust and enabling individuals to actively participate in their healthcare journey. Explainable AI (XAI) addresses this need by making AI outputs interpretable and transparent, ensuring patients can comprehend and trust the information being presented. Combined with HCI principles, XAI-enabled multimedia tools—such as medical videos, images, interactive dashboards, wearable devices, and virtual health assistants—make health data more engaging, accessible, and actionable.

This special issue explores how the convergence of AI, HCI, and multimedia technologies can empower patients through tools that improve health literacy, facilitate informed decision-making, and foster collaboration with clinicians. By prioritizing patient trust, transparency, and accessibility, these innovations aim to transform healthcare into a truly inclusive and empowering experience.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

Explainable HCI for Multimedia-Enhanced Patient Tools

Explainable Diagnostics and Patient-Centered Interfaces

HCI and XAI in Mental Health Management

Trustworthy and Ethical XAI for Healthcare Multimedia

Patient Education and Engagement Through XAI

Technical and Multimedia Innovations for Healthcare

Ethical and Regulatory Considerations

Enhancing Physician Support Through Integrated AI and Multimedia Solutions

Important Dates

Submission Open: October 20, 2025

Submission Deadline: July 31, 2026

Submission Guidelines

Authors should prepare their manuscript according to the Instructions for Authors available from the Multimedia Tools and Applications website. Authors should submit through the online submission site at https://www.editorialmanager.com/mtap/default.aspx and select "SI 1261 - Empowering Patients Through AI, Multimedia, and Explainable HCI: Innovations in Personalized Healthcare" when they reach the "Article Type" step in the submission process. Submitted papers should present original, unpublished work, relevant to one of the topics of the special issue. All submitted papers will be evaluated on the basis of relevance, significance of contribution, technical quality, scholarship, and quality of presentation, by at least three independent reviewers. It is the policy of the journal that no submission, or substantially overlapping submission, be published or be under review at another journal or conference at any time during the review process. Final decisions on all papers are made by the Editor in Chief.