Logic Models on Health Information Technology: First Insights from a Cross-Disciplinary Scoping Review.

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Health Information Technology (HIT)
• Digital Health Research

Background:

• Health information technology (HIT) interventions are complex.
• Theory-based approaches like logic models and Theory of Change (ToC) are underutilized in medical informatics.
• These theoretical frameworks can clarify assumptions, link activities to outcomes, and support HIT design and evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review on the application of logic models and ToC in health information technology (HIT) research.
• To examine the use of these theoretical frameworks across various disciplines within HIT research.

Main Methods:

• Adherence to PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines.
• Comprehensive database searches conducted up to August 2025.
• Inclusion of studies explicitly applying logic models or ToC to HIT, with data extraction on HIT type, purpose, benefits, and challenges.

Main Results:

• Sixty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria, with a notable increase in publications after 2020.
• Logic models were predominantly developed for patient-facing HIT, including mHealth and telehealth applications.
• Primary uses included supporting HIT design and evaluation, with reported benefits of conceptual clarity and improved stakeholder communication, while challenges included resource demands and limited generalizability.

Conclusions:

• Logic models and Theory of Change (ToC) show increasing adoption in HIT research but are inconsistently applied and rarely reused.
• Standardized reporting practices and dedicated repositories are needed to enhance theory-informed evaluation in medical informatics.
• Further efforts are required to promote consistent and reusable application of theoretical frameworks in HIT research.