JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Diet-related Health Recommender Systems (HRS) have gained attention for their potential to provide personalized dietary guidance, particularly for patients with chronic conditions. However, studies on diet-related HRS in healthcare are relatively limited.

Objective:

This study aims to conduct a scoping review of the current research on diet-related HRS for patients with chronic health conditions, identify existing gaps, and suggest future research directions to enhance their effectiveness in healthcare settings.

Methods:

The scoping review was conducted in line with the guidelines of the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) extension for scoping reviews. A search and screening of English and Chinese literature published in 10 databases from January 2010 to October 2024 was carried out. The literature included was subsequently summarized and analyzed.

Results:

Of 4370 studies retrieved, 15 studies were included. Thematic analysis was applied to generate the following themes: basic study information, target users, function structure, recommendation content, implementation of recommendation features, and evaluation of the diet-related HRS.

Conclusions:

Diet-related HRS offer personalized dietary recommendations for patients with chronic health conditions. However, current research in this area is still in its infancy, with a limited number of studies and significant room for improvement. Therefore, future research should focus on expanding their applicability across a wider range of diseases and target users, enhancing the intelligence, accuracy, and user satisfaction of diet-related HRS, standardizing evaluation methods, and improving behavioral changes driven by dietary recommendations. These advancements will collectively enhance the overall effectiveness of diet-related HRS.