Improving Patient Education Using Augmented Reality for Spine Fractures: Feasibility Study and Review of Literature.

The mental health of health care providers demands immediate and sustained support. Health care workers experience elevated rates of stress and burnout, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic []. Sustained psychological burden and high workloads have led to a high rate of workforce attrition, leading to a human resource crisis that may take years to resolve []. Issues facing health care workers are complex and can range from high workloads to exposure to workplace violence and/or potentially traumatic situations []. For example, many clinicians feel isolated and unsupported by their workplace [,]. A growing body of literature underlines the value of peer support for health care workers in mitigating the impact of stress and posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD) [,]. Peers understand the unique context of health care work and can therefore be a trusted source of support. Access to peer support, however, can be challenging in some workplace contexts, particularly if there is a negative workplace culture or resource and time pressures that make it difficult to reach out. E–mental health interventions are gaining recognition as a strategy to enable mental health support across different contexts, including the workplace []. Mobile technology can provide accessible, on-demand information and links to support and has the potential to reach a wide range of users, including those in underresourced settings [,]. Access to peer support via mobile technology can also be a cost-effective first-line approach and conduit for professional support within a stepped model of care []. Evidence for the effectiveness of mobile health (mHealth) apps has been noted through systematic reviews and meta-analyses, including evidence for reducing symptoms related to common mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression both in the general population and clinical populations [,]. In addition to studies in the general population, there are a growing number of studies examining the impact of digital mental health interventions in workplace settings []. One systematic review and meta-analysis of mHealth apps implemented in workplace settings found mixed evidence for improving mental health symptoms with poor sustainability of the effects over time []. An umbrella review was published in 2025 of 14 systematic literature reviews of the effectiveness of digital mental health interventions in the workplace (9 systematic reviews and 5 meta-analyses) []. The review noted growing evidence of the small to moderate impact of digital tools on reducing depression, anxiety, and perceived stress.