Thematic Evolution of Digital Health Communication (2010–2025): A Global Bibliometric Analysis and Health Systems Implication

Introduction: Digital transformation of healthcare communication accelerated during COVID-19, yet how the field’s priorities shifted over time remains unclear. This study analyzes thematic evolution from 2010 to 2025 by contrasting the pre-COVID-19 and in-pandemic periods to clarify implications for health systems. Methods: Drawing on the n-gram function in NLTK, the study identifies ten core domains spanning health promotion platforms, eHealth literacy, digital mental health, mHealth, ethics/privacy, misinformation, emergency communication, telehealth, artificial intelligence (AI), and COVID-19 communication. Results: Since 2020, emphasis shifted from promotional outreach to crisis response and service delivery, with short-form and visual platforms gaining salience. Telehealth matured into mainstream infrastructure; misinformation management and trust-building became central; AI was integrated into healthcare; and equity concerns moved to the foreground. Conclusion: These patterns clarify the field’s trajectory and suggest priorities for health systems: embed adaptive multi-platform capacity and behaviorally informed message testing; sustain telehealth with aligned reimbursement, governance, and interoperability; prioritize AI as an assistant; and design for equity by default. The evidence supports recognizing digital communication as core health system infrastructure for resilient, person-centered care beyond emergencies.