npj Digital Medicine is an academic journal focusing on digital health. It is part of the Nature Partner Journals (npj) portfolio, an online-only, open-access collection under Nature Research. This affiliation signals a commitment to rigorous scientific standards and broad dissemination of research. The journal publishes high-quality, peer-reviewed research exploring the application of digital technologies in medicine and health. It aims to guide innovation and transform healthcare through digital technologies.
Scope and Published Topics
The journal covers a broad spectrum of topics within digital medicine. It highlights the clinical application and implementation of digital and mobile technologies, virtual healthcare, and innovative uses of artificial intelligence and informatics. Research on digital therapeutics, which are evidence-based software programs designed to prevent, manage, or treat a medical disorder or disease, is published here. Artificial intelligence applications are also a significant focus, including studies on AI for diagnostics, such as image analysis for early disease detection, and clinical decision support systems that help healthcare professionals make informed choices.
The scope extends to digital biomarkers, which are objective, quantifiable physiological and behavioral data collected and measured by digital devices, such as wearable sensors. These sensors provide continuous monitoring of physiological parameters like heart rate or activity levels. Mobile health (mHealth) applications, including those for patient engagement, remote monitoring, and health education, are also covered. The journal publishes work on data analytics applied to public health, encompassing large-scale data interpretation to identify health trends, predict outbreaks, and inform policy. Manuscripts are evaluated based on their novelty, clinical relevance, scientific rigor, and digital innovation.
Journal Impact and Metrics
The impact of npj Digital Medicine is reflected in its metrics. The journal’s 2025 Impact Factor is 15.1, indicating the average number of times articles published in the past two years were cited. This metric, released annually by Clarivate in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR), helps gauge a journal’s influence. The journal also reports a CiteScore of 23.6, reflecting the average number of citations received per document over a four-year period.
It is categorized as a Q1 journal across several fields, including Computer Science Applications, Health Informatics, and Medicine (miscellaneous), ranking among the top 25% of journals in these categories. The journal’s audience is diverse, encompassing clinicians, researchers, technology developers, and policymakers who seek to understand and apply advancements in digital health. This broad readership enhances its influence within the scientific community.
The Publishing Process for Authors
Researchers considering submission to npj Digital Medicine should be aware of its publishing policies. As an open-access journal, all published articles are freely available worldwide immediately upon publication. This model is supported by an Article Processing Charge (APC), which for 2025 is approximately 2890 EUR, 3590 USD, or 2590 GBP. This fee covers publication costs, including peer review, editing, and online hosting.
The journal employs an anonymous peer-review process, where manuscripts are evaluated for scientific soundness, originality, and significance. Submissions undergo thorough assessment to meet the journal’s high standards for scientific rigor and clinical relevance. Authors are encouraged to consult the journal’s official website for detailed guidelines before submission. The average publication time, from submission to acceptance, is approximately 15 weeks.