JMIR Research Protocols

Depression is a highly prevalent disorder. Yet, there is still a considerable treatment gap because of capacity issues across clinical services, which create barriers to access to effective psychological therapies. In addition, many individuals with depression do not seek treatment, and waiting lists for psychotherapy are typically very long. Blended psychotherapy, which combines online components and in-person sessions, may help bridge the treatment gap as a cost-effective intervention that complements other types of treatment for depression, as it may reduce therapist time and potentially lower the threshold for people to seek treatment for their depression.

There is current evidence that a proportion of healthcare services provided to patients do not align with best evidence. Nurse champion, defined as a nurse who either volunteers or is identified by management to facilitate or promote the implementation of an innovation (e.g., new knowledge or practice) is an important factor for implementation success. The existing literature describes healthcare champions’ attributes, roles, behaviours, the processes in which they might enable change, and their effectiveness at facilitating implementation. However, a more detailed exploration of the nurse champion concept is needed. Further, despite the prolific use of nurse champions in healthcare implementation, there is a gap in the literature pertaining to what nurse champion training initiatives exist, what competencies are important to be a nurse champion, and whether current training initiatives are effective in preparing nurse champions. Lastly, the extent to which equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is considered in the nurse champion literature is unknown.

Australia’s healthcare system is under pressure. Paediatric referrals to public hospital emergency (ED) and outpatient departments (OP) have increased recently, overburdening emergency services and resulting in extended waiting times for non-urgent paediatric care. Children living outside metropolitan areas are disproportionately affected. Integrated models of care with paediatricians collaborating with general practitioners (GPs) in their practices, have been evaluated in the UK and Australia. Results are promising for quality of care improvement and reducing referrals to hospitals. GPs and paediatricians found the model feasible, knowledge- and confidence-boosting. In-person paediatric-GP support is resource intensive, limiting scalability and sustainability.

Both benign and malignant tumors in neonates frequently necessitate invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, exposing infants to significant pain and stress during critical periods of brain development. Procedural stress can disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, affect synaptic pruning, and alter myelination, potentially leading to long-term cognitive and neurodevelopmental impairments. While standard medical care remains the cornerstone of management, there is growing interest in multimodal interventions—including integrative therapies, physiotherapy, and non-pharmacological approaches such as massage, music therapy, kangaroo care, and sensory stimulation—to mitigate discomfort and support neurodevelopmental outcomes

Hepatic cirrhosis is a complex condition leading to multiple complications, including ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, bleeding varices, and eventually liver failure. Patients with diabetes mellitus or insulin resistance are more likely to fail treatment, leading to the worsening of hepatic fibrosis. SGLT-2 inhibitors are a new class of drugs with the potential for use in cirrhotic ascites. This scoping review will focus on the response of refractory ascites from the addition of SGLT2 inhibitors.

Strong evidence highlights that sufficient physical activity (PA) has multiple benefits for people living with and beyond cancer. However, many are not meeting PA recommendations. APPROACH is a trial of a theory-driven, app-based behavioral support intervention to promote brisk walking after breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer.

Chinese patent ethnomedicines(CPEs), a form of traditional Chinese patent medicine, originate from the traditional medicines of ethnic minorities and are widely used in clinical practice. However, existing evidence for their application remains unclear. Therefore, to address this gap, this comprehensive scoping review will be performed to provide an overview of the available evidence from Chinese patent ethnomedicine preparations.

Constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C) and functional constipation (FC) have significant personal, healthcare, and social impacts, affecting patients’ quality of life. Treatment for these conditions is challenging. While green kiwifruit is a promising natural alternative to laxatives, its effectiveness in managing abdominal pain and the underlying mechanism of action is yet to be substantiated.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity among US adults, including recurrent emergency department (ED) visits and unplanned hospital admissions. Despite this, the transition of care (TOC) from the inpatient to outpatient setting remains under-studied.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) are a group of highly heterogeneous myeloid clonal diseases. Anemia is the most common clinical symptom, yet its pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. Preliminary evidence suggests an increase in macrophage infiltration and iron load in the bone marrow of patients with an MDS, alongside elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). The Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)–nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2)–antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway is a critical regulator of cellular antioxidant responses and inflammation, but its role in mediating the effects of iron overload in the microenvironment of patients with an MDS remains unclear.

Physical inactivity is pervasive and prevalent in the United States, particularly among women of low socioeconomic position and women with children. Structural and social barriers make active leisure time a rare commodity, creating a pressing health issue because physical inactivity increases the risk of chronic diseases and poor health.

Although digital interventions have been widely used in chronic pain management, evidence on their effectiveness has demonstrated heterogeneity. They have low retention rates, which are exacerbated by a lack of feedback, social interaction, and engaging content, contributing to boredom and higher attrition. Gamification offers a possibility to overcome these barriers and enhance user motivation and engagement.