JMIR Research Protocols

Anhedonia is a core symptom of depressive disorders. Although group-level cutoff points for the Snaith–Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) are established, real-time, individual-level monitoring remains limited. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) enables high-frequency sampling, and simple moving averages (SMA; 7/14/30 days) offer an interpretable way to smooth daily signals and surface early-warning trends.

In South Africa, pregnant and lactating women (PLW) face a dual burden of high alcohol use and HIV prevalence, both of which adversely affect maternal and infant health. However, few interventions address alcohol use and HIV risk concurrently in this population.

Data science health research (DSHR) uses novel computational methods and high-performance computing to analyze big data from conventional and nonconventional health and related sources to generate novel insights and communications. DSHR creates assets but generates ethical, legal, and social challenges. Key gaps in current ethical oversight of DSHR include blurred boundaries between research and nonresearch data use, inadequate protection of data donors, power imbalances that risk extractive research practices, algorithmic biases, and regulatory inadequacies. Nigeria, a typical low- and middle-income country with rapidly expanding DSHR, exemplifies this environment and concerns.

Effective blood pressure (BP) monitoring is vital for the management of hypertension, allowing timely adjustments in treatment. This study focuses on the development and implementation of an innovative, locally designed eHealth technology, the HeartCare@Home system, to enhance the control and management of hypertension in outpatient noncommunicable disease (NCD) clinics in Rwanda. The HeartCare@Home system comprises a mobile health app that incorporates rapid SMS technology, an integrated dashboard for signal reception at the clinic office level, and a clinical decision support algorithm.

Physical activity (PA) is feasible, safe, beneficial, and recommended for pediatric patients with cancer. Nevertheless, PA levels remain low due to treatment-related effects (eg, fatigue, pain), isolation and immunosuppression, geographic and transportation barriers, and limited access to population-specific programming. Delivering PA by videoconference may address some of these barriers. Thus, IMplementation of Physical Activity for Children and adolescents on Treatment (IMPACT) was developed. IMPACT is an individualized, tailored PA intervention delivered by an exercise professional over videoconference and is being evaluated in a hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial.

Pregnancy is a crucial stage characterized by an increased demand for various nutrients. The role of micronutrients becomes especially important during pregnancy and infancy to support neurodevelopment. Micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent in low- and middle-income countries due to socio-economic disparities, limited dietary diversities, and barriers to quality antenatal care. This results in women of reproductive age and developing offspring being disproportionately affected. Despite extensive research, evidence remains fragmented, leading to a lack of comprehensive synthesis.

Increased appetite and weight gain are common adverse effects of glucocorticoid (GC) therapy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Concerns about appearance-related changes due to weight gain can reduce medication adherence. Moreover, the complex interplay among GCs, mood changes, sleep disturbances, and appetite can influence eating behaviors. Daily data collection using an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and analysis of interrelations may help clarify these dynamics. Furthermore, real-time feedback based on daily eating behavior may help patients regulate appetite and eating patterns. Accordingly, we developed Mogu!☆Log, a smartphone-based application that enables daily self-reporting of eating behaviors, appetite, and mood, and provides graphical feedback on meal frequency and perceived control over eating.

The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) contributes to pancreatic tumorigenesis by activating the JAK–STAT3 signaling cascade. Targeting the IL-6/GP130/STAT3 axis may therefore represent a promising therapeutic approach for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Outdoor play is a fundamental part of childhood. Children’s participation in outdoor play connects them to nature and the land, and supports their role in the natural world. Early learning and child care (ELCC) centers provide opportunities for outdoor play; however, barriers toward the provision of outdoor play exist, including educator attitudes, policies and procedures, outdoor space limitations, and adverse weather conditions.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects two in five women in Canada, leading to both physical and mental health consequences. Safety planning is a secondary prevention intervention designed to assist those experiencing IPV to take steps to increase their safety and decrease contact with their abuser. Safety planning is shown to help survivors mitigate the negative mental health effects of IPV and encourage actions to increase safety, but evaluation outside the United States remains limited.

Chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal toxicity (CIGT) is a common and distressing adverse effect in cancer care, manifesting as nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, oral mucositis, constipation, and diarrhea. These symptoms severely impair patients’ quality of life, reduce treatment adherence, and may lead to premature therapy discontinuation. Aromatherapy, a complementary therapy using plant-derived essential oils, has shown potential benefits for alleviating CIGT symptoms, but most existing systematic reviews focus solely on nausea and vomiting, leaving its effects on other CIGT symptoms understudied. Moreover, the influence of essential oil types, intervention forms, and intervention durations on therapeutic outcomes remains unclear.

Podcasts have emerged as a popular medium in medical education over the past decade. Audio learning allows flexibility and may help residents engage with content in new ways. Reading scientific literature is a core skill for residents, yet many residents struggle to comprehend complex research articles. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have enabled the automatic generation of podcast-style summaries of documents. It remains unclear whether listening to AI-generated podcast summaries can match the educational value of reading the full text of medical papers, and whether this depends on the complexity of the article.