JMIR Research Protocols

Eating disorders (EDs) affect 9% of the United States population, and anorexia nervosa (AN), specifically, has the second highest mortality rate of all psychiatric disorders. Yet, only 20% are able to access treatment. Access to care issues include long waitlists, lack of trained specialists, financial, and geographic barriers, all of which highlight the need for effective telehealth interventions. Family-based therapy (FBT) is a first-line treatment for adolescents and young adults with EDs, and weight gain early in treatment is considered a primary predictor of success with FBT. However, nutrition requirements for patients with EDs are uniquely complex. A variety of dietary interventions for guiding the renourishment process are used in practice, but empirical data on the effectiveness and acceptability of the various interventions are sparse. The significance of nutritional restoration and issues with access to first-line treatments underscore the need for further research exploring virtually delivered dietary interventions.

 Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is characterized by problematic alcohol use accompanied by clinically substantial distress. Patients with AUD frequently experience high relapse rates, and only 1 in 5 remain abstinent 12 months post treatment. Traditional face-to-face relapse prevention therapy (RPT) is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that examines one's situational triggers, maladaptive thought processes, self-efficacy, and motivation. However, access to this treatment is frequently limited due to its high cost, long waitlists, and inaccessibility. A web-based adaptation of RPT (e-RPT) could address these limitations by providing a more cost-effective and accessible delivery method for mental health care in this population.

Effective medication management is one of the essential preconditions for enabling polymedicated home-dwelling older adults with multiple chronic conditions to remain at home and preserve their quality of life and autonomy. Lack of effective medication management predisposes older adults to medication-related problems (MRPs) and adverse health outcomes, which can lead to the degradation of a patient’s acute clinical condition, physical and cognitive decline, exacerbation of chronic medical conditions, and avoidable health care costs. Nonetheless, it has been shown that MRPs can be prevented or reduced by using well-coordinated, patient-centered, interprofessional primary care interventions.

Sexual and gender minority (SGM; ie, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and otherwise queer) young adults experience disparities in depression and other internalizing psychopathology. Although social media use is widespread and SGM people have more social media accounts and are more socially active on them than non-SGM individuals, few studies have examined the impact of social media on depression in this group.

The recognition of serious pathologies affecting the musculoskeletal (MSK) system, especially in the early stage of a disease, is an important but challenging task. The prevalence of such serious pathologies is currently low. However, in our progressing aging population, it is anticipated that serious pathologies affecting the MSK system will be on the rise. Physiotherapists, as part of a wider health care team, can play a valuable role in the recognition of serious pathologies. It is at present unknown how accurately Austrian qualified physiotherapists can detect the presence of serious pathologies affecting the MSK system and therefore determine whether physiotherapy management is indicated (keep patients) or not (refer patients to a medical doctor).

Anxiety is one of the most common psychiatric comorbidities in people with epilepsy and often involves fears specifically related to the condition, such as anxiety related to the fear of having another seizure. These epilepsy- or seizure-related fears have been reported as being more disabling than the seizures themselves and significantly impact quality of life. Although research has suggested that exposure therapy (ET) is helpful in decreasing anxiety in people with epilepsy, no research to our knowledge has been conducted on ET in people with epilepsy using virtual reality (VR). The use of novel technologies such as an immersive VR head-mounted display for ET in this population offers several benefits. Indeed, using VR can increase accessibility for people with epilepsy with transportation barriers (eg, those who live outside urban centers or who have a suspended driver’s license owing to their condition), among other advantages. In the present research protocol, we describe the design of an innovative VR-ET program administered in the home that focuses on decreasing anxiety in people with epilepsy, specifically anxiety related to their epilepsy or seizures.

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure can cause preprocedural and periprocedural anxiety in children. Psychosocial interventions are used to prepare children for the procedure to alleviate anxiety, but these interventions are time-consuming and costly, limiting their clinical use. Virtual reality (VR) is a promising way to overcome these limitations in the preparation of children before an MRI scan.

 Precision health is a rapidly developing field, largely driven by the development of artificial intelligence (AI)–related solutions. AI facilitates complex analysis of numerous health data risk assessment, early detection of disease, and initiation of timely preventative health interventions that can be highly tailored to the individual. Despite such promise, ethical concerns arising from the rapid development and use of AI-related technologies have led to development of national and international frameworks to address responsible use of AI.

Individuals diagnosed with melanoma before the age of 40 years (young-onset melanoma survivors) and their first-degree relatives (FDRs) are a growing population at risk for developing recurrent melanoma or new melanomas. Regular surveillance using clinical skin examination (CSE) and skin self-examination (SSE) and engagement in preventive behaviors including sun protection are recommended. Given the growing population of survivors and their families who are at increased risk, it is surprising that no behavioral interventions have been developed and evaluated to improve risk-reduction behaviors.

Malaria and HIV, 2 of the world's deadliest diseases, share a lot of territory in sub-Saharan Africa.

Black adolescent girls aged between 14 and 19 years are more likely than White girls to be diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI). As STI diagnosis is associated with an increase in the risk for HIV acquisition, an early intervention specifically tailored to Black adolescent girls is warranted. A web-based video game intervention has the potential to reach this demographic. Because studies of social and behavioral determinants of disease demonstrate the protective role of peer group structures on individual outcomes, a multiplayer game can facilitate opportunities to exchange and evaluate information, learn social norms, develop behavioral skills, and allow peers to influence attitudes and behavior. No prior research has examined the feasibility of a web-based multiplayer game intervention for this population.

Home-based (unsupervised) buprenorphine initiation is considered safe and effective, yet many patients report barriers to successful treatment initiation. Prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) are software-based disease treatments regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The reSET-O PDT was authorized by the FDA in 2018 and delivers behavioral treatment for individuals receiving buprenorphine for opioid use disorder (OUD). A prototype PDT (PEAR-002b) designed for use with reSET-O was developed to assist in unsupervised buprenorphine initiation.