JMIR Research Protocols

Protocols, grant proposals, registered reports (RR1)

Editor-in-Chief:

Amy Schwartz, MSc, Ph.D., Scientific Editor at JMIR Publications, Ontario, Canada


Impact Factor 1.5 CiteScore 2.4

JMIR Research Protocols  (JRP, ISSN 1929-0748) is a unique journal indexed in PubMed, PubMed Central (PMC), MEDLINE, Sherpa Romeo, DOAJ, Scopus, Web of Science(WoS)/ESCI, and EBSCO, publishing peer-reviewed, openly accessible research ideas and grant proposals, and study and trial protocols (also referred to as Registered Report Stage 1 papers). 

JMIR Research Protocols received a Journal Impact Factor of 1.5 according to the latest release of the Journal Citation Reports from Clarivate, 2025.

With a CiteScore of 2.4 (2024), JMIR Research Protocols is a Q2 journal in the field of General Medicine, according to Scopus data.

It should be stressed however that most authors do not publish their protocols for "impact" or citations, rather to document their ideas to how to design experiments, to document their successful grant proposals, or to publish (and maybe brag a little about) their already funded protocols (which do not require additional peer-review). We offer this platform for scientists to publish peer-reviewed protocols for a very low APF, and unfunded protocols for a reasonable fee that includes peer-review. 

While the original focus was on eHealth studies, JRP now publishes protocols and grant proposals in all areas of medicine, and their peer-review reports, if available (preliminary results from pilot studies, early results, and formative research should now be published in JMIR Formative Research).

JRP is fully open access, with full-text articles deposited in PubMed Central.

Why should I publish my protocol? 

  • JRP publishes research protocols, grant proposals, pilot/feasibility studies and early reports of ongoing and planned work that encourages collaboration and early feedback, and reduces duplication of effort.
  • JRP will be a valuable educational resource for researchers who want to learn about current research methodologies and how to write a winning grant proposal.
  • JRP creates an early scientific record for researchers who have developed novel methodologies, software, innovations or elaborate protocols.
  • JRP provides a "dry-run" for peer-review of the final results paper, and allows feedback/critique of the methods, often while they still can be fixed.
  • JRP enhances rigor and demonstrates to reviewers of subsequent results papers that authors followed and adhered to carefully developed and described a-priori methods, rather than fishing for P-values (HARKing).
  • JRP facilitates and guarantees subsequent publication of results demonstrating that the methodology has already been reviewed, and reduces the effort of writing up the results, as the protocol can be easily referenced.
  • JRP is compatible with the concept of "Registered Reports" and since May 2018, published protocols receive an International Registered Report Identifier (What is a Registered Report Identifier?) and acceptance of the subsequent results paper is "in principle" guaranteed in any JMIR journal and partner journals - see What is a Registered Report?. We assign an IRRID (International Registered Report Identifier) to each published protocol, faciliating the linking between protocol and final study, and also indicating that results papers of studies are also "in principle accepted" for subsequent publication in other JMIR journals (or other members of the IRRID Registry Network) as long as authors adhere to their original protocol - regardless of study results (even if they are negative), reducing publication bias in medicine.
  • Authors publishing their protocols in JRP will receive a 20% discount on the article processing fee if they publish their results in another journal of the JMIR journal family (for example, JMIR for e-health studies, i-JMR for others).

Need more reasons? Read the Knowledge Base article on "Why should I publish my protocol/grant proposal"!

 

Recent Articles

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Methods and Feasibility Studies

Nursing in palliative medicine combines primary patient care with the special challenges of this medical field (eg, handling the processes of dying, grief, and death). These cause high stress levels and burden on the nursing staff, resulting in an early exit from working life because of physical or psychological disorders like burnout.

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Scoping Review Protocols

The rapid proliferation of health care apps has transformed health care delivery, providing patients with unprecedented access to medical information and services. These apps facilitate remote consultations, appointment scheduling, medication reminders, and health monitoring, thereby enhancing patient engagement and improving health outcomes. Despite the widespread benefits, disparities in the adoption and usage of health care apps persist, influenced by demographic and socioeconomic factors. Understanding these disparities is crucial for designing interventions that promote equitable access to digital health tools.

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Non-randomized Protocols and Methods (ehealth)

In Korea, the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) was implemented in 1999 and provides biennial endoscopy for adults aged ≥40 years. The NCSP has contributed to the early detection of gastric cancer and reduction of associated mortality in Korea. Helicobacter pylori is the main cause of gastric cancer. Screening for and eradication of H pylori reduces the incidence and mortality of gastric cancer. Previous studies have reported that screening for H pylori is a cost-saving intervention that can significantly decrease gastric cancer burden in areas with a high prevalence of H pylori infection. However, no study has examined whether incorporating H pylori screening into national endoscopic screening is cost effective.

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RCTs - Protocols/Proposals (eHealth)

Previous studies have demonstrated that ozone injection into the dorsal root ganglion significantly reduces pain scores associated with herpes zoster, suggesting its therapeutic potential for managing postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) via the intervertebral foramen epidural space. However, there are no specific reports addressing the treatment of herpes zoster and PHN by involving the thoracic and lumbar nerves under computed tomography (CT) guidance. Our research focuses on the effect of medical ozone administered through the intervertebral foramen epidural space on PHN.

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RCTs - Protocols/Proposals (eHealth)

Social anxiety is increasingly prevalent among youths, leading to social withdrawal, isolation, and heightened depression risk. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions offer anonymity, accessibility, and personalized support, but their effectiveness and cost-effectiveness for young individuals with social anxiety remain unclear.

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RCTs - Pilots/Feasibility Studies (eHealth)

Sleep disturbance is one of the most common health concerns reported by individuals who have survived breast cancer (BC) and is associated with poor quality of life (QoL) and greater mortality after treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTi) has shown efficacy for improving sleep and QoL for this population. Considered the gold standard for insomnia treatment, CBTi can be delivered remotely, including via digital intervention. Despite the potential for wider dissemination of CBTi via digital means, these modalities have unique challenges, including technology barriers and poor adherence. We developed a conversational agent (CA) to deliver CBTi via a SMS text messaging intervention, supported by mobile-ready web content. Named “Cecebot,” this CA delivers sleep education, implements sleep compression, provides just-in-time interventions for sleep-disrupting behaviors, and includes enhanced support for physical activity (PA) beyond what is typically included in CBTi. This represents a novel modality for a CBTi and PA intervention among individuals who have survived BC.

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RCTs - Protocols/Proposals (non-eHealth)

Choline is an essential micronutrient crucial for fetal neurodevelopment. Numerous rodent studies reveal that compared to maternal consumption of standard chow, maternal prenatal choline deficiency produces lifelong offspring cognitive deficits, and maternal choline supplementation produces lifelong improvements in offspring cognition. Few studies have evaluated this question in humans, with mixed results. Nonetheless, the available data raise concerns about the low choline intakes of pregnant women and highlight the need for knowledge of the functional consequences of various choline intakes during pregnancy.

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RCTs - Protocols/Proposals (non-eHealth)

More than half of the world’s population will be overweight or obese by 2035, and it is known that physical exercise, such as high-intensity interval training (HIIT), is a tool for controlling obesity by improving body composition and the metabolic profile. Noninvasive techniques such as therapeutic ultrasound (TUS) and the Aussie current have shown potential in controlling adipose tissue, but their effects combined with HIIT remain unknown. TUS may be combined with the Aussie current to potentiate the specific effects of each intervention, such as lipolysis induced by TUS and lymphatic activation promoted by the Aussie current. The integration of HIIT into this protocol is justified by its ability to stimulate β-oxidation and facilitate the metabolic use of fatty acids mobilized by the electrophysical resources. Furthermore, the use of HIIT as opposed to moderate-intensity continuous training contributes to reducing the total duration of the intervention.

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RCTs - Pilots/Feasibility Studies (eHealth)

This study explores the treatment of internal carotid artery stenosis in patients with a high risk for cardiovascular events. The use of regional anesthesia permits ongoing neurological monitoring and enhances patient safety during the procedure. However, the operation can be stressful and lengthy, highlighting the need for strategies to alleviate patient discomfort. This study evaluates audiovisual distractions such as video goggles to potentially improve patient experiences during carotid surgeries, a topic that has not yet been comprehensively researched.

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Scoping Review Protocols

Involving people with lived experience in medical education can benefit them, their caregivers, and medical students, and may particularly impact medical education about children requiring comprehensive, individualized, multidisciplinary care, including those with medical complexity or developmental disabilities. Yet, there is no summary of how children with medical complexity or developmental disabilities, or their families or caregivers have been included in medical education for medical students, residents, and fellows. To advance the effective inclusion of lived experience in medical education related to this patient population, a synthesis of existing literature is needed.

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Scoping Review Protocols

In contemporary society, misinformation and disinformation have emerged as significant challenges, impacting various aspects of public health and societal cohesion. Some authors argue that older adults are particularly vulnerable to the effects of misinformation due to potential digital health literacy challenges. A previous review identified pedagogical approaches most commonly adopted in interventions aiming to improve the digital literacy of older adults but did not specifically address digital health literacy.

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Scoping Review Protocols

Social care systems worldwide face increasing demographic and financial pressures. This necessitates exploring innovative technological solutions to enhance service delivery without substantially increasing costs. Conversational interfaces, including interactive voice response, chatbots, and voice assistants, have gained traction as a means to improve accessibility and efficiency in social care. The rapid development of large language models such as ChatGPT has further accelerated interest in conversational artificial intelligence (AI). These technologies can offer intuitive interactions, particularly for individuals with limited digital literacy. However, their real-world impact, usability, and ethical considerations in social care remain underexplored.

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Preprints Open for Peer-Review

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