JMIR Research Protocols

Globally, successful strategies to engage high-risk heterosexual men in HIV prevention are scarce, resulting in limited access and uptake. Barbershops offer a potential venue for HIV prevention.

Developing surgical skills among residents requires time and resources, often in conflict with the goals of efficiency and hospital economics in surgical practice. Optimizing resident training may prevent a decline in quality. Skilled surgeons are vital to effective and safe surgical performance, yet the training trajectory for surgical residents is often inefficient, particularly in the era of minimally invasive surgery. A framework that efficiently disseminates surgical skills is essential to cultivate skilled future surgeons within an acceptable time frame. Surgical telementoring (ST) aligns well with minimally invasive surgery because the mentee operating in the field shares the telementor’s perspective. Despite growing experience with telemedicine, data on educational outcomes remain limited.

Conventional semen analysis does not fully capture male reproductive potential. The sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) may detect latent infertility, although the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) is costly and technically demanding. Image-based analysis of semen microscopy, including artificial intelligence (AI), may enable lower-cost noninvasive assessment. However, progress is limited by a lack of standardized multimodal datasets linking sperm images with the DFI and relevant covariates.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective treatment for binge eating disorder (BED) but is limited by modest efficacy and low reach of in-person delivery. Combining mindfulness training with CBT could enhance efficacy by targeting emotion dysregulation, a key factor in BED that CBT does not adequately target. Digital delivery can enhance the reach of treatment. Accordingly, we developed CBT-based Mindful Courage, a 16-session digital intervention combining CBT and mindfulness training for BED.

Vaginal itching is a frequent gynecological issue impacting women of various age groups. Although commonly linked to nonserious conditions, it may also signal infections, sexually transmitted diseases, prolonged use of certain medications, such as oral contraceptives, hormonal fluctuations, or suboptimal hygiene. Standard pharmaceutical treatments, despite being widely used, often produce undesirable effects, such as irritation of the vaginal lining, alterations in vaginal pH, and disruption of healthy microbial flora. These challenges highlight the need for safer, natural alternatives rooted in traditional systems of medicine, such as Ayurveda.

Visceral diseases often lead to referred pain, but clinical management is challenging due to poor understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Prior preclinical studies have shown that experimental induction of visceral diseases in animal models can cause cutaneous neurogenic inflammation, as assessed by Evans Blue dye extravasation. Neurogenic inflammation is associated with increased pain sensitivity. Thus, these preclinical findings may provide important mechanistic insights into the relationship between visceral diseases and referred somatic pain.

Postpartum conditions significantly affect maternal and infant health. In South Korea, herbal medicine is commonly used for postpartum care in Korean medicine, but safety data remain limited. This study outlines a multicenter Korean medicine clinic registry designed to investigate treatment patterns and adverse events (AEs) associated with postpartum herbal medicine use. This primary care, practice-based research network registry will inform clinical decision-making and pharmacovigilance in postpartum care, supporting the quality and safety of care and guidance for comedication monitoring across community clinics.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a highly prevalent and aggressive malignancy of the oral cavity, frequently preceded by oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD). Despite therapeutic advances, survival rates remain unsatisfactory, primarily due to late diagnosis, recurrence, and molecular alterations in histologically tumor-free surgical margins. Programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), an immune checkpoint molecule, contributes to tumor immune evasion and has been implicated in cancer progression. Its expression in OPMDs and OSCC surgical margins may serve as an early indicator of malignant transformation and recurrence risk.

The salutogenic model, introduced by Aaron Antonovsky, represents a fundamental paradigm shift from the traditional pathogenic orientation—which focuses on the etiology of disease—to a focus on the origins of health (salutogenesis). The core of this model is the Sense of Coherence, a global orientation that allows individuals to mobilize Generalized Resistance Resources to cope with the stressors of daily life. Although salutogenesis has been extensively researched in Europe and North America, its systematic application within diverse and multicultural contexts, marked by the inequity present in Mexico and Latin America, remains fragmented and insufficiently documented. There is a lack of clarity regarding how the model adapts to local realities, specifically in these countries.

Austria has only recently established a legal framework for assisted dying. Individuals seeking assistance in suicide must navigate a multistage process that has been criticized for its complexity both for the individuals seeking assistance and for the health care and legal professionals involved in the procedure.

AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs), a key part of the federally funded Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, provide antiretroviral therapy (ART) to low-income and uninsured or underinsured people with HIV. As long as they meet federal regulations, jurisdictions maintain flexibility in implementing ADAPs, allowing for a range of operational and programmatic options, including eligibility criteria, formulary design for ART (and non-ART) drugs, and the nature and character of insurance support. These programmatic and policy decisions ultimately impact ADAP client outcomes, including engagement in care, differences in the populations benefiting from ADAP, and viral suppression rates. Despite ADAPs achieving an 85% national average viral suppression rate, this falls short of the 90% goal needed to end the HIV epidemic, and no formal evaluation has examined how specific operational or policy factors drive success across states.

Up to 92% of individuals with eating disorders (EDs) report engaging in body checking behaviors (eg, repeated self-weighing and pinching of various body parts) to assess their weight and shape. These behaviors contribute to increased body dissatisfaction, negative affect, and dietary restriction, thereby maintaining ED symptomology.