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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 1.6 More information about Impact Factor CiteScore 2.8 More information about CiteScore

JMIR Research Protocols 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). 

It should be stressed however that most authors do not publish their protocols for "impact" or citations, rather to document their ideas to how to design experiments, to document their successful grant proposals, or to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"!

The journal is indexed in PubMed, PubMed Central (PMC), MEDLINE, Sherpa Romeo, DOAJ, Scopus, Web of Science(WoS)/ESCI, and EBSCO.

JMIR Research Protocols received a 2025 Impact Factor of 1.6, ranking Q3 in Public, Environmental & Occupational Health and Health Care Sciences & Services. 

JMIR Research Protocols received a Scopus CiteScore of 2.8 (2025), placing it in the 68th percentile (210/669) as a second quartile (Q2) journal in the field of General Medicine.

Recent Articles

Family hugging sick child in hospital bed, phone shows Vitals Form app
NIH mHealth - funded projects

Children with medical complexity (CMC) experience frequent acute health deteriorations, leading to recurrent hospitalizations. Home monitoring has been suggested to help reduce hospitalizations among CMC, yet the benefits have not been demonstrated. MyChildCMC is a novel app, co-designed with parents, that supports CMC home monitoring to identify early warning signs of acute health changes to promote timely intervention.

Team discussing wearable technology strategy for healthcare implementation.
Proposals (eHealth)

The integration of wearable device–based telemonitoring into hospital systems presents a transformative opportunity for chronic disease management, particularly in settings such as Indonesia facing a high burden of noncommunicable diseases. However, widespread adoption is hindered by multifaceted operational barriers, including workflow integration, data management, and unclear adoption pathways, highlighting a critical need for structured, evidence-based guidance.

Young woman with abdominal pain lying on couch
RCTs - Protocols/Proposals (non-eHealth)

Primary dysmenorrhea is a prevalent menstrual disorder affecting adolescents and young women worldwide and is associated with substantial impairment in daily functioning, academic performance, psychosocial well-being, and quality of life. Conventional treatments, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory and hormonal therapies, often provide temporary symptomatic relief but may cause adverse effects with prolonged use. Rajahpravartini Vati, a classical Ayurvedic herbomineral formulation traditionally indicated for painful menstruation, has shown preliminary therapeutic potential but lacks evaluation in a rigorous placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Medical team in a hospital ICU discusses patient care on a tablet.
Scoping Review Protocols

Patient safety culture (PSC) is a foundational component of quality health care. It is characterized by health care workers’ individual attitudes, team dynamics, and organizational practices that influence clinical outcomes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals worldwide faced sudden changes and crises. In this rapidly evolving environment, organizational models were revised, established procedures were challenged, and professional roles were redefined; therefore, many aspects of safety culture may have been reshaped and redefined by the pandemic. Despite a growing body of literature examining PSC during the COVID-19 era, no comprehensive synthesis has yet mapped how PSC was conceptualized, measured, operationalized, and sustained across hospital settings during the pandemic. This gap highlights the need for an integrated synthesis that captures the multiple dimensions of PSC as they were experienced and managed during the pandemic.

Woman with ankle pain in gym, holding her foot
RCTs - Protocols/Proposals (funded, already peer-reviewed, eHealth)

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) develops in a large majority of patients with lateral ankle sprain (LAS), who often experience recurring injuries, residual feelings of instability, and abnormal neuromuscular patterns. Specifically, gait alterations are common in those with CAI and considered a contributing factor to poor long-term ankle joint health. Yet, there are no evidence-based gait-training protocols targeted to improve biomechanics, which may improve long-term outcomes related to ankle joint health and patient satisfaction.

Healthcare workers administer CYTB Injection and use mobile app for screening in rural India.
Proposals (eHealth)

Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) remains a major barrier to tuberculosis elimination, particularly in community settings where household contacts (HHCs) of patients with active tuberculosis are at increased risk of infection and progression to disease. Current tests for LTBI have practical limitations that restrict their use in field and primary care settings. Antigen-based skin testing, combined with digital tools for induration measurement, may improve the accuracy and delivery of HHC screening under routine program conditions.

Woman in therapy session, covering face in distress while therapist takes notes.
Scoping Review Protocols

Psychosocial risk factors increase the risk of long-term illnesses and prolonged return-to-work processes, with serious consequences for individuals as well as society. In general practice, psychosocial risk factors are captured comprehensively because general practitioners usually care for patients for years and know the patients’ entire social environment. Numerous studies have been conducted on aspects of psychosocial risk factors. However, a comprehensive, unrestricted summary of psychosocial risk factors is currently lacking.

Ultrasound machine, DNA model, and notebook on table outdoors, with buildings in background.
Non-Randomized Study Protocols and Methods (Non-eHealth)

Cancer is a significant public health challenge in India, contributing to 8.3% of deaths and 5.0% of disability-adjusted life years in 2016—nearly twice its contribution in 1990. Fragmented service delivery, limited specialist availability, late presentation, and significant financial hardship continue to hinder access to timely and effective cancer care, particularly in rural and underserved regions. A comprehensive, system-level assessment is essential to inform evidence-based planning and strengthen cancer services nationwide.

Messy toddler with ice cream on face and in hand
RCTs - Protocols/Proposals (non-eHealth)

The rising prevalence of obesity among preschool children has become a critical public health concern in Suzhou, China. Nevertheless, evidence-based, personalized, and multicomponent intervention strategies tailored to children with overweight or obesity remain inadequately established in current practice.

Professor teaching AI concepts like Machine Learning to students in a classroom with laptops.
Non-randomized Protocols and Methods (ehealth)

AI has quickly become integrated into higher education, transforming how students access information, complete academic tasks, and engage with learning. Universities of technology, with their focus on applied learning, technological skills, and graduate employability, face both challenges and opportunities in incorporating AI in ways that improve learning without sacrificing conceptual understanding, critical thinking, or academic integrity. While current research highlights widespread student use of AI tools, there remains limited empirical evidence on how undergraduate students in applied and health-related fields interact with AI, perceive its educational impact, and manage risks associated with overreliance.

Young Black woman looking out a window, appearing thoughtful or sad.
Non-Randomized Study Protocols and Methods (Non-eHealth)

Psychological distress disproportionately affects women in South Africa and is shaped by complex structural, socioeconomic, and psychosocial determinants, particularly within the context of HIV. Despite policy commitments to integrate mental health services into existing health systems, current interventions are limited in their capacity to address these intersecting determinants and are frequently insufficiently targeted, contextually responsive, or inclusive. Data-driven strategies that identify subgroup-specific vulnerabilities may improve the design of contextually relevant and culturally grounded psychosocial interventions.

Man breaks cigarette and gives thumbs up, symbolizing quitting smoking.
RCTs - Protocols/Proposals (eHealth)

Tobacco use remains a leading preventable cause of disease, yet adolescent-focused tobacco prevention is underexploited. We developed a real-time adaptive intervention that combines school-family collaboration with online-offline delivery (via WeChat mini-programs, games, and curricula) to address adolescents’ overlooked role as health catalysts and persistent household secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure.

Preprints Open for Peer Review

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This journal is indexed in

  • PubMed
  • PubMed CentralMEDLINE
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  • ScopusDOAJDOAJ Seal
    Sherpa RomeoEBSCO/EBSCO Essentials

  • Web of Science - ESCI