JMIR Research Protocols

Orthokeratology is a nonsurgical corneal reshaping technique used for the temporary correction of myopia and for myopia control. Nighttime use induces central epithelial thinning and midperipheral thickening, altering corneal asphericity and higher-order aberrations.

Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder that is associated with a broad range of symptoms, including constitutional, gastrointestinal, neuropsychiatric, dermatologic, respiratory, and hematologic or lymphoreticular problems. These broad symptoms can impact the daily lives of people living with iMCD, creating a high symptom burden. Despite this, no robust, disease-specific patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for subjective iMCD symptom burden exists. This limits accurate symptom monitoring, impacts sensitive end point selection in clinical trials, and represents a regulatory gap in patient-centered evidence generation when evaluating iMCD treatments.

Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used in health care by nonprofessionals (ie, individuals without formal training in health-related professions). These applications must be evaluated in an appropriate manner to prevent misinformation and harmful decisions. To date, guidance to evaluate LLM-based applications for nonprofessional users remains limited and fragmented, leaving researchers and developers without a scientifically grounded set of quality dimensions, metrics, and measurement tools to guide them.

Patient-centered care, emphasizing autonomy and shared decision-making, is essential in palliative cancer care. The increasing prevalence of cancer requires optimized health care use, and given patients’ preference for home-based care, traditional time-based follow-up appointments may not adequately address their needs. We have developed a digital patient-controlled follow-up intervention at the acute palliative care unit in Norway. The digital app is integrated into the existing national health service platform, MyHealth, and facilitates symptom monitoring, self-management support, and patient-controlled access to palliative care services.

Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) is a multisystemic hereditary connective tissue disorder characterized by generalized joint hypermobility, chronic pain, and a complex spectrum of comorbidities. Diagnosis relies on complex clinical criteria, leading to poor recognition by clinicians and fragmented care. Consequently, patients navigate the health care system for an average of 22.1 years before receiving a diagnosis, which substantially delays appropriate management. Electronic health records (EHRs) contain rich longitudinal data that, if systematically analyzed, could identify patients whose clinical histories are highly suggestive of hEDS.

Youth social anxiety is rising; however, evidence for therapist-guided virtual reality (VR) exposure remains sparse.

Intensive motor learning interventions, such as Hand-Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy Including Lower Extremities (HABIT-ILE), have demonstrated significant improvements in upper and lower extremity functions, as well as in bimanual performance and activities of daily living in children with cerebral palsy. However, the typical delivery of HABIT-ILE as a 2-week on-site camp can be inaccessible to families living in remote areas or with travel difficulties. Offering HABIT-ILE as a home-based telerehabilitation program could overcome these barriers.

Anxiety and depression impose substantial clinical and economic burdens worldwide, with high prevalence, impaired functioning, and elevated health care costs. Digital self-help interventions offer scalable and potentially cost-effective strategies; however, evidence from rigorously controlled economic evaluations remains sparse.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent chronic lung disease, and respiratory muscle dysfunction is one of its key pathogenic mechanisms. Liuzijue, a traditional Chinese health exercise, has been widely applied in COPD rehabilitation, showing benefits in improving pulmonary function and quality of life. However, clinical evidence regarding its specific effects on respiratory muscle function remains insufficient.

Primary health care played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic by adapting care delivery to maintain essential services and reduce transmission risks. Home visits were used to monitor individuals in isolation, support vulnerable populations at increased risk, and sustain community-based care. However, their organization and operationalization varied across settings, and the available evidence remains fragmented.

Adolescent violence is a significant public health issue that negatively affects the psychological well-being and social functioning of adolescents. These tendencies generally evolve from problems in anger management and stress tolerance related to inherent or external contributors including familial background, interactions with friends, and school atmosphere. Nurses, particularly in primary health care settings, are strategically positioned to contribute to violence prevention through early identification, intervention, and capacity-building programs for adolescents. However, evidence regarding the implementation of nurse-led violence prevention training, including its effectiveness, training approaches, and contextual influencing factors, remains limited.

Quality indicators in primary care remain predominantly disease-specific and professionally defined, with limited incorporation of what matters most to people living with multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs) and their caregivers. Existing frameworks and quality standards provide important conceptual direction, but few produce a pragmatic set of ready-to-use indicators.