JMIR Research Protocols

Workplace loneliness—defined as the perceived absence of meaningful social relationships at work—can have a negative impact on the well-being, engagement, and productivity of employees. Older professionals (aged ≥50 years) may be particularly vulnerable to workplace loneliness in the context of accelerated digitalization, which may create obstacles to inclusion, communication, and collaboration. Despite growing interest in this phenomenon, no comprehensive synthesis has yet examined how digital tools and transformations affect loneliness among older workers or what interventions have been implemented to address it.

Farmers and farmworkers in England are a population group who are particularly vulnerable to the mental health impacts of environmental stressors, including flooding and droughts. While international studies, particularly from Australia, have examined these impacts, there is a critical gap in understanding the mental health consequences of such events for England’s farming community. This gap is particularly concerning given the increase in frequency and severity of flooding and drought events due to climate change, which will have significant repercussions for the mental well-being of those whose livelihoods depend on affected land.

Worldwide, minority youth less commonly receive culturally sensitive mental health services than the majority peer population. In Norway, limited research exists on the mental health and service use among youth from national minority (Forrest Finns, Kven/Norwegian Finns, Jews, Roma, and Romani), Indigenous (Sámi), and refugee backgrounds. Although the Norwegian government provides a public communication channel for youth, including mental health information and support, digital services have not been adapted to meet the needs of these groups. There is no research to determine the use, acceptability, effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and safety of these services for these youth.

Acute exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are a major clinical challenge, often leading to frequent emergency room visits and significantly reducing patients' quality of life. Early detection through wearable devices could facilitate timely interventions at the community level, reducing hospital admissions, and disease-related morbidity and mortality.

The enhancement of Primary care and the prevalence of chronic diseases are key issues worldwide, especially in Canada. The rising incidence of chronic illnesses, now the leading cause of mortality worldwide, creates complex challenges that can compromise the quality of care provided to patients. The lack of communication directly affects relational continuity, i.e., the sharing of information from previous events and circumstances, to ensure that care is appropriate to the individual and his or her problem. These challenges highlight the importance of establishing clear patient pathways within interprofessional teams, ensuring that information is shared efficiently, and that the continuity of care is coordinated effectively, especially in a telehealth context. Since 2019, telehealth has become an essential tool for patient with chronic disease, though often implemented with no specific infrastructure. Interprofessional collaboration plays a critical role in the use of telehealth in managing chronic diseases.

Many factors including the impact of colonization and subsequent intergenerational trauma contribute to health inequalities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, respectfully referred to as Indigenous Australians. The unacceptable health gap is higher for the Indigenous Australians living in very remote communities. Food insecurity—a lack of regular access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food—is influenced by both housing and retail environments. Ensuring that houses have functional and adequately maintained kitchens and access to affordable, healthy food are significant policy challenges for Australian governments; yet, little is known about these environmental health drivers in very remote areas.

Type 2 diabetes is a prevalent chronic condition, particularly among older adults, and is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Effective disease self-management is crucial for achieving glycemic control and preventing complications.

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer experience multiple distressing symptoms during treatment, yet few developmental relevant resources have been developed to help them self-manage their symptoms. Empowering patients to have a more active role in self-management during cancer treatment may lessen their symptom severity and distress.

Though dementia is a serious illness that progresses over many years, little is known about the primary palliative care needs of these participants, especially those living in the community.

More than 12% of the world’s population and more than 1 million Canadians use walking aids to support mobility. Unsafe use of walking aids due to a lack of training may lead to injuries and an increased risk of falls. A novel interactive video-based feedback mobile app to train walking aid fitting and safe use, called ICanWALK (Improving Canadians’ Walking Aid Skills, Learning, and Knowledge), was recently developed.

Chronic pain conditions and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are highly prevalent among patients with substance use disorders (SUDs). Both can impact outcomes of SUD treatment and quality of life. There is a need for a large-scale study on the overlap of and interactions between SUD, chronic pain, and PTSD.

Obesity is a global public health concern, affecting roughly one in three individuals. Social support has been identified as a key factor in promoting healthy behaviours, including dietary improvements and increased physical activity. While previous reviews have focused primarily on weight loss outcomes, there is limited evidence on how social support-based interventions influence diet and physical activity behaviours specifically.