JMIR Formative Research

Access to screening continues to be a barrier for the early detection of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Primary care-based DR screening could improve access, but operational challenges, such as cost and workflow management, hamper the widespread adoption of retinal camera systems in primary care clinics in the US.

Depression in children is a concerning societal issue, and can be associated with poor academic performance, school dropout and poor overall quality of life. Additionally, child depression is often associated with parallel stress and depression in parents.

The opioid crisis remains a critical public health challenge, with opioid use disorder (OUD) imposing significant societal and healthcare burdens. Online communities, such as the Reddit community r/OpiatesRecovery, provide an anonymous and accessible platform for individuals in recovery. Despite the increasing use of Reddit for substance use research, limited studies have explored the content and interactions of self-disclosure and social support within these communities.

Advancements in science and technology can exacerbate health disparities, particularly when there is a lack of diversity in clinical research, which limits the benefits of innovations for underrepresented communities. Programs like the All of Us Research Program (AoURP) are actively working to address this issue by ensuring that underrepresented populations are represented in biomedical research, promoting equitable participation, and advancing health outcomes for all. African American communities have been particularly underrepresented in clinical research, often due to historical instances of research misconduct, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, which have deeply impacted trust and willingness to participate in research studies. With the US population becoming increasingly diverse, it is crucial that clinical research studies reflect this diversity to improve health outcomes. However, limited data and small sample sizes in qualitative studies on the inclusion of underrepresented groups hinder progress in this area.

Patients often communicate with primary care centres remotely (e.g. by telephone or e-mail) before seeking in-person care. A comparatively novel addition might be patient-facing symptom entry websites, where subsequent questions are automatically guided by previous responses. However, the acceptability of such systems to healthcare staff remains unclear, particularly in terms of what features staff perceive as useful.

Nigeria has one of the highest child mortality rates globally, with 111 deaths per 1,000 live births. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) improves infant survival by providing essential nutrients and antibodies that protect against infections and diseases. Despite its benefits, EBF rates in Nigeria remain low at 29%, largely due to limited healthcare support and breastfeeding guidance. With the proliferation of mobile phones in Nigeria, mobile health (mHealth) interventions are being explored as scalable solutions. SMS-based programs have demonstrated success in delivering behavioral interventions, yet few use artificial intelligence (AI) for personalized breastfeeding support.

Preventing and treating methamphetamine-related harm in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations is a significant challenge for health care services. Digital health care may offer opportunities to support individuals and families in ways that complement existing methamphetamine treatment options. This study responds to a community-identified priority as Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) identified methamphetamine use as a key concern and sought support to respond to the needs of people who use methamphetamine and their families.

Latino caregivers of persons living with dementia (PLWD) face distinct financial challenges, spending nearly half of their annual household income on caregiving expenses, almost twice as much as non-Latino caregivers. Cultural norms, limited access to financial resources, and underrepresentation in intervention research compound this economic burden. There remains a critical gap in evidence-based, culturally tailored programs designed to reduce financial stress among Latino caregivers.

Rural communities face persistent challenges in recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals. Research has shown that individuals from rural backgrounds are more likely to return to practice in these areas, yet most existing pipeline programs focus on undergraduate and medical students rather than high school students. Early exposure to healthcare careers is essential, as many students have already selected their career paths by the time they enter college. A previous study conducted in 2020 analyzed the effects of a single educational workshop at a rural high school in New Hampshire. The results suggested that students had a better understanding of the healthcare field.

Executive function encompasses a set of higher-order cognitive processes, including planning, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control, that are essential for goal-directed behavior. These abilities are adversely affected by age with executive dysfunction ultimately impairing performance on activities of daily living.

The negative consequences of caregiving can be mitigated by providing caregivers with support programs that increase their dementia care skills and provide emotional and tangible support. Web-based technology can increase the availability of evidence-based caregiver interventions. GamePlan4Care (GP4C) is a web-based adaptation of the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer’s Caregiver Health II (REACH II) intervention, redesigned and reformatted for web-based delivery.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) individuals faced greater mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic than binary-gender heterosexual (non-LGBTQ+) adults. The Together for Wellness/Juntos por Nuestro Bienestar website with free well-being resources, developed during the COVID-19 pandemic with partner input, included LGBTQ+ resources. A pilot evaluation among adults (aged ≥18 years) found engagement with and use of the website 4 to 6 weeks before follow-up was associated with reduced (pretest-posttest) depression. Results for LGBTQ+ participants were not reported.