{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,30]],"date-time":"2026-06-30T21:21:59Z","timestamp":1782854519376,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":50,"publisher":"JMIR Publications Inc.","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JMIR Res Protoc"],"abstract":"\n Background<\/jats:title>\n Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is defined by the presence of at least 3 out of 5 clinical risk factors, including abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure, high fasting glucose, elevated triglycerides, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Individuals with MetS face significantly increased risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and all-cause mortality.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Objective<\/jats:title>\n This study aims to explore the multilevel factors influencing individuals\u2019 engagement in self-management of MetS. Specifically, it seeks to identify key barriers and facilitators to effective self-management and to assess participants\u2019 attitudes toward the use of digital health tools in supporting disease management.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n This qualitative descriptive study will be conducted at 2 international sites: the University of Memphis (United States) and King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (Saudi Arabia), in collaboration with local primary care clinics. Participants will be recruited using purposive sampling with a maximum variation strategy, aiming for 20 to 30 individuals per site who meet eligibility criteria. Data will be collected through semi-structured, 60-minute one-on-one interviews. An abductive thematic analysis approach (integrating both inductive and deductive reasoning) will be used to analyze the data with NVivo 15 software.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n This study will begin participant enrollment in August 2026. Thematic analysis will be used to examine barriers and facilitators to MetS self-management and participants\u2019 views on digital health tools across 2 international sites.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n Findings will offer culturally grounded insights into how social, dietary, and familial factors influence chronic disease management. This knowledge can inform the design of equitable, context-sensitive digital health interventions.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)<\/jats:title>\n PRR1-10.2196\/91903<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.2196\/91903","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,26]],"date-time":"2026-02-26T10:35:06Z","timestamp":1772102106000},"page":"e91903","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Metabolic Syndrome Management and Attitudes Toward Using Digital Health Tools in Two Distinct Populations: Protocol for a Qualitative Descriptive Study"],"prefix":"10.2196","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4764-1986","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Asma","family":"Ali","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-8943-0511","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ifeanyichukwu","family":"Ogbuiyi-Chima","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-0296-4080","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mohammad","family":"Faisal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1879-4294","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Noof","family":"Alwatban","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-4830-8543","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maryam","family":"Alhabas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5575-0077","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ashraf A","family":"El-Metwally","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5376-9839","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ashish","family":"Joshi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1010","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1161\/circ.106.25.3143"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1161\/01.CIR.0000111245.75752.C6"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.288.21.2709"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1161\/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.539528"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/postmj\/qgad008"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11906-018-0812-z"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4103\/2230-8210.91193"},{"issue":"6","key":"ref8","first-page":"1464","volume":"15","author":"Abu Sham'a, RA","year":"2009","journal-title":"East Mediterr Health J"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13098-020-00610-7"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12902-018-0244-4"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-017-4041-1"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s13410-015-0365-5"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4103\/2230-8210.91191"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/2047487314525529"},{"key":"ref15","unstructured":"Social determinants of healthWorld Health Organization2026-02-25https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/social-determinants-of-health"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12967-023-04062-1"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12877-022-03672-6"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13098-025-01694-9"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rcsop.2024.100457"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12875-018-0837-z"},{"issue":"6","key":"ref21","first-page":"50","volume":"12","author":"Al-Hazzaa, HM","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int J Health Sci (Qassim)"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(13)62383-1"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(12)61031-9"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/pharmacy9010016"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2337\/ds18-0019"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics12071730"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13098-024-01414-9"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/jpm12101656"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2024-091018"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/53873"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/20552076231176645"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/26350106231221454"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/cancers16183147"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0248473"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare10091653"},{"key":"ref36","first-page":"43","author":"Sallis, J","year":"2015","journal-title":"Health Behavior: Theory, Research, and Practice"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/oby.21257"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-022-14129-1"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1748-5908-6-42"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12902-022-01214-0"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/15400"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1937586715614171"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1744987119880234"},{"key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1464-5491.2006.01858.x"},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10488-013-0528-y"},{"key":"ref46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1049732315617444"},{"key":"ref47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2702.2009.02896.x"},{"key":"ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/nhs.12048"},{"key":"ref49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0735275112457914"},{"key":"ref50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/intqhc\/mzm042"}],"container-title":["JMIR Research Protocols"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.researchprotocols.org\/2026\/1\/e91903","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,30]],"date-time":"2026-06-30T20:25:06Z","timestamp":1782851106000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.researchprotocols.org\/2026\/1\/e91903"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,24]]},"references-count":50,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2196\/91903","relation":{"has-preprint":[{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.2196\/preprints.91903","asserted-by":"object"}]},"ISSN":["1929-0748"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1929-0748","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,24]]}}}