Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42342245›Full record

ArticleJMIR research protocols2026

Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Metabolic Syndrome Management and Attitudes Toward Using Digital Health Tools in Two Distinct Populations: Protocol for a Qualitative Descriptive Study.

Asma Ali, Ifeanyichukwu Ogbuiyi-Chima, Mohammad Faisal, Noof Alwatban, Maryam Alhabas, Ashraf A El-Metwally, Ashish Joshi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR research protocols, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Asma AliSchool of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-4764-1986
Ifeanyichukwu Ogbuiyi-ChimaSchool of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, United States.ORCID 0009-0001-8943-0511
Mohammad FaisalSchool of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, United States.ORCID 0009-0007-0296-4080
Noof AlwatbanDepartment of Public Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0003-1879-4294
Maryam AlhabasDepartment of Public Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0009-0005-4830-8543
Ashraf A El-MetwallyDepartment of Public Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0001-5575-0077
Ashish JoshiSchool of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-5376-9839

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMetabolic 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.

objectiveThis study aims to explore the multilevel factors influencing individuals' engagement in self-management of MetS. Specifically, it seeks to identify key barriers and facilitators to effective self-management and to assess participants' attitudes toward the use of digital health tools in supporting disease management.

methodsThis 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.

resultsThis study will begin participant enrollment in August 2026. Thematic analysis will be used to examine barriers and facilitators to MetS self-management and participants' views on digital health tools across 2 international sites.

conclusionsFindings 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. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/91903.

Indexed as

Cross-Cultural ComparisonMetabolic SyndromeDigital HealthFemaleHumansMaleQualitative ResearchResearch Designchronic diseasecross-cultural comparisondigital healthmetabolic syndromequalitative researchself-management

Identifiers

PMID42342245
PMCPMC13347078

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.