Virtual Wards (VWs) facilitate hospital-level monitoring, diagnostics and treatment within patients’ homes, while the hospital team retains responsibility for care. International research indicates that VWs decrease hospital length of stay without increasing readmissions; however, the feasibility and key operational determinants within Dutch care remain uncertain. This protocol outlines the VW for Early Discharge in Patients Receiving Inpatient Care (VIP Care) study.

The VIP Care study is a single-centre prospective feasibility cohort study conducted at Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The study encompasses seven predefined subcohorts with n=51 eligible patients per subcohort: (1) bacterial, fungal or parasitic infections; (2) viral respiratory infections; (3) dehydration; (4) decompensated heart failure; (5) high-dose corticosteroid treatment; (6) post-transsphenoidal pituitary surgery follow-up and (7) severe inflammatory skin disease with or without bacterial or viral superinfection. Adults who require hospital-level monitoring and/or therapy may qualify for early discharge to the VW.

The VW integrates scheduled, patient-performed measurements using (European Conformity) CE-marked devices with structured symptom assessment submitted via a patient application, and data review in an electronic health record-integrated clinician cockpit. Submissions are evaluated by VW tele-nurses using prespecified Early Warning Score based thresholds and an escalation protocol. Patients receive a daily physician telephone review. Diagnostics and treatments are administered at home to hospital standards through established home-care services.

The primary outcome (feasibility) is adherence to transfer, defined as the proportion of eligible inpatients who provide written informed consent and are subsequently successfully transferred to the VW. The prespecified feasibility threshold is 30%. Secondary outcomes include reach (eligibility, invitation and consent rates among admitted patients), operational performance during the VW episode (alert frequency and handling, contact volumes and actions), length of stay on the ward and in the VW, emergency department reassessments and 30-day readmissions. Qualitative interviews will be conducted to identify implementation determinants.

The study received approval from the Erasmus MC Medical Ethics Committee (MEC-2024–0060; amendment MEC-2024–0060 A0001). Incremental risk is considered minimal. Written informed consent is obtained. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and an accessible lay summary.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06936891; CCMO NL85516.078.24. Recruitment began in May 2025 and is ongoing.

To assess the levels of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) toward skin cancer prevention among Malaysian adults and to examine differences in KAP across socio-demographic groups.

Cross-sectional online survey.

Community-based study conducted in Malaysia using social media recruitment.

A total of 386 adults aged ≥18 years residing in Malaysia. Most participants were young adults (86.3%), female (55.4%) and of Chinese ethnicity (65.5%). Healthcare professionals were excluded.

Primary outcomes were levels of knowledge, attitude and preventive practices toward skin cancer, measured using the validated KAP-SC-Q (Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Skin Cancer Questionnaire) and categorised as poor, moderate or good. Secondary outcomes included differences in KAP across socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, analysed using independent t-tests and ² tests.

Over half of participants demonstrated poor knowledge of skin cancer (56.0%) and the vast majority showed inadequate preventive practices (84.2%), while attitudes toward skin cancer were predominantly positive (62.4%). Significant differences in mean KAP scores and categorical levels were observed across several socio-demographic variables. Participants with tertiary education had higher knowledge (14.32 vs 12.61) and attitude scores (20.01 vs 15.95; p

Malaysian adults exhibited limited knowledge and very poor preventive practices toward skin cancer despite generally positive attitudes. These findings highlight substantial gaps between awareness and behaviour and support the need for targeted public health interventions to correct misconceptions, improve risk perception especially in high-risk groups and promote effective ultraviolet protection behaviours.

We investigated symptoms reported before and after heart failure (HF) diagnosis and their associations with 3-month hospitalisation and mortality.

To examine associations between symptoms recorded in primary care and short-term hospitalisation and mortality in HF patients.

Landmark analysis using Royston-Parmar survival models at baseline (diagnosis), 6 and 12 months post-diagnosis.

Primary care database (Clinical Practice Research Datalink) linked to hospital and mortality data (1998–2020).

Adults (>40 years) with a first HF diagnosis.

Shortness of breath, ankle swelling, oedema, fatigue, chest pain, depression and anxiety in the 3 months before diagnosis and at 6 and 12 months.

3-month all-cause hospitalisation and mortality; secondary outcomes included HF and non-cardiovascular hospitalisation.

Among 86 882 HF patients (62 742 and 54 555 surviving to 6 and 12 months, respectively), the magnitude of symptom risk varied by timepoint. Specifically, the symptoms with the strongest associations with adverse outcomes were: depression for all-cause hospitalisation at diagnosis (HR: 1.26; 95% CI 1.15 to 1.39) and 6 months (1.46; 1.25 to 1.70); ankle swelling for mortality (1.49; 1.14 to 1.94) at 6 months and SOB for HF hospitalisation (1.18; 1.12 to 1.26) at diagnosis and 12 months (1.99; 1.68 to 2.35).

Symptoms persisted and were more prominent at 6 and 12 months post-diagnosis than at diagnosis.

To describe the incidence, presentation and long-term health outcomes of suicidal thoughts and behaviours (STBs) in children aged 12 years or under.

This population-based study included children identified through the Rochester Epidemiology Project who presented between 2005 and 2023 with STBs across primary, secondary and tertiary care centres in Olmsted County, Minnesota, USA. Information related to the patient and family characteristics, presentation, prior history and outcomes was manually extracted by two independent researchers. Patients were excluded if the index visit note could not be located, the patient had no suicidal ideation, attempts, intent or plan, was older than 12 years 11 months at the index date, less than 2 years old or was a duplicate entry.

The average annual population was 28,035 children, of which 637 presented with STBs (mean (SD) age, 10.6 (1.7) years; 51.2% girls, 76.3% White, average follow-up 7 years). The majority of the cases presented to the emergency department (ED) 491 (77.1%). The annual incidence per 100,000 person-years tripled from 68.8 in 2005 to 208.6 in 2023. Overall, 105 patients (16.5%) presented with a suicidal attempt. There were no cases of death by suicide. A prior psychiatric diagnosis was present in 454 (71.3%). STB events were preceded by a precipitating event in 471 (73.9%), the most common of which was an argument with a parent, followed by a bullying event and family distress. A specific suicide plan was reported by 328 (51.5%) with laceration reported most frequently, followed by hanging and overdose. Significant predictors of a suicide attempt were previous use of mood stabilisers (OR 3.21; 95% CI 1.24 to 7.97) and having a specific plan (OR 2.73; 95% CI 1.72 to 4.41). Children who had suicidal attempts had more subsequent ED visits (3.50 vs 2.58; p=0.009) and hospitalisations for psychiatric reasons (1.90 vs 1.30; p=0.003) and psychiatric hospitalisation days (12.70 vs 9.04; p=0.048). Subsequent suicide attempts occurred in 31% of the cohort during follow-up.

STBs in preadolescent children are rare but are increasing in incidence. Such children have significant psychological diagnoses, use of mental health services, and subsequent suicide attempts. Novel age-appropriate interventions are needed.

More than 300 million major surgical procedures are carried out under general anaesthesia each year worldwide, and advanced airway management remains one of the leading daily challenges for clinicians. Data from large international prospective cohort studies on adverse events such as cardiovascular collapse, cardiac arrest and severe hypoxaemia during advanced airway management to facilitate anaesthesia are lacking.

The International obServational sTudy on AiRway manaGement in operAting room and non-operaTing room anaEsthesia (STARGATE) study will be an international prospective observational cohort study describing the incidence of major adverse events associated with advanced airway management (tracheal intubation or supraglottic airway device placement) for general anaesthesia in the operating and non-operating room for surgery and medical procedures. The secondary aim will be to describe the practice of airway management in a large international cohort. Critically ill patients will be excluded from this study. Data on patients’ characteristics, type of procedure and the adopted airway management strategy, post-procedure adverse events, operator characteristics and in-hospital mortality will be prospectively collected. The study aims to enrol 10 500 patients.

The study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the coordinating centre (Comitato Etico Interaziendale AOU San Luigi Gonzaga, N° 25/2023). Each of the participating centres will then seek approval of their local Ethics Committee before enrolment. Data will be disseminated to the scientific community by original articles submitted to international peer-reviewed journals.

NCT05759299.

Temporary childbirth migration (TCM), where women return to their natal homes for pregnancy, delivery or postpartum for a limited duration, is a long-standing sociocultural practice in India. While often motivated by familial support and traditional norms, its implications for maternal and child health and health system engagement remain poorly understood. This study aims to quantify the impact of TCM on maternal and newborn outcomes and to explore how continuity of perinatal care and social support mediate these relationships.

We are conducting a three-site, community-based, prospective cohort study across the Health and Demographic Surveillance System sites of Vadu (Maharashtra), Sevagram (Maharashtra) and DEESHA (Delhi). A total of 3000 pregnant women will be enrolled in pregnancy (

This study has been approved by the Ethics committees at the KEM Hospital Research Centre Pune (KEMHRC/RVM/EC/1931), Society for Applied Studies (SAS/ERC/TCM Study/2024), Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (MGIMS/lEC/COMMED/8412023) and University of California San Francisco (22-36484). All research activities are conducted in accordance with Indian Council of Medical Research Guidelines for biomedical research and the Declaration of Helsinki. On study completion, findings will be disseminated to diverse local, national and global stakeholders and published in academic journals.

CTRI/2024/02/062881.

This study aims to identify the effectiveness of asthma self-management interventions for school-aged children 6–17 years old in the US. The research questions include: (1) What interventions are conducted for asthma self-management among school children and adolescents aged 6–17 with asthma from minority families in the US? (2) Which asthma self-management intervention(s) are effective and feasible to reduce acute healthcare utilisation and improve asthma control among school-aged children 6–17 years and (3) Are there any differences in the effectiveness of self-management interventions by age groups (children 6–11 years vs adolescents 12–17 years) and by income groups (low income vs high income minority families)?

A thorough search of the literature is conducted in multiple electronic databases, such as MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus/Embase, EbscoHost, CINAHL-full text, PsycINFO and clinical trials. This review focuses on studies of school-aged children and adolescents 6–17 years old with asthma from minority families that employ self-management intervention to enhance asthma control compared with a standard intervention/control group. The search strategies are developed following the population, intervention, comparison and outcome framework. The primary outcomes of this study are healthcare utilisation (ie, asthma-related urgent care/emergency department visits and hospitalisation), symptom control and asthma control. The process involves developing a search strategy along with inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracting relevant data, assessing the risk of bias (RoB) and analysing the data. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines will be used for reporting of the systematic review. The Cochrane Risk of Bias revised tool will be used to assess the RoB. The findings will be presented descriptively using tables, visual aids and a narrative summary. A meta-analysis will synthesise the results, exploring the impact of various interventions on asthma self-management in low-income and minority adolescents.

Ethical approval is not required for this study since this is a systematic review of existing literature. This study will synthesise evidence of asthma self-management interventions among school-aged children with asthma from minority and low-income families and identify research gaps. The findings in the meta-analysis will offer valuable insights into designing tailored evidence-based, effective, self-management interventions for school-aged children and adolescents with asthma in the future. The findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and presentations.

CRD42024567466.

Hearing loss is a global health problem. It is not only an impairment of hearing but also has debilitating effects on the social, emotional and cognitive domains. It also imposes costs on a country’s healthcare sector, which must first be identified to prevent the prevalence of the impairment. In a low- and middle-income country like Nepal, there is no published systematic review on the prevalence of hearing loss. We aim to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the national prevalence of hearing loss in Nepal across all age groups.

We will report our findings in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols guidelines. We will search the MEDLINE (PubMed) and Nepal Journals Online databases for publications in Nepali and English. Google Scholar will also be used to broaden the search scope. We will also search grey literature, like government reports. Studies that report the prevalence of hearing loss in Nepal will be included. Titles and abstracts of the studies will be independently screened by both reviewers (PB and SA) using Rayyan software. Full-text articles that pass the initial screening will also be independently reviewed by both reviewers. Disagreements will be resolved through discussion at all stages. If necessary, a third reviewer will be invited, and the original author will be contacted where appropriate (e.g., when data are missing in the original study). We will perform a narrative synthesis of the study results. Cochran’s Q test and the I² statistic will be calculated to assess heterogeneity. I² values of 25%, 50% and 75% will be interpreted as indicating low, moderate and high heterogeneity, respectively. We will conduct a meta-analysis using a random-effects model, which accounts for both within-study and between-study variability. We will perform a sensitivity analysis to examine whether a single study disproportionately contributes to heterogeneity. Potential publication bias will be evaluated using both visual and statistical approaches (Funnel plot and Egger’s test). In addition, if funnel plot asymmetry is observed, trim-and-fill analysis will be conducted. Statistical tests will be performed in R (V.4.3.1) using RStudio (V.2023.06.1+524) with the metafor package for meta-analysis.

Ethics approval is not required for this protocol. This review and meta-analysis are based entirely on secondary data; no primary data will be collected. Our findings will be useful to quantify the national prevalence of hearing impairment in Nepal. They may be useful for developing intervention policies and furthering research agendas for government agencies and hearing-health researchers alike. The results will be presented at conferences, published in peer-reviewed journals and shared with relevant policy-making bodies.

CRD420251120903.

There is an urgent need to improve surgical antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), to enhance individual care and reduce population-level antimicrobial resistance, but it is a complex issue.

We aimed to conduct an ethnographic study asking what would work in practice to improve surgical antibiotic prescribing behaviour?

Adopting a socio-cultural-historical perspective, we undertook ethnographic observations of clinical practice (43.5 hours) and semistructured interviews (n=31) with surgical staff, AMS staff and patients at two English National Health Service hospitals. Interview transcripts and observational fieldnotes were analysed using the Framework Approach. Additionally, we integrated stakeholder engagement throughout to ensure the findings were meaningful.

Our analysis of all fieldnotes (based on 43.5 hours of observation) and interview transcripts (n=31 from interviews with 31 different participants) identified that, while surgical staff were aware of antimicrobial resistance, they seldom considered AMS urgent or important in the acute setting where lack of time and the desire to mitigate perceived risk often prevailed. Other surgical issues were perceived to dominate senior decision-makers’ focus, thus perpetuating the status quo. Furthermore, attention to AMS was not always prioritised at the organisational level or by resource-limited AMS teams. Consequently, there was an absence of relationships and tools that foreground AMS. Electronic prescribing systems frequently hindered antimicrobial review and exacerbated patterns of siloed inter-disciplinary working, and feedback on antimicrobial prescribing and patient outcomes was largely absent. To improve AMS, surgical teams wanted sustainable improvements which effectively account for the hierarchical relationships, division of labour, rapid workflow and high staff turnover. Infection experts should better integrate into surgical teams to build relationships and trust, and to proactively contribute to patient care.

We offer data-driven, theoretically informed strategies to support change. Contextually appropriate improvements that address the status and visibility of AMS in surgery will be key. Further research is needed to assess the impact and sustainability of the suggested approaches.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of mortality in Nepal. Risk perception is crucial for the prevention of CVD-related behaviours. This study assessed CVD risk perceptions and the stages of preventive behaviours among adults in Pokhara Metropolitan, Nepal by integrating two theoretical models—the Health Belief Model and the Transtheoretical Model.

This study used a cross-sectional design with data collected through a survey using a semistructured questionnaire.

This study was conducted from July 2024 to August 2024; among community people aged ≥20 residing in 11 wards of Pokhara Metropolitan.

A total of 384 community people residing in Pokhara Metropolitan, Nepal.

The primary outcome measure was stage of preventive behaviours of CVDs using Fuster BEWAT components (blood pressure, exercise, weight, diet and tobacco), while explanatory variables were sociodemographic characteristics and CVD Health Beliefs.

A total of 384 adults participated (response rate=95%). The mean age was 42.3 years (SD±14.5), with equal representation of males and females. More than half of the participants (55.5%) perceived low susceptibility to CVDs, 40.4% perceived high severity, 78.4% perceived high benefits and 49.5% perceived moderate barriers. Most respondents were in the precontemplation stage for blood pressure control (43%) and weight management (30.5%), whereas maintenance was most common for physical activity (41.1%), healthy diet (51.3%) and smoking abstinence (80.1%).

Ordinal logistic regression revealed that low perceived benefits significantly hindered behavioural progression (p=0.001–0.012), where low perceived barriers significantly facilitated advancement across all behaviours (p

Perceived benefits and barriers were key predictors of progression in CVD prevention behaviours. While many adults maintained healthy diets, physical activity and smoking abstinence, most were in the early stage for blood pressure and weight control strategies. Strengthening perceived benefits and reducing barriers can enhance the adoption of healthy behaviours in Nepal.

Robotic rehabilitation on locomotion is a new approach in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and previous studies showed its feasibility. In this study, we aim to evaluate safety, patient’s experience and efficacy of a gait training programme with the Atalante exoskeleton, compared with usual care, on walking ability, functional capacity and other symptoms associated with ALS.

EXALS is a monocentric, prospective, interventional, open trial. 20 slowly progressing patients with gait deficits will be recruited. The study is conducted in three phases, each lasting 6 weeks, following the ABA procedure. Phase B represents the intervention phase, during which patients practise their gait training at a rhythm of three sessions/week, as an add-on to usual care. In the two phases A, patients receive usual care with no additional treatment. An evaluation is planned before, in the middle and at the end of each phase. The primary outcome of the study is safety and tolerability of the Atalante exoskeleton. Secondary outcomes include: participants’ subjective impact and experience, attitude and motivation, efficacy and interactivity of the exoskeleton, walking ability, functional capacity, spasticity, balance, postural stability, lower limb muscle strength, quality of life, pain, fatigue, anxiety and depression. Statistical analyses will include descriptive methods for all variables and adverse events. Quantitative outcomes are analysed using repeated-measures ANOVA (analysis of variance) across the seven visits, with post hoc tests applied when appropriate. Nominal outcomes are evaluated using Cochran’s Q test with McNemar pairwise comparisons when significant. Associations between variables are examined using Spearman correlation coefficients. Missing data will be replaced using linear interpolation, and sensitivity analyses will be planned. Qualitative interview data are analysed using thematic analysis.

This study was approved by the French ethics committee CPP Nord-Ouest I (no. 23.02378.000201). Participant data are anonymised and securely stored in the laboratory’s database, accessible only to the research team. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and conferences.

NCT06199284.

Heart failure (HF) remains a major global health challenge, particularly in low-resource settings where access to comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is limited. Yoga, a culturally contextualised mind-body intervention, holds promise as an adjunctive therapy in CR. The Yoga-EndOmics study aims to evaluate the effects of Yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation (Yoga-CaRe) on gene expression, endothelial function, vascular biomarkers and clinical outcomes in systolic HF, providing mechanistic insights into its potential integration into conventional cardiac rehabilitation.

This is a prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded-endpoint (PROBE) mechanistic trial enrolling 78 patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Participants will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a structured Yoga-CaRe intervention or enhanced standard care for 3 months. The Yoga-CaRe group will attend 20 supervised sessions with guided home practice involving tailored asanas, pranayama and meditation. Primary outcomes are changes in endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and functional exercise capacity at 3 months. Secondary outcomes include changes in arterial compliance and stiffness, circulating biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress and inflammation, and immediate changes in global gene expression profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cells following the Yoga-CaRe intervention. Data will be analysed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) for between-group comparisons and significant analysis of microarray (SAM) for global gene expression profiles.

The study has received ethical clearance from the Institutional Ethics Committee of the SDM College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, India (SDMIEC/2025/1072) and is registered with the Clinical Trials Registry of India. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences and stakeholder engagement platforms to inform future integrative strategies in HF management.

CTRI/2023/12/060758

To understand how key relational factors lead to observed outcomes in mental health peer support.

This realist-informed qualitative review synthesised findings from 18 studies to develop programme theory relating to interpersonal contexts, linked outcomes and underlying mechanisms of change of mental health peer support.

Four databases were searched: PsycINFO, Embase, Medline, CINAHL.

All studies were evaluated for relevance and rigour for development of programme theory.

Qualitative data were extracted from 20 studies. A realist-informed synthesis identified repeating themes with context-mechanism-outcome configurations.

This identified five key contextual factors that together form the APPEAR framework (Accepting, Personalised Practice, Empowering, Available and Reciprocal). These contextual factors were found to interact to create the conditions for improved personal recovery outcomes in the domains of (1) self-acceptance, (2) confidence, (3) hopefulness, (4) self-expression, (5) relationships and (6) knowledge and skills.

The APPEAR framework offers an operational foundation for understanding interpersonal mental health peer support interventions.

The objective of this study was to generate evidence for strengthening the local food system to contribute to improved dietary diversity among children in Ethiopia.

A community-based cross-sectional survey.

The study was conducted in the Amhara, Oromia and Somali regions of Ethiopia.

A total of 1475 children aged 6–23 months were included. Children requiring special care or not permanently residing in the study areas were excluded.

The primary outcome measure was the adequate Minimum Dietary Diversity, defined as the consumption of at least five of the eight defined food groups in the previous 24 hours.

Only 25.6% of children met the adequate minimum dietary diversity requirement. Children from households with backyard gardening (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.43, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.88), access to communication devices (AOR=1.99, 95% CI 1.51 to 2.64), attendance at cooking demonstrations (AOR=1.99, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.74), use of labour-saving and time-saving technologies (AOR=1.55, 95% CI 1.15 to 2.09) and irrigation use for crop production (AOR=1.78, 95% CI 1.26 to 2.52) had higher odds of meeting adequate minimum dietary diversity. Residence was strongly associated with dietary outcomes: children in Amhara had more than seven times the odds of achieving adequate minimum dietary diversity of children compared with Somali (AOR=7.56, 95% CI 4.92 to 11.62), while those in Oromia had nearly twice the odds (AOR=1.74, 95% CI 1.17 to 2.60).

Dietary diversity among children was low in the study areas. Strengthening local food systems through promotion of backyard gardening, cooking demonstrations, irrigation use, communication access and appropriate technologies could improve children’s dietary diversity. Regional disparities highlight the need for context-specific strategies, particularly to address the low dietary diversity in children.

Binge drinking in the previous month was reported in 23.5% of US adults, and 28.1 million adults met criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in 2023. Individuals with AUD face increased risks of oral health problems, including caries, periodontal disease and mucosal lesions. Poor oral hygiene, nutrition and dental care all contribute to these conditions, but individuals with AUD are often under-represented in oral health surveys. Understanding relationships between oral health behaviours, attitudes and general health is crucial for designing future interventions. This pilot aims to explore the relationship between oral and systemic health in subjects with AUD, focusing on oral health behaviours, salivary biomarkers and clinical phenotype, including systemic biomarkers of inflammation, to inform future research on oral–systemic interactions in AUD.

This protocol has two parts. Part 1 involves cognitive interviews to assess the content validity and interpretability of the Oral Health Behaviours Assessment (OHBA) questionnaire. Part 2 will collect biological and behavioural data from treatment-seeking patients with AUD and matched controls (age, sex and smoking status), including saliva, blood, dental exams, and health behaviour and symptom measures. Inpatients with AUD will provide biospecimens and answer symptom severity questionnaires at admission and again at the dental exam visit (7–12 days later), while controls will provide a single set of measures at their dental exam visit. Oral health will be assessed through structured dental and periodontal examinations, radiographs and validated questionnaires (including the OHBA). Additional data will include alcohol use history, psychiatric and medical history assessments, dietary recall, and measures of stress, sleep and mood to capture potential moderators of oral–systemic relationships. Biomarkers of inflammation and stress will be quantified from saliva and blood using immunoassays. Primary outcomes will compare oral health, salivary biomarkers and clinical measures between AUD and controls, while secondary outcomes will evaluate within-subject changes in patients with AUD during inpatient treatment and early abstinence.

This clinical protocol was approved by the National Institutes of Health Institutional Review Board (IRB #002005). Prior to enrolling, participants will be informed of the study purpose, risks and benefits, and study procedures, and evaluated for understanding prior to signing consent. Part 1 of the protocol is currently active and recruiting participants for cognitive interviews. The study findings will be disseminated through journals and conferences related to addiction medicine, psychology, immunology, neuroscience and dentistry. We expect the results of the pilot study will inform future research on oral health and salivary bioscience while also providing treatment-seeking patients with AUD targeted information on the importance of oral health behaviours for maintaining oral and systemic health.

NCT06684483; preresults.