Chronic pain is a public health priority that affects 18% of Dutch and 16% of German adults, representing a major societal burden. The Ems Dollart Region (EDR), which forms the northern part of the Dutch–German border area, is particularly characterised by lower incomes, more physically demanding jobs and lower health literacy, which are associated with higher pain prevalence. Individuals with lower socioeconomic status face greater pain-related disability and reduced quality of life. Public health campaigns underpinned by pain science education provide a strategy to improve understanding of pain among the wider public by addressing common misconceptions about its causes and management. However, large-scale population-level interventions and evaluations of such campaigns remain limited.

This protocol describes the design and implementation of a cross-border public health campaign in the EDR, aimed at improving public understanding of pain, changing attitudes and beliefs and promoting healthy behaviours. We will conduct a quasi-experimental before–after study in the EDR with a control group in Flanders (Belgium). The intervention is guided by behaviour change and biopsychosocial models. The campaign will deliver tailored content via social media, broadcast, print and online advertisements over a 24-month period. Two independent cross-sectional samples will be surveyed at baseline and at 2-year follow-up, comprising 3200 participants per measurement wave from three regions: the Netherlands and Germany as intervention regions, and Flanders, Belgium, as the control region. The primary outcome is the prespecified Pain Concepts Questionnaire ratio score, assessing pain-related knowledge, attitudes and beliefs. The primary analysis will use an adjusted difference-in-differences framework to estimate whether change in the primary outcome differs between the combined intervention regions and the control region. Secondary analyses will examine the Netherlands and Germany separately and will evaluate healthcare utilisation, medication use, health-related quality of life and work absenteeism.

This study protocol was reviewed by the Medical Ethics Review Board of the University Medical Center Groningen and the University of Oldenburg. The study was considered not subject to the Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act (non-WMO declaration; reference number M24.345555, issued on 31 December 2024) and was approved by the University of Oldenburg Ethics Committee (reference number 2025–056, issued on 07 March 2025). Informed consent was obtained electronically by the research agency at the time of participants’ registration with the research panel. Study findings, regardless of outcome, will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international conferences.

Targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) offers promise in the rapid detection of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) directly from sputum. While pilot studies on tNGS are emerging, there is limited empirical qualitative evidence on tNGS implementation. This study, therefore, aimed to explore the experiences of tNGS programmatic implementation by clinicians, laboratory technicians and policymakers to identify perceived key operational barriers and enablers.

An exploratory qualitative study employing inductive thematic analysis. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and focus group discussion. Analysis was guided by the theoretical framework of acceptance.

This study was conducted between March and October 2025 as part of a broader implementation study evaluating tNGS potential programmatic integration in West Java, Indonesia. Participants were recruited from a DR-TB reference laboratory and a tertiary care hospital.

A purposive sample of 18 tNGS users participated, including clinicians (n=7), laboratory technicians (n=9) and policymakers (n=2).

Analysis revealed a dual challenge for tNGS implementation: technical-operational complexity and unguided clinical utility. Technical barriers include laboratory workflow optimisation and the need for highly skilled technicians for routine operation. From a clinical point of view, lack of local tNGS guidelines for clinicians and absence of local evidence such as cost-effectiveness and diagnostic performance at the policy levels hampered clinical adoption. Several enablers for tNGS implementation were identified, namely technicians with prior sequencing experience, perceived clinical value for complicated cases and advocacy within professional networks.

Successful scale-up of tNGS for DR-TB in high-burden settings requires a coordinated multisectoral strategy. Generating local evidence on robust laboratory data for technical guidelines, clinical utility and cost-effectiveness are warranted to support tNGS adoption. This evidence can then be integrated into the national tNGS roll-out strategy to enable sustainable and nationwide adoption of tNGS.