Digitalisation in healthcare has resulted in fragmented solutions and limited interoperability. The Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standard is increasingly adopted to enable standardised data exchange, yet its complexity creates usability challenges for clinicians and developers. To address these challenges, this study evaluates the usability of an enhanced FHIR Questionnaire Resource Editor designed to improve workflow efficiency, accessibility and user satisfaction in creating and managing healthcare questionnaires.

This mixed-methods usability evaluation will recruit 10 healthcare professionals and/or informatics experts via convenience sampling. The study will consist of four general phases: (1) an initial session to familiarise users with the tool; (2) a task analysis phase supported by eye-tracking to identify strengths and weaknesses; (3) retrospective think-aloud interviews to explore strategies used during tasks and (4) completion of a validated usability questionnaire, such as the System Usability Scale, to quantify user satisfaction. We will analyse quantitative data using descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative feedback will be examined through thematic analysis and affinity mapping. The primary outcome is to assess the editor’s usability and accessibility and to identify areas for improvement.

This study protocol has been reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical Faculty at the University of Würzburg (ethikkommission@uni-wuerzburg.de) under approval number (24/24-sc). All participants will provide informed consent. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, conferences and open-access platforms to inform future iterations of FHIR-based tools.

Discharge planning (DP) is essential to ensure continuity of care during patient transitions between inpatient and outpatient settings. Although DP has been legally required for all hospitals in Germany since 2017, several studies show considerable variation in its implementation, likely due to differences in structural characteristics and organisational processes. Both quality and efficiency-enhancing DP processes are particularly important in the context of cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of mortality and a major contributor to healthcare costs in Germany. The ‘Ready to Discharge’ (R2D) project investigates the implementation status, influencing factors and outcomes of DP in cardiac units of German hospitals. By integrating quantitative and qualitative data, we aim to identify best practices and provide actionable recommendations for improving DP processes.

A mixed-methods study design will be used. Quantitative analyses will be based on primary data from hospital and patient surveys combined with secondary data from health insurance claims and hospital quality reports. Key outcome measures will include healthcare utilisation outcomes (eg, readmissions, emergency department visits), patient health status outcomes (eg, patient satisfaction, self-rated health) and medication-related outcomes (eg, medication adherence). Qualitative interviews with healthcare professionals will enrich the findings by providing insights into barriers and facilitators to DP.

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Bergische University of Wuppertal and the German Federal Office for Social Security. Informed consent will be obtained for all primary data collections. Hospital managing directors will be informed prior to the hospital survey and will be able to withdraw consent. Patients can withdraw their consent at any time. Secondary data will be analysed in pseudonymised form to ensure patient confidentiality. Results will be disseminated through workshops, regional and international conferences and peer-reviewed publications.

Emerging research indicates that integrated treatment of co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder can be effective among adolescents and young people. However, various barriers exist to young people accessing evidence-based treatments. Telehealth offers an opportunity to address these barriers and provide a scalable and accessible alternative to inperson treatment. This paper describes the study protocol for a randomised controlled trial (RCT) examining the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of an integrated trauma-focused cognitive-behavioural treatment for traumatic stress and substance use among adolescents and young adults (Concurrent Treatment of PTSD and Substance Use Disorders Using Prolonged Exposure – Adolescent and Young Adult version (COPE-A)) when delivered in person compared with via telehealth.

A two-arm, parallel group, single-blind, non-inferiority RCT with follow-up at 4 months and 12 months post study entry will be conducted in Sydney, Australia. Participants (170 adolescents and young adults aged 12–25 years) will be allocated to receive COPE-A either in person or via telehealth (allocation ratio 1:1) using minimisation. Project psychologists will administer treatment via both modes of delivery over a maximum of 16 sessions of 60–90 min. The primary outcome will be between-group differences in change in the severity of PTSD symptoms from baseline to 4-month follow-up, as measured by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Children and Adolescents for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.

This study has been approved by the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network Human Research Ethics Committee (2024/ETH01050). Research findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific conferences.

ACTRN12624000776505.

V.2.3, 20 March 2025.

Referrals for gender-affirming healthcare services have surged in recent decades, presumably driven by increased visibility, acceptance and reduced barriers to care. Despite these advances, transgender and gender-diverse individuals continue to face significant mental health challenges, including elevated rates of anxiety, depression as well as high prevalence of autistic traits. Gender-affirming hormonal treatment (GAHT) has been suggested to improve mental health and quality of life (QoL) among transgender individuals; however, the short- and long-term treatment effects of GAHT are not yet fully understood. Therefore, this study aims to establish a comprehensive cohort of transgender individuals at the Centre for Gender Identity (CGI), Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark, to enhance understanding and treatment outcomes.

The Transgender Cohort (TraCK) will recruit participants from February 14, 2024, with recruitment occurring continuously alongside yearly follow-up. This single-centre cohort study will include both retrospective and prospective data collection. Transgender individuals referred to CGI will be invited to participate in the study via the Danish digital mail system called e-Boks. Participants must provide informed consent and complete a baseline questionnaire. Data will be collected from self-reported questionnaires and medical records across multiple specialists. Self-reported questionnaires include WHO-Quality of Life BREF, Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire, Autism Spectrum Quotient, Transgender Congruence Scale, and Gender Minority Stress and Resilience Measure. Medical records will provide information on demographics, mental health, physical health, and gender-affirming treatment details. Data will be managed using REDCap, ensuring compliance with GDPR and the National Data Protection Act.

While recognising the potential privacy risks associated with data collection, the study considers these outweighed by the benefits of advancing knowledge on gender diversity and the impacts of gender-affirming care. The North Jutland Region Ethics Committee reviewed the project, determining no formal approval was needed, but it was registered and approved (no. F2024-012) by the North Jutland Region. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, conferences, and accessible reports for participants.

This study is registered with the North Jutland Region (no. F2024-012). Recruitment and data collection began on February 14, 2024, and will continue alongside yearly follow-up. Keywords Transgender individuals, transgender and gender-diverse, transgender cohort, transgender health, transgender research, cohort study, gender-affirming care.