Currently accepted at: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Jan 21, 2026
Date Accepted: Feb 26, 2026
This paper has been accepted and is currently in production.
It will appear shortly on 10.2196/91903
The final accepted version (not copyedited yet) is in this tab.
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Metabolic Syndrome Management: Barriers and Facilitators of Self-Management and Attitudes towards Using Digital Health Tools in Two Distinct Populations: A Qualitative Research Protocol
ABSTRACT
Background:
Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is defined by the presence of at least three out of five clinical risk factors, including abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure, high fasting glucose, elevated triglycerides, and low HDL cholesterol. Individuals with MetS face significantly increased risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and all-cause mortality.
Objective:
This study aims to explore the multi-level factors influencing individuals’ engagement in self-management of metabolic syndrome (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.
Methods:
This qualitative descriptive study will be conducted at two 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 20–30 individuals who meet set 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.
Results:
This study will begin participant enrollment in January 2026. Thematic analysis will be used to examine barriers and facilitators to MetS self-management and participants’ views on digital health tools across two international sites.
Conclusions:
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. Clinical Trial: NA
Citation
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Copyright
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