University Of Massachusetts, Worcester

This study tested a 12-week program where people with overweight or obesity, who were already taking weight-loss medications, used a Fitbit and worked with a health coach. The goal was to see if this approach could help them become more active and improve their health. Fifteen pa…

This study looked at whether adding metformin, a diabetes medicine, to the usual antibiotics for tuberculosis (TB) is safe and tolerable for people also living with HIV. 112 adults took part, and half received standard TB drugs alone while the other half also took metformin for 1…

This study tested mobile health (mHealth) tools to help Thai young men who have sex with men start and stick with HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). 119 participants used text messages and other phone-based features. The goal was to see if these tools were easy to use and helpe…

This study looked at whether offering mental health care through video calls during an emergency room visit can help prevent suicide. Over 32,000 adults in Massachusetts took part. The goal was to see if this approach improves access to care and reduces the need for long hospital…

This study tested a text messaging program designed to reduce the risk of major depression in pregnant and postpartum individuals. 40 participants who were at risk but not currently depressed received tailored texts with links to helpful content and a peer chat feature. The goal …

This study tested a mobile program called Vaper-to-Vaper (V2V) that uses peer texting and coaching to help high school students quit vaping. 71 teens in grades 9-12 who used e-cigarettes in the past week took part. The goal was to see if the program could help them manage craving…

This study tested whether music therapy could prevent hospital-acquired delirium (sudden confusion) in patients with Parkinson's disease or Lewy body dementia. Thirty hospitalized adults were randomly assigned to music therapy, self-directed music listening, or standard care. The…

This study looked at how people with high trait anxiety (a stable personality trait) process visual information, especially emotional faces. 23 young adults completed computer tasks to identify emotions in faces. The goal was to understand visual system function in anxiety, which…

This study tested whether two different MRI contrast dyes, Dotarem and Gadavist, are equally good at highlighting breast lesions. 300 women with known or suspected breast disease received one of the two dyes before their MRI. Radiologists then rated the image quality to see if on…

This study tested a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool designed to help doctors safely drain infected gallbladders in patients who are too sick for surgery. 38 adults took part. The AI was compared to an expert doctor's judgment to see if it could accurately tell when it was s…

This study tested a telehealth program to help people remember and complete their annual lung cancer screening. 22 adults who were due for a follow-up screening took part. The program used video calls to guide them through the process. Researchers measured how many people finishe…

This study compared a new non-invasive blood pressure monitor (ViTrack) to the standard arterial catheter in 30 patients undergoing surgery or in the intensive care unit. The goal was to see if the non-invasive device could measure blood pressure as accurately as the invasive met…

This study tested whether training doctors and nurse practitioners to communicate better and reduce bias could help lower blood pressure in patients. About 118 healthcare trainees and their patients from a safety-net hospital took part. The goal was to see if patient blood pressu…

This study tested a web-based system that creates a personalized care plan for people with knee or hip osteoarthritis. The goal was to help patients and their doctors make more informed decisions about treatments, including whether to have joint replacement surgery. Over 5,700 ad…

This study looked at how young adults (ages 18-24) respond to e-cigarette education messages based on who delivers them (expert vs. peer) and how they are presented (one-sided vs. two-sided). 848 participants who either vape or are at risk of starting rated the messages for accep…

This study tested whether sending educational materials to caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease could reduce the use of risky medications like sedatives and antipsychotics. Over 11,000 older adults with Alzheimer's took part. The goal was to see if simple mailings could …

This study tested a new web-based tool designed to help families of patients with severe brain injuries (like stroke or traumatic brain injury) communicate with doctors and make decisions about care goals. The study enrolled 50 family decision-makers to see if the tool was easy t…