Today, arterial blood gas (ABG) testing is widely used in various hospital departments to support diagnosing diseases and predicting patient conditions. However, interpreting the numerical results of this test, its complex concepts continue to pose challenges for nurses and physicians. Therefore, the use of innovative educational approaches can simplify the learning of ABG interpretation. Two educational approaches that have recently received attention are the Flipped classroom and Microlearning. To evaluate and compare these approaches, we will develop a comprehensive evaluation protocol based on Kirkpatrick’s model.

This study is a quasi-experimental design that will involve 188 undergraduate nurse anaesthesia students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, randomly allocated to a flipped classroom or microlearning groups (94 per group). The intervention will consist of one session for all registered students and three sessions for each group with their own educational approach. Two sets of educational content, according to each approach method, will be developed based on a needs assessment and will be shared via secure social media. The flipped classroom group will receive pre-session materials, followed by in-person classes. The microlearning group will engage in in-person sessions supported by micro videos, podcasts and micro games delivered via Telegram. Effectiveness will be evaluated by using Kirkpatrick’s four-level model. 1 week after the intervention concludes, participants will be invited to a meeting to complete the Training Satisfaction Rating scale (Level 1, Reaction). We will use a pre-test and a post-test for evaluating Level 2 (Learning). Level 3 (Behaviour) will be evaluated through observations of ABG interpretation at internship sites. Level 4 (Results) will be evaluated via semi-structured interviews with specialists and colleagues. Data will be analysed blind; normality will be assessed (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test), and appropriate statistical tests (t-tests, ANCOVA, ² or Fisher’s exact) will be applied.

This study received permission and ethical approval from Tehran University of Medical Sciences (IR.TUMS.SPH.REC.1404.08). Since the study is not clinical, obtaining a trial registration number is not required under Iranian research policy, and an ethical approval alone is sufficient. Informed consent will be obtained before participants are enrolled. The study’s results will ultimately be submitted as a research paper to a peer-reviewed journal.

Overuse of CT scans is associated with multiple harms, such as an increased risk of cancer development, particularly in children. However, the rate of CT scan use is high and unwarranted worldwide.

This study aimed to identify the patterns and reported indications for head CT scans ordered for non-traumatic paediatric cases in Palestine.

This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study based on a desk review.

The study was carried out from June 2024 to September 2024 in five hospitals located in five major Palestinian governorates in the West Bank.

The study included records of children aged 14 or younger, presenting with non-traumatic complaints and having undergone head CT between January 2020 and September 2024. A total of 3715 patient records were explored, of which 2977 were included in the final analysis; 1764 (59.3%) males and 1213 (40.7%) females.

A pilot review of 100 records was conducted, and the data collection spreadsheet included demographic and clinical characteristics, presentations, reported reasons for CT requests, CT results, and information on lumbar puncture (LP) performance.

The mean age of patients was 4.3 years (SD±3.3), with 59.3% aged 3 to 11 years, and 47.7% presenting to hospitals in northern governorates. The most commonly reported presentation was fever and convulsion (8.2%), followed by convulsions (7.7%), and a combination of fever, headache and vomiting (6.5%). Only 12.9% of the CT scans yielded positive findings, including dilated ventricles (19.3%), sinusitis (18.8%), brain oedema (12.9%), and brain mass (11.1%). Most CT scans were requested to check for contraindications to LP, with only 4.1% having a positive CT finding indicating a contraindication. At the multivariate level, a positive CT result was associated with being a neonate, having a past medical condition, ordering CT to check for contraindication to LP and presenting with convulsions.

CT scans were found to be overused without justification, particularly for ruling out contraindications to LP. The development of clear and specific national guidelines is recommended. This process can be supported through training, decision support tools, alternative management pathways and specialist consultations to ensure compliance. Additionally, enhancing reporting quality and using health information systems are vital for monitoring and improving radiological safety.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between waterpipe smoking, polycythaemia and cardiac risk factors, including blood pressure and obesity.

Cross-sectional Study conducted in 2022.

An-Najah National University (ANNU) in the West Bank, Palestine.

A total of 954 university students participated in the study.

A questionnaire used to assess smoking behaviours and other substance practices and patterns. Anthropometric and clinical measurements were measured and recorded, and complete blood counts (CBC) were obtained using an automated haematology analyser. Descriptive statistics were used to characterise the sample. Logistic regression models were applied to assess associations between smoking and polycythaemia. Also, there is a link between polycythaemia and high systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Out of 954 participants, 60% were females, 18.5% smoked cigarettes (57.1% daily), 31.1% smoked waterpipes (20.5% daily), 6.5% smoked e-cigarettes (18.2% daily), 18.8% had polycythaemia and 17.6% were obese. After adjusting for gender, obesity and other confounders, waterpipe smoking was associated with polycythaemia (OR=1.70, p=0.023), male gender (OR=87.89, p

The study findings indicated significant associations between high blood pressure and polycythaemia, tobacco smoking, obesity and male gender. These findings underscore the importance of addressing tobacco hazards and their potential impact on cardiometabolic health, particularly among young adults.

Considering the proven anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin, we aimed to investigate the effect of curcumin supplementation on fatigue and musculoskeletal health (primary outcomes) and depression and its side effects (secondary outcomes) in postmenopausal women.

This was a parallel-group, double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled superiority trial.

The trial was conducted at two general clinics in Tabriz, Iran, in 2023.

A total of 74 postmenopausal women were enrolled. The participants were women aged between 40 years and 60 years with normal menopause and at least 1 year after amenorrhoea.

They were randomly assigned (1:1 allocation ratio) using a block randomisation method to receive either 500 mg curcumin capsules (intervention group, n=37) or identical placebo capsules (control group, n=37) twice daily for 8 weeks. Both participants and researchers were blinded to the group assignments.

Data were collected using the questionnaires of demographic characteristics, short form of the perimenopausal fatigue scale, musculoskeletal health, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-13) and the side effects checklist. Independent t, ANCOVA and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare the results between the two groups.

A total of 74 women were randomised, with 33 in the curcumin group and 31 in the placebo group completing the study and being included in the final analysis. After the 8-week intervention, ANCOVA adjusting for baseline values revealed that the curcumin group showed a statistically significant improvement in musculoskeletal health (mean difference (MD): 5.3; 95% CI: 3.3 to 7.4; p

In this trial, an 8-week supplementation with curcumin was more effective than placebo at improving musculoskeletal health and reducing fatigue score in postmenopausal women. The study was not able to demonstrate a significant effect on depression.

Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT): IRCT20120718010324N72. Last updated version: 18 October 2022. Actual start of recruitment: 23 January 2023.