Pressure ulcers (PUs) (also termed pressure injuries [PIs]) remain a major patient safety issue, particularly in critical care and other high-risk healthcare settings. Nurses are central to PUs/PIs prevention; however, deficiencies in knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices among nursing staff may negatively affect patient outcomes. To systematically synthesise global evidence on nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to PUs/PIs prevention, and to identify factors influencing preventive performance. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Electronic databases including PubMed, CINAHL, EBSCO, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Springer were searched for studies published between 2011 and 2025. Eligible studies were primary research articles examining registered nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and/or practices regarding PUs/PIs prevention, using cross-sectional, observational, or non-experimental designs. Data extraction focused on study characteristics, settings, samples, assessment instruments, and key outcomes related to knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices. Due to methodological heterogeneity, a narrative synthesis was performed. Twenty-nine studies from diverse geographical regions were included, with sample sizes ranging from 28 to 950 nurses. Overall, nurses' knowledge of PUs/PIs prevention was frequently inadequate, particularly in prevention-specific domains. In contrast, attitudes toward prevention were generally positive across studies. Preventive practices, however, were often suboptimal. Commonly reported barriers included staff shortages, high workload, limited resources, and insufficient institutional support. Higher educational attainment, specialised clinical experience, recent training, and professional seniority were consistently associated with better knowledge, more positive attitudes, and improved preventive practices. Although nurses generally demonstrate positive attitudes toward PUs/PIs prevention, persistent gaps in knowledge and practice remain. These findings underscore the need for structured education programmes, simulation-based training, and strengthened organisational support to enhance adherence to evidence-based prevention strategies. Future research should employ experimental and longitudinal designs, standardised measurement tools, and broader international representation to support sustainable improvements in PUs/PIs prevention and patient safety.
by Akram J. Alahmar, Noha M. Elhosseiny, Rehab R. Mahmoud, Ahmed S. Attia
Acinetobacter baumannii is a growing threat characterized by worrisome antibiotic resistance. A deeper understanding of its resistance and virulence mechanisms is essential for developing new and effective treatments. Herein, we explore the role of the two-component (NtrB-NtrC) signal transduction system and two distinct glutamine synthetases (GlnA-1 and GlnA-2) in the nitrogen assimilation, stress response, and virulence in A. baumannii. Under nitrogen-limited conditions, the ntrC mutant showed significantly defective growth kinetics when ammonium was the sole source of nitrogen, whereas the glnA2 mutant exhibited an obvious growth defect when putrescine was the sole source of nitrogen. Moreover, under nitrogen limitation, the glnA1 and glnA2 expression increased by approximately twofold and ninefold, respectively. An enzymatic activity assay demonstrated that the A. baumannii extracellular glutamine synthetase activity is dependent on the type II secretion system (T2SS), confirming our previous results from a T2SS secretome study. Interestingly, this activity is also regulated by NtrC. An infection model using Galleria mellonella revealed that the ntrC mutant was significantly less virulent than both the wild-type and glnA2 mutant strains. These results provide new insights into the nitrogen regulatory network and its contribution to the A. baumannii virulence, underscoring NtrC as a promising target for future antimicrobial strategies.To compare elective surgeries rates and waiting times between Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients in Queensland.
Aggregated annual data analysis from July 2013 to December 2022 on elective surgeries and waiting times.
Public hospitals across Queensland.
All patients who had elective surgery in Queensland public hospitals between 2013 and 2022.
Rates and clinically recommended timeframes for elective surgeries.
Between 2013 and 2022, the overall estimated average rate of elective surgeries for Indigenous patients was 286 per 100 000 population, compared with 221 per 100 000 for non-Indigenous patients. Indigenous patients had higher rates of most elective surgeries except plastic and urological surgeries, where non-Indigenous patients had higher rates. Across all urgency categories, the percentages of elective surgery performed within clinically recommended timeframes were similar between Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients.
Our findings may point to the efficacy of specific policy and service delivery innovations undertaken in Queensland. Due to the limitations of our aggregated data, this inference warrants careful interpretation. More studies with disaggregated data are needed.
To investigate the association between emotional responses to climate change, antenatal anxiety, and maternal–fetal attachment in primigravida women.
A multi-site cross-sectional research design study.
This study was conducted at four primary health care (PHC) facilities in Damanhur district, El-Behera, from February 2024 to April 2024. Two hundred eighty-five women completed a comprehensive questionnaire that included a Woman's Social and Reproductive Form, The inventory of climate emotions (ICE) scale, The Stirling Antenatal Anxiety Scale (SAAS) and the Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale (MFAS-HU-20).
The study revealed that emotional responses to climate change show strong positive correlations with each other, ranging from 0.689 to 0.840, all significant at p < 0.001 level. Additionally, antenatal anxiety demonstrates substantial positive correlations with emotional responses to climate change, albeit with associations ranging from 0.239 to 0.287, all significant at p < 0.001 level. Moreover, maternal–fetal attachment displays substantial negative correlations with emotional responses to climate change, indicating that as emotional responses to climate change increase, maternal–fetal attachment tends to decrease. The correlations range from −0.263 to −0.426, all significant at p < 0.001.
The emotional impact of climate change can adversely affect the bonding process between mother and fetus.
Healthcare professionals, including obstetricians, midwives, and mental health counsellors, should integrate climate-related emotional distress into their assessments and interventions. Providing targeted psychological support for expectant mothers.
The study's findings highlight the need for nursing to integrate climate-related emotional distress screening into prenatal care and for research to explore long-term effects and intervention effectiveness. In practice, healthcare providers should adopt holistic approaches that combine environmental and psychological support, developing comprehensive guidelines and community-based programs to support pregnant women.
The research adhered to that is STROBE.
Public contributions by women in community health centers.
The Munich Security Conference 2024 highlighted the complex connections between climate change and global security risks. Engaging students in fighting climate change is a stepping stone to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
To investigate the effect of a video-based climate change program on revitalising eco-cognizance, emotional response, and self-efficacy among nursing students in rural communities.
A randomised controlled trial research design was adopted.
A total of 140 nursing students completed a survey related to the Climate Change Perceptions, the Climate Change Anxiety Scale, and the Environmental Self-Efficacy Scale. The study group engaged in the video-based climate change program, while the comparison group received flyers related to climate change across the globe.
The intervention group significantly improved climate change perception and environmental self-efficacy compared to the control group, with large effect sizes. On the other hand, significantly lower levels of cognitive impairment due to climate change anxiety were recorded among the intervention group compared to the control group.
Our intervention improved nursing students' climate change literacy, pro-environmental attitudes, environmental self-efficacy, and anxiety. Future research may target a variety of university majors and use RCTs nested in a mixed-method design to capture the student experience with climate change before and after the RCT.
This study demonstrated that a comprehensive educational program significantly improved climate literacy, pro-environmental attitudes, and environmental self-efficacy among undergraduate nursing students while reducing climate anxiety. The findings of this study offer valuable insights for enhancing student nurses' ability to translate their scientific understanding into informed decision-making regarding issues like climate change.
Drastic natural disasters, including extreme temperatures, flooding, wildfires and snow and sandstorms, significantly affect populations, including nursing students. Early screening and management of climate change anxiety among university students is recommended as a buffer against upcoming mental health issues. Student counselling services are urged to consider the effect of climate change as a mental health parameter that significantly affects students' psychological and, consequently, academic life and progress. A video-based climate change program (VBCCP) is beneficial for equipping students with climate change literacy. The revitalization of the participant's overall eco-emotional response, pro-environmental behaviour and cognizance signalled the potential of VBCCP as a simulation teaching tool that might be integrated into nursing curriculums. Additionally, VBCCP is a cost-effective strategy that complies with International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) requirements. The VBCCP can be delivered in the conventional classroom environment or through the digital platform without incurring additional costs and in alignment with the definition of simulation provided by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
No public or patient contributions.
RCT registration: NCT06223412, on 23rd January 2024
Barcode medication administration (BCMA) systems are increasingly being implemented in hospital settings, with the aim of decreasing medication administration errors. However, the majority of the literature demonstrating the value of BCMA in supporting patient safety is from the USA. Furthermore, little is known about the underlying mechanisms that support its use. This study aims to explore the impact of BCMA on patient safety including medication admisntration errors and nursing time spent providing direct patient care, in terms of what works, for whom, under what circumstances, and how.
We will use a mixed-methods realist evaluation. The study will be conducted in four phases, at two London NHS teaching trusts and one South West Region NHS Trust using different electronic health record systems. Phase 1 will involve documentary analysis and a narrative review to develop an initial programme theory for how BCMA is expected to work. Phase 2 will use interviews with key informants to refine this programme theory. The programme theory will then be tested in phase 3 using mixed methods: (1) observation of nurses’ medication administration; (2) analysis of alert data from the BCMA systems to understand the alerts’ clinical significance and utility and (3) interviews with nurses and hospital inpatients to explore their views. These data will be triangulated to refine and finalise the programme theory in phase 4, together with recommendations for practice.
The Study Coordination Centre has obtained approval (24/SC/0326) from the Oxford B NHS Research Ethics Committee and the Health Research Authority. The study’s findings will be presented at scientific meetings and published in peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, summaries of the findings will be produced, targeted at relevant groups such as healthcare professionals, policy-makers and study participants.
An estimated 262 million people lived with asthma globally in 2019. Similarly, in 2021, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was responsible for 3.5% million global deaths. They are usually distinct disorders, but the Global Initiative Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2024 strategy document asserts that asthma and COPD are conditions that may coexist in an individual and may require specific personalised approaches and treatments. It is acknowledged that they may share some common treatable traits and clinical features There are many challenges to manage asthma and COPD in the older population, including poor adherence to prescribed medications and poor inhaler techniques. The overall aim of this systematic review is to identify, appraise and synthesise available evidence around digital health interventions used to improve medication adherence in older people with asthma or COPD.
This systematic review will examine studies that evaluated digital health interventions for asthma or COPD in any setting (eg, primary or secondary care). To be included, studies must be reported in English, Arabic or French and published from the year 2000 onwards. A literature search will be performed in MEDLINE via Ovid, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), CINAHL, EMBASE and PsycINFO via Ovid to identify relevant articles published since 2000 and up to December 2024. No language restrictions will be applied.
The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomised trials will be used to assess the quality of retrieved randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies. The quality of cross-sectional, cohort and case-control studies will be assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Mixed-methods studies will be assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). The quality of qualitative studies will be assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) qualitative checklist.
Data will be synthesised using a convergent segregated approach, which involves an independent synthesis of quantitative and qualitative data leading to the generation of quantitative and qualitative evidence, which will then be integrated.
Ethics approval is not applicable for this study since no original data will be collected. The results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication and conference presentations. Findings will be used in a bigger project aimed to answer the question on how to embed a pharmacist-led digital health service to support older people with asthma or COPD into the NHS (National Health Service) usual care.
CRD42024575924.
Nurse managers are pivotal to the successful implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP). However, enhancing their skills and competencies remains a critical priority. Assessing the influence of nurse managers' competencies in managing and practicing EBP is essential, as it directly impacts outcomes across all levels of healthcare institutions.
This study explored how leadership, organizational support, and knowledge management influence EBP implementation among nurse managers.
A descriptive correlational study was conducted with a convenience sample of nurse managers in seven Egyptian hospitals. A total of 369 nurse managers completed three validated instruments: EBP Leadership and Organizational Support Scale (EBPLOSS), Knowledge Management Competencies for Nurse Managers (KMQN), and EBP Questionnaire (EBPQ). Descriptive statistics, hierarchical regression, and structural equation modeling (SEM) were applied for data analysis.
Nurse managers reported high levels of perceived EBP leadership (84.7%), organizational support (79.52%), knowledge management (KM) competencies (75.15%), and EBP implementation (74.83%). SEM analysis identified KM competencies as the strongest predictor of EBP implementation, with a direct effect (B = 0.86, p < 0.001) accounting for 86% of the total effect. EBP leadership significantly influenced EBP implementation both directly (β = 0.31, p = 0.02) and indirectly through KM competencies (B = 0.89, p < 0.001). Organizational support showed a minimal direct effect (B = 0.13, p < 0.05) and a slightly negative indirect effect through KM competencies (B = −0.10, p < 0.001).
KM competencies are critical for EBP implementation, mediating the effects of leadership and organizational support. Healthcare organizations should enhance nurse managers' KM skills, foster transformational leadership, and create supportive environments. Future research should address barriers and explore longitudinal relationships in EBP implementation from a managerial perspective.