Menopause is a significant milestone for women, marking the permanent cessation of menstruation after 12 months of amenorrhoea. The onset of menopause is influenced by various factors, including genetics, lifestyle and...

Falls are an incredibly common issue among older adults, with potentially serious downstream consequences. Suh et al (2023) aimed to explore not only the prevalence of falls but also the factors relating to age, gender and falls. It is well established that there are gender differences in the prevalence of falls, however, the reasoning is not fully understood. This study was conducted to address the paucity in...

Self-determination is a key dimension of quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities, that is, acting freely and willfully to make things happen in one’s own life.1 The United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recognises self-determination as a human right, in contrast to historic paternalisation in...

Nursing research often tests complex interventions. For example, the intervention may be delivered by different nurses, with varying levels of seniority and expertise and in diverse geographical locations. The efficacy (can it work) or effectiveness (does it work in the real world) of complex interventions is often evaluated within randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The most recent UK Medical Research Council (MRC) guidance1 on developing and evaluating complex interventions has shifted the emphasis from a focus of solely understanding whether or not an intervention achieves its intended outcomes to additional considerations such as why and how an intervention may, or may not, have an effect. The complex nature of the intervention, and the context within which it is delivered, means that there are multiple other processes that may influence whether or not the intervention is effective in real-world clinical practice.2 Process evaluations are recommended...

There is a growing body of international research evidence highlighting the benefits of clinicians’ research engagement and documenting associated barriers and facilitators.1 This study offers an insightful consolidation of clinicians’ perception of research alongside their barriers and facilitators to effective engagement.2 Full time clinicians in a specific healthcare system often do not see research as a core part of their...

There is growing support for the delivery of trauma-informed care (TIC) in diverse clinical, organisational and community settings.1 TIC can be characterised by a realisation of the widespread impacts of trauma and recovery strategies; recognition of the potential signs of trauma;...

Nurses, despite playing a significant role in healthcare, have been found to possess poor dietary habits and face elevated rates of chronic illnesses. A recent systematic review by Marko and colleagues explored factors influencing healthy eating among nurses in hospital settings. Barriers included high accessibility of unhealthy foods, high costs and lack of storage/preparation facilities. Enablers included proximity to healthy options, roster planning and structured workplace programmes. Supportive networks were an interpersonal enabler, while work culture and...

Recent data suggest that 464 million adults worldwide have pre-diabetes and are at increased risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D).1 Social risks (eg, food insecurity, housing instability, financial strain) largely contribute to health inequities, particularly in diabetes incidence.2 SP, also referred to as navigation, involves connecting patients to community-based programmes and resources to address health and social needs. This study by Calderón-Larrañaga et al used...

In the setting of increasing adoption of virtual healthcare and the surge in electronic patient messages, there has been a higher workload for physicians and nurses, contributing to burnout and potentially terse, unanswered or unhelpful patient messages. Given these challenges, there is a need to explore innovative solutions...

King et al conducted a systematic review of interventions aimed at reducing medication errors during inpatient rounds in children’s hospitals.1 Medication errors in hospitals may arise at many points in a complicated cascade of steps...

Healthy eating patterns play a prominent role in preserving public health. The association between dietary patterns with the mortality risk has been investigated in numerous countries.1 2

Young adults (YAs) with serious illnesses report wanting choices in their end-of-life care.1–3 Where YAs would prefer to die is highly personal, though some studies have reported that many YAs prefer home-based palliative care and death.2 3 Yet, many YAs experience high-intensity, inpatient care at the end of their lives,4 with approximately half of YAs with cancer dying in hospital.4 Factors influencing these patterns of care—and the extent to...

Providing maternity care that is trauma informed, respectful, supportive and promotes patient autonomy, agency and cultural beliefs may encourage lower rates of freebirth.

More research is needed to articulate motivations for freebirth among diverse populations and translate trauma informed and respectful maternity care principles across systems and service providers.

Unassisted childbirth (outside a hospital facility with no professional attendant) is common in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), where barriers to access and poverty delimit engagement in maternity healthcare services. However, even in high-income countries (HICs) where maternity healthcare services are more attainable, a small percentage of birthing people are choosing unassisted birth, a...

Individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ report discrimination in healthcare settings.1 Clinicians describe a lack of formal education in LGBTQ+ care needs.2 Adolescence is complex; adolescents who identify as LGBTQ+ are among our most vulnerable. International statistics illuminate that these youth are at exponentially higher risk for suicide.3 This study by Kelleher and...

The rapid growth of technology, including increased internet access and smartphone usage, has made digital legacy management an important aspect of end-of-life care. Digital legacy refers to the digital assets and online presence that individuals leave behind after they pass away.1 However, a study on healthcare professionals indicated that a significant majority...

Breastfeeding sets the foundation for healthy growth and development, with many recognised benefits for both infant and maternal health. Thus, socioeconomic disparities in breastfeeding—which are widely reported in the USA and many other Western countries1—contribute significantly to socioeconomic health disparities across the lifespan. Breastfeeding intentions are an established predictor of breastfeeding outcomes, yet most...