Philippe Pinel has been honoured in history for his ‘humane treatment’ and ‘unchaining the mentally ill’.1 However, the use of restrictive interventions (RIs) in psychiatric hospitals continues in the 21st century. Ensuring safety for self and others is one of the major reasons for using these RIs.2...

Elderly patients, defined as adults aged 65 years and above, represent a growing segment of the surgical population.1 Despite numerous advances in surgical techniques and postoperative care, elderly patients face unique physical and psychological challenges that can exacerbate their risk of poor clinical outcomes.2 The recent study by Kata et al explores...

Haemodynamic management, and particularly the management of blood pressure (BP), is critical to reduce mortality and preserve the functional capacity of people with cardiovascular disease.1 However, there is insufficient evidence to justify lower BP targets (≤135/85 mm Hg) in people with hypertension and established cardiovascular disease.1 Wang et al have undertaken a multicentre clinical trial in 26 hospitals across China to explore both...

Qualitative research methods allow investigators to gain a detailed understanding of phenomena, based on the collection and analysis of rich data. An important element of some qualitative studies is key informants (KIs)—those are a specific set of participants who are able to provide particularly valuable viewpoints and insights on the issues or questions being examined.1 2

The concept of using KIs dates back to early anthropological studies, where researchers relied on local experts to help better understand cultural practices and social structures. Over time, this approach has evolved, with increasing recognition of the value that KIs bring to a wide array of fields, including public health, education, social sciences, medicine and nursing.3 This ‘Research Made Simple’ article explores what KIs are, how they can benefit nursing and healthcare research and what practical steps can be taken by researchers to optimise the...

Sustainable Development Goal Target 3.1 is to reduce maternal mortality to less than 70 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births by 2030. This remains elusive, with 223 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births reported worldwide in 2020.1 Vitamin D plays pleiotropic physiological roles in maintaining calcium homeostasis, modulating the renin-angiotensin axis and regulating insulin secretion.2 Deficiency in...

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a significant public health issue, with diet playing a crucial role in its management.1 Food insecurity, defined as the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life, exacerbates this condition, making effective dietary interventions critical.2 Food-as-medicine programmes, which provide medically tailored meals and nutritional education, aim to improve health outcomes for individuals with chronic diseases.2 The study...

Sexual violence (SV) remains a critical issue affecting mental health globally, defined as coerced sexual acts, unwanted advances or trafficking. Research indicates that an estimated 81% of women and 48% of men in Belgium have experienced SV in their lifetime.1 Actual rates might be higher among older adults due to under-reporting.2 While extensive research focuses on younger victims, there is growing...

A growing number of individuals born with congenital heart disease (CHD) are surviving well into adulthood, and a successful transition from paediatric to adult healthcare is essential for their long-term health. However, discontinuity in care is prevalent.1 Parents play an important role in the transition process and may impact transition-related outcomes,2 but their experiences and...

The study explored the preference for home-based and community-based services among older adults in China. As populations age globally, understanding these preferences becomes crucial for developing effective care models. The research focuses on identifying the preference structure of Chinese community-dwelling older adults for these services, with the aim of optimising the provision of services. Given the increasing scarcity of resources and the...

Failure to identify and respond to deteriorating patients is a significant and complex clinical safety issue. There is a growing body of international research evidence which has identified the importance of system and human factors in ‘failure to rescue’ events.1 Yet, despite the widespread adoption of rapid response and...

Glaucoma is a chronic disease characterised by progressive visual field defects. It is the most common cause of irreversible blindness and is associated with a decrease in quality of life.1 Most studies in literature look at specific challenges faced by patients with glaucoma like adherence to medications, driving or depression.2–4 There is a paucity of...

There is a substantial body of international evidence, which demonstrates that inadequate nurse staffing is associated with increased mortality and poor patient outcomes in medical and surgical settings.1 However, there is less certainty about the link between nurse staffing levels, quality of care and patient outcomes in emergency departments (EDs)....

Global estimates indicate that approximately one in three women have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence (IPV), or non-partner violence across their lifespan.1 IPV can cause significant short-term and long-term consequences on women’s mental, physical, sexual and reproductive health, as well as their children’s welfare.2...

Diabetes is already known as a risk factor for developing dementia. Multiple factors contribute to this association: presence of microvascular and macrovascular complications, chronic inflammation, hyperglycaemia, hypoglycaemia and hyperinsulinemia.1

Older adult patients often present with multimorbidities, polypharmacy, malnutrition, sarcopenia, longer duration of diabetes and renal and hepatic dysfunction. Furthermore, low education level, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, obstructive...

Despite firm evidence on the safety of abortion,1 a large number of myths concerning the risks associated with the treatment remain, particularly in the USA. The current political climate, which has seen increasing legal and regulatory restrictions placed on abortion, has encouraged the spread of misinformation. This has led to the perception that abortion has substantial physical and mental health risks....

Sexual health can be defined as one’s physical, emotional, mental and social well-being.1 Nurses often support and adopt a holistic approach to patient care, yet in practice, overlook a person’s sexual health.2 Both nationally and globally, disparities in sexual health are prevalent, even more so...

Crowding and access block in emergency departments (EDs) are pervasive problems of international concern.1 The demand on EDs has grown exponentially, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, where EDs served as the ‘safety net’ for rising numbers of high-acuity patients and emergencies. The study by Roussel et al 2 advances...