Conectar
Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT) is the established first-line treatment for paediatric post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but access to evidence-based care remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a therapist-guided, 12 week, internet-delivered TF-CBT (iTF-CBT) programme for adolescents with PTSD and to explore preliminary changes in PTSD symptoms.
Single-group feasibility trial.
Save the Children, Sweden.
Twenty-two adolescents (13–17 years, 82% female) with primary PTSD.
A 12 week, therapist-guided, asynchronous, internet-delivered TF-CBT comprising eight modules and parallel caregiver modules with joint adolescent–caregiver activities.
Feasibility measures included recruitment pace, participant retention, treatment adherence (module completion) and therapist time. Acceptability was evaluated through satisfaction, credibility, negative effects and reported adverse events. Within-group changes in PTSD severity using independent evaluator-rated Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-CA-5) and the self-reported Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen 2 (CATS-2) were used as indicators of potential clinical change. Assessments occurred at baseline, during treatment, post-treatment and at 1 month follow-up (primary endpoint).
Recruitment was completed after 7 months of active enrolment. Retention and adherence were high, satisfaction and credibility ratings were favourable, and no intervention-related serious adverse events occurred. Within-group improvements were observed at the primary endpoint, with large reductions on CAPS-CA-5 (Cohen’s d=1.27) and CATS-2 (Cohen’s d=1.51). At follow-up, 47.6% of participants no longer met criteria for PTSD.
Therapist-guided iTF-CBT for adolescents with PTSD was safe, feasible, acceptable and associated with potentially meaningful symptom improvements. These findings support further evaluation in larger, controlled trials to determine efficacy, cost-effectiveness and long-term outcomes.
To demonstrate women’s preferences for three human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling devices.
Cross-sectional, programme-embedded paired comparative study with randomised sampling order within device pairs.
Organised cervical cancer screening programme in the Capital Region of Denmark.
1760 women eligible for cervical cancer screening (April 2024 to May 2025), assigned to one of three groups: (1) Evalyn versus FLOQSwab (n=518), (2) Evalyn versus SensiGrip (n=657) and (3) FLOQSwab versus SensiGrip (n=585).
Primary: device preference. Secondary: sampling-experience (self-reported). Data were assessed with ² tests for preference, logistic regression for predictor analysis and Wilcoxon signed-rank equivalence test with two one-sided test procedures to assess sampling experience.
Overall, 95.7% rated HPV self-sampling a positive experience and 87.3% preferred HPV self-sampling in future screening. SensiGrip was preferred significantly over FLOQSwab (p0.05) although Evalyn scored higher in sampling certainty. Sampling order influenced preference in Evalyn comparisons. Prior experience with self-sampling, screening history and subcohort membership did not significantly influence device preference.
Overall, participants rated self-sampling a positive experience. SensiGrip was preferred over FLOQSwab, while Evalyn demonstrated comparable overall acceptability to both alternative devices in the primary implementation-focused analysis. These findings suggest that device replacement would be acceptable from a screening participation perspective, particularly a shift from FLOQSwab to SensiGrip.
To report how mentorship influences the educational experiences and training of doctoral nursing students.
Integrative literature review.
Peer-reviewed journal articles, theoretical works and editorials published in English that focused on doctoral nursing education were included. Papers reporting on mentorship for undergraduate nursing students, nursing faculty, educators, academics or clinical placements were excluded. Data were synthesised into an integrative review, with findings presented as a narrative summary.
Relevant papers published between January 2015 and January 2025 were identified using CINAHL, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, ERIC and Embase electronic databases. Search date March 10, 2025.
The review included 16 articles, mostly from the United States of America (USA), examining mentoring in doctoral nursing education. Key findings highlighted valued mentor attributes, such as role modelling and expertise, along with benefits like enhanced research skills, academic performance and personal development. Mentoring also positively impacted mentors' creative performance. Barriers included limited mentor access and compatibility issues.
This review highlights essential attributes of effective mentors, balancing relational skills with expertise. Mentorship enhances student research skills, performance and personal development, also benefiting mentors' creativity. Limited access and compatibility issues pose barriers for nurse scholars. Doctoral programmes should prioritise mentor training, culturally responsive practices and equitable opportunities. Investing in mentorship can cultivate confident nurse leaders and scholars.
This review underscores the necessity of structured mentorship within doctoral nursing education. Effective mentorship directly influences student development, enhancing their research capabilities, academic achievements and readiness for professional roles. Prioritising mentor training and implementing culturally responsive mentorship frameworks can foster inclusive environments that better support diverse doctoral students, ultimately strengthening the nursing profession's academic and clinical leadership.
This integrative review was reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct, or reporting.
Adverse pregnancy and perinatal outcomes (APPOs), including pre-term birth, pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes, can result in maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, parental anxiety and increased healthcare costs. A better understanding of the causes of APPOs is essential to inform lifestyle and pharmaceutical interventions for their prevention and management. Given the difficulty of undertaking randomised controlled trials in pregnant women, triangulating evidence from across methods with different sources of bias may improve causal inference for APPOs. The purpose of the Mendelian randomisation in pregnancy (MR-PREG) collaboration is to support such triangulation using genetic (eg, Mendelian randomisation (MR)) and non-genetic (eg, partner negative controls) approaches to investigate the causal effects of maternal exposures on a comprehensive set of APPOs.
The MR-PREG collaboration includes individual participant data from three birth cohorts (two from the UK and one from Norway) and UK Biobank, as well as summary data from FinnGen and publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Data have been harmonised across studies and currently include information on up to 35 APPOs in up to 707 797 women.
The main aims of MR-PREG are to strengthen the evidence base for (1) prevention, by advancing understanding of maternal lifestyle factors on APPOs, (2) the role of pre-conceptional health, by improving understanding of the effect of maternal pre-existing conditions on APPOs, and (3) treatments, by evaluating the efficacy and safety of existing medications used for pre-existing conditions, and by identifying and testing novel or repurposed therapies for APPOs. To date, our published work has mainly addressed aims 1 and 3. Examples include triangulation of evidence from MR, conventional multivariable regression and paternal negative control, showing that higher maternal body mass index increases the risk of multiple APPOs, as well as the identification of maternal circulating metabolites and proteins that may influence birth weight.
Future priorities include increasing diversity within the MR-PREG collaboration by expanding representation of participants from non-European ancestries. We are also integrating molecular data, including circulating protein levels and placental transcriptomics, to better characterise the molecular mechanisms underlying APPOs. Additionally, we are using whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing to identify novel causal genes and to inform the prioritisation of candidate therapeutic targets for APPOs.
Stakeholder involvement in research processes is widely recommended to enhance the relevance, quality and uptake of research findings. However, existing studies highlight persistent challenges in engaging family caregivers in co-design research. This gap may result in research outcomes that fail to reflect family caregivers’ needs and preferences, contradicting the core purpose of co-design. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review is to synthesise the available evidence on family caregivers’ experiences of involvement in co-design research and to generate evidence-based strategies to support effective engagement.
This systematic review will be conducted using a meta-aggregative approach, following the Joanna Briggs Institute’s (JBI’s) Manual for Evidence Synthesis. Systematic searches will be conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science and PsycINFO, with no date restrictions. Preliminary searches were performed in EMBASE between September and October 2025. Qualitative primary studies that explore family caregivers’ experiences of involvement in co-design research will be included. Study selection and quality appraisal will be performed independently by two researchers using predefined protocols, disagreements will be resolved through discussion with a third reviewer. After calibration, a single reviewer will extract the data using a customised data extraction template with the dataset distributed among the authors. The first author will then review all extractions. Data will be analysed following JBI’s meta-aggregative method, and results will be presented in narrative summaries, tables and diagrams. The findings will inform strategies for stakeholder involvement in future co-design research. Family caregivers and co-design researchers will be involved in reviewing and revising generated recommendations to enhance their relevance and practical utility.
This protocol does not involve human participants. The findings of this review will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant scientific conferences and meetings.
CRD420251229190.
To explore the experiences of healthcare staff in organisations undergoing regulatory scrutiny and to identify the professional and organisational impact.
Integrative review.
Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, and Google Scholar.
This review followed Whittemore and Knafl's framework, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Searches identified peer-reviewed studies from 2010 to 2025 examining healthcare staff under regulatory scrutiny. Studies employing diverse methodologies were included and synthesised using the constant comparison method to identify and refine key themes.
Eight studies were included. Four interrelated themes were identified: (1) workforce wellbeing, autonomy, and professional identity; (2) regulatory culture, organisational adaptation, and quality improvement; (3) communication and relationships; and (4) impact on patient care and contextual variation.
Regulatory scrutiny profoundly shapes healthcare quality and professional culture but can unintentionally undermine workforce adaptability and innovation essential for effective care. These findings highlight the need for nursing-sensitive regulatory approaches that support professional autonomy, reduce burden, and enhance patient-centred care.
This evidence will inform nursing and midwifery policy and practice globally by providing support to inform nuanced, context-sensitive regulatory approaches that safeguard professional autonomy, reduce administrative burden, and promote safe, person-centred care across diverse healthcare settings. It will assist policymakers, healthcare leaders, and educators worldwide in enhancing workforce sustainability, patient safety, and care quality, facilitating the transfer of learning to varied healthcare environments and systems.
Not applicable.
by Roberto Germano, Owen Alexander Higgins, Emanuela Cristiani, Alessia Galbusera, Carmen Esposito, Dulce Neves, Carmine Pellegrino, Alessandra Sperduti, Giorgio Manzi, Luca Bondioli, Alessia Nava
This study investigates health, dental development, diet, and human-environment interactions in individuals buried in the necropolises of Pontecagnano (Campania, Italy, 7th-6th century BCE), using an integrated approach merging dental histomorphometry and calculus micro-residue analysis. The sample consists of 30 permanent teeth (canines, first and second molars) from 10 individuals. Histomorphometric analysis of dental thin sections allowed the estimation of crown formation times, initial cusp formation, crown completion, and enamel extension rates. The prevalence of Accentuated Lines, marking physiological stress events, was analyzed chronologically across tooth classes. Dental calculus analysis was performed on five individuals, identifying plant micro-remains and fungal spores. Crown formation times varied by tooth class, with canines forming the longest (mean = 1,977 ± 295 days), followed by second molars (mean = 1,176 ± 179 days) and first molars (mean = 1,094 ± 154 days). Initial cusp formation values, estimated through chronological overlap between teeth, allowed for a more accurate reconstruction of crown completion timing. Accentuated Lines prevalence peaked at 12 and 44 months, likely reflecting early childhood dietary transitions and the differential recording of stress events across different crown regions. Calculus analysis identified starch granules from cereals (Triticeae) and legumes (Fabaceae), fungal spores (Saccharomyces), and plant fibers, indicating diverse dietary practices, food processing, and extra-masticatory activities. This interdisciplinary approach reinforces the validity of combining histomorphometric and micro-residue analyses to reconstruct childhood health, adult diet, and lifestyle. Our findings align with previous research while emphasizing population-specific variations. This study enhances understanding of Iron Age biocultural adaptations, offering insights into developmental and dietary behaviors in this ancient Italian community.The aim of this integrative review is to critically appraise and synthesise empirical evidence on the clinical applications, outcomes, and implications of generative artificial intelligence in nursing practice.
Integrative review following Whittemore and Knafl's five-stage framework.
Systematic searches were performed for peer-reviewed articles and book chapters published between 1 January 2018 and 30 June 2025. Two reviewers independently screened titles/abstracts and full texts against predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria focused on generative artificial intelligence tools embedded in nursing clinical workflow (excluding nursing education-only applications). Data were extracted into a standardised matrix and appraised for quality using design-appropriate checklists. Guided by Whittemore and Knafl's integrative review framework, a constant comparative analysis was applied to derive the main themes and subthemes.
CINAHL, MEDLINE, and Embase.
Included literature was a representative mix of single-group quality improvement pilots, mixed-method usability and feasibility studies, randomised controlled trials, qualitative descriptive and phenomenological studies, as well as preliminary and proof-of-concept observational research. Four overarching themes emerged: (1) Workflow Integration and Efficiency, (2) AI-Augmented Clinical Reasoning, (3) Patient-Facing Communication and Education, and (4) Role Boundaries, Ethics and Trust.
Generative artificial intelligence holds promise for enhancing nursing efficiency, supporting clinical decision making, and extending patient communication. However, consistent human validation, ethical boundary setting, and more rigorous, longitudinal outcome and equity evaluations are essential before widespread clinical adoption.
Although generative artificial intelligence could reduce nurses' documentation workload and routine decision-making burden, these gains cannot be assumed. Safe and effective integration will require rigorous nurse training, robust governance, transparent labelling of AI-generated content, and ongoing evaluation of both clinical outcomes and equity impacts. Without these safeguards, generative artificial intelligence risks introducing new errors and undermining patient safety and trust.
PRISMA 2020.
by Evelyn Aboagye Addae, Moses Adjei, Uchechi Shirley Anaduaka, David Kyetuo Wuollah-Dire, Regobert Bondong
Though the impact of COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on individuals’ life domains and quality of life has been widely researched, there remains unanswered questions on the mechanisms that explain the impact of fear of COVID-19 on different measurements of adolescents’ subjective well-being (SWB) particularly in the sub-Saharan African context. In a mediation model, we employed data collected during the pandemic to examine the mediating mechanisms that links fear of COVID-19 and COVID-19-induced changes in multiple life domains (subjective feelings of unsafety, positive affect and peer relationships) to different measurements of adolescents’ SWB (overall life satisfaction, overall happiness, subjective happiness, and composite SWB). Findings revealed significant negative correlations between fear of COVID-19 and all employed measurements of SWB as well as between the proposed mediating variables – changes in peer relationship, positive affect, subjective feelings of unsafety and the different measurements of SWB. Adolescents who reported negative changes in peer relationship, positive affect and subjective feelings of unsafety were more likely to report poorer SWB including lower life satisfaction and happiness. For instance, adolescents who experienced increase in peer relationship were more likely to experience higher overall life satisfaction (B = .169, p B = .172, p B = .056, p B = .416, p B = .381, p B = −1.350, pTo report organisational factors known to positively contribute to nurses' well-being in the workplace.
Integrative literature review.
Peer-reviewed journal articles using various methodological approaches, and theoretical works, published in English with a focus on organisational factors and nurses' well-being were included. Papers reporting on other healthcare professional groups and/or nursing students were excluded. Data were synthesised into an integrative review, with findings organised theoretically, according to the PERMA model (Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment), otherwise known as The Well-being Model.
Relevant papers published between May 2020 and April 2025 were identified using CINAHL and PsycINFO electronic databases. Search date, April 24, 2025.
The review included 18 articles, mostly from Europe and the United States, examining workplace factors that contribute to the health and well-being of nurses. Mapping findings to the PERMA domains showed that organisational support and individual strategies together foster flourishing among nurses.
This review highlights both individual factors (such as self-care, strength use and adaptive coping) and organisational structures (including supportive environments, professional development and recognition) that are essential for nurses' well-being and flourishing. However, effective interventions require systemic change, with leadership and education playing key roles in supporting nurses to flourish in the workplace.
This review addressed the need to go beyond deficit models of nurses' well-being to pinpoint specific organisational factors that can help nurses to flourish. Prioritising nurse well-being is vital for high-quality, safe and sustainable healthcare systems. Investing in environments where nurses can flourish benefits both individuals and the broader healthcare system.
This integrative review was reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct or reporting.
To report the current state of nurses' engagement in professional and organisational citizenship behaviours worldwide and identify the factors that enable or hinder these discretionary, value-adding actions.
Integrative literature review.
Peer-reviewed empirical studies, theoretical works and editorials published in English between January 2015 and April 2025 were eligible. Reports had to examine nurses' engagement in professional citizenship behaviours or organisational citizenship behaviours. Conference abstracts, dissertations and studies centred on non-nursing workforces were excluded. Quality was appraised with the mixed methods appraisal tool; data were synthesised narratively using constant-comparison techniques.
CINAHL Complete and MEDLINE were searched on 30 April 2025.
Nineteen articles met the inclusion criteria: seventeen empirical studies (sixteen cross-sectional surveys; one randomised controlled trial) and two editorials. Research emerged across eight countries, including Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America. For organisational citizenship, six inter-locking themes emerged: (1) psychological resources and personality, (2) attitudinal and affective mediators, (3) leadership effects, (4) ethical, fair and supportive climate, (5) outcomes (patient safety, job satisfaction, retention) of organisational citizenship and (6) sparse intervention evidence (one neurolinguistic programming RCT). No empirical studies directly measured professional citizenship; evidence is limited to two conceptual papers calling for civic, policy and professional association engagement. Thus, the main theme was (7) professional citizenship as a nascent (i.e., emerging) field. Overall, citizenship flourished when nurses felt psychologically resourced, fairly treated and supported by transformational or ethical leaders. Burnout, incivility and destructive leadership suppressed organisational citizenship behaviours.
Nurses' organisational citizenship behaviours yield important benefits for patients, staff and healthcare organisations, including improved safety, satisfaction and retention. In contrast, professional citizenship behaviours remain largely conceptual, highlighting the need for foundational research to define and operationalise this construct. Advancing both organisational and professional citizenship should be a strategic priority for health systems worldwide to sustain the nursing workforce and strengthen care quality.
Embedding citizenship behaviours in education, leadership development and policy can strengthen workforce retention, enhance patient-safety culture and drive professional advocacy. Priority actions include routine assessment of organisational citizenship behaviours, leadership coaching and instrument development, plus intervention trials targeting professional citizenship behaviours.
To explore healthcare professionals' experiences of providing compassionate care and identify care situations considered challenging, with attention to the factors that contribute to these challenges.
A cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted involving 878 healthcare professionals in New Zealand who completed an anonymous online survey between February and May 2022. Of these, 115 participants provided detailed narrative responses describing patient care situations that challenged the provision of compassionate care. These qualitative responses were analysed using content analysis, guided by the Transactional Model of Physician Compassion and reported following the COREQ qualitative reporting guidelines.
Three major themes emerged: (1) fragmented services, resource constraints, and compartmentalisation of care; (2) clinician compassion needs and motivations; and (3) patient-related challenges impacting compassionate care. Over 90% of narratives described barriers to compassionate care that were linked to interconnected patient, clinician, clinical, and systemic factors—rather than being focused on individual patient influences alone.
Challenges to compassionate care are rarely attributable to individual patient characteristics alone. Instead, they reflect complex interactions among patient, provider, clinical, and systemic factors, underscoring the need for multilevel interventions to foster equitable, compassionate care.
This study highlights that barriers to compassionate care are embedded in complex systemic, clinician, and patient domains. Findings underscore the need for interprofessional collaboration, resilience-building strategies, and integrated approaches to enhance compassionate and equitable healthcare delivery.
None.
Despite increasing proportions of underrepresented minority (URM) medical school graduates, their progression into surgical training and leadership remains disproportionately low. Barriers such as financial constraints, limited mentorship and implicit bias contribute to this disparity, creating a disconnect between the diversity of patient populations and those providing care. While interventions such as mentorship programmes and pipeline initiatives have been implemented, their overall effectiveness has not been systematically evaluated. The primary aim of this scoping review is to map the current landscape of interventions, programmes and policies designed to enhance access to surgical careers for URM learners.
Searches will be conducted on EMBASE, Web of Science and OVID MEDLINE. Three independent reviewers will screen references, extract data and perform analyses with disagreements adjudicated by a fourth reviewer. This review will include studies conducted across all levels of training: secondary (high school or secondary school), postsecondary (undergraduate, medical school) and postgraduate (residency, fellowship), with no geographical restrictions. The definition of URM will be accepted as reported within each individual study, allowing for variability in racial, ethnic, gender, socioeconomic or other criteria. The review will include any structured interventions, programmes or policies aimed at increasing URM representation in surgical education. Data on the nature, duration and target population of each intervention will be extracted. The primary outcome will be the reported impact of interventions on URM representation or participation in surgical education. Secondary outcomes will include characteristics of the study participants, definitions of URM status and any qualitative or quantitative evaluations of intervention effectiveness.
Research ethics approval is not required under University of Toronto policy. Study results will be reported according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Results will be disseminated to relevant stakeholders at conference presentation(s) and submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
To determine the association between rates of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection following home, community and work-related exposures, to assess real-world relative vaccine effectiveness, and to determine whether anti-receptor-binding domain (RBD) IgG levels were associated with the rates of subsequent infection.
Prospective cohort of 34 months’ duration (February 2021 to December 2023).
Teachers and education workers working ≥8 hours per week in the Canadian province of Ontario.
3155 education workers were eligible for the risk factor analysis; 2977 for the serological analysis.
Rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
1909 SARS-CoV-2 infections were reported (0.93 per 1000 participant-days); the highest incidence occurred during the period dominated by the Omicron BA.2 variant (2.01 per 1000 participant-days). Rates of infection were significantly higher following the repeal of the mask mandate. Compared with participants without known contact with an infected person, those in close contact with infected adult or child household members (adjusted HR (aHR) 1.43; 95% CI 1.24 to 1.65 and 1.39; 95% CI 1.17 to 1.65, respectively), coworkers (aHR 1.28; 95% CI 1.10 to 1.50), or individuals from more than one setting (aHR 1.44; 95% CI 1.27 to 1.64) had higher rates of infection. Participants with three or more doses of vaccine were 79%–87% less likely to develop SARS-CoV-2 than participants who had two or fewer vaccine doses. Blood samples with anti-RBD antibody levels in the highest quintile (≥5850 binding antibody unit/mL) were associated with a lower rate of subsequent infection (aHR 0.40; 95% CI 0.23 to 0.72) compared with samples with RBD levels below the threshold of detection.
Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in education workers occurred at home as well as the workplace, indicating the need to practise multiple intervention strategies whenever the potential for transmission of respiratory diseases is high. COVID-19 vaccines provided protection through December 2023.
FreshRSS 