To assess the level of alarm fatigue among intensive care unit (ICU), cardiac care unit (CCU) and emergency room (ER) nurses, identify associated demographic and occupational factors, determine the most frequent sources of alarms and evaluate nurses’ psychological reactions to alarms.

A cross-sectional, descriptive–analytical study.

ICUs, CCUs and ERs of six public teaching hospitals affiliated with Tehran and Kashan Universities of Medical Sciences in Iran.

Using a multistage stratified random sampling method, 285 nurses were approached, of whom 260 completed and returned the questionnaires (response rate: 91%). Participants were registered nurses with at least a bachelor’s degree or higher and 3 months of experience in ICUs, CCUs or ERs.

The primary outcome was the level of alarm fatigue measured using the validated Nurses’ Alarm Fatigue Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included factors associated with alarm fatigue and nurses’ reported psychological responses to frequent alarms.

The mean score of alarm fatigue was 26.4±7.9, indicating a moderate level. After adjusting for confounders and hospital-level clustering using multivariable mixed-effects regression, higher monthly income was significantly associated with lower alarm fatigue (β=–0.15, p=0.03), and nurses working rotational shifts reported significantly higher fatigue compared with those with fixed shifts (β=0.18, p=0.02). Other demographic and occupational factors were not significant. Reported psychological reactions to alarms included indifference (14%), irritability (18%) and anxiety/stress (15%).

ICU, CCU and ER nurses experience a moderate level of alarm fatigue, with income and shift type as independent associated factors. The association between income and alarm fatigue may reflect the role of financial stress as an additional job demand that compounds the burden of frequent alarms, particularly in contexts where low base salaries lead nurses to rely on overtime and multiple shifts. These findings underscore the need for targeted managerial and educational interventions, including shift schedule optimisation and attention to workload-related stressors, alongside alarm prioritisation strategies. Due to the cross-sectional design, causal inferences cannot be drawn.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disorder, often accompanied by comorbidities like type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). These conditions have a significant impact on patients’ sleep quality and metabolic health. Current treatments for KOA primarily focus on symptom management, while innovative approaches targeting interconnected health outcomes remain underexplored. The lumbar knee recovery device, a non-invasive device patented in Iran, offers potential benefits by enhancing lumbar-knee synchronisation, improving blood circulation and optimising cellular metabolism. This randomised controlled trial (RCT) aims to evaluate the device’s effectiveness in improving sleep quality and regulating blood glucose levels in diabetic patients with KOA.

This RCT aims to evaluate the impact of using the lumbar knee recovery device (Kamarasa) on sleep quality, blood glucose levels, HbA1c (blood glucose control level over the past 90 days) and body mass index (BMI) in patients with T2DM and grade 1–3 KOA. The study will be conducted at the Orthopedic Clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, and the Health and Wellness Clinic. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated into two groups: the intervention group (receiving 10 supervised sessions using the Recovery device over 3 months) and the control group (receiving standard KOA and diabetes care). A total of 37 participants will be included in each group. The primary outcome, sleep quality, will be assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index at baseline and 3 months post intervention. Secondary outcomes will include random blood glucose levels, which will be measured at 10 intervals during the study; BMI, measured at the start and end of the study and HbA1c, assessed at both baseline and post intervention. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index will be used to assess pain, stiffness and physical function, also at both baseline and 3 months. Appropriate statistical tests, including two-sample t-tests, ² tests, analysis of covariance or linear regression, will be performed based on the type of variables using SPSS V.23. Additionally, standardised intervention effect sizes will be calculated for each outcome.

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Tehran University of Medical Sciences with reference number (IR.TUMS.FNM.REC.1403.145). Additionally, the study protocol was registered with the IRCT under the identifier IRCT20191027045257N7 on 24 November 2024.

Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20191027045257N7). This clinical trial was registered on 24 November 2024.

To examine the association between workplace sexual harassment and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among nurses in southeast Iran.

Cross-sectional study.

Four teaching hospitals affiliated with Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran.

A total of 283 female nurses with at least 1 year of clinical experience participated in the study.

Data were collected using convenience sampling and assessed using a demographic questionnaire, the Nurses’ Sexual Harassment Questionnaire, and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). Non-parametric tests, Spearman’s rho correlation and multivariate logistic regression were used for analysis.

Overall, 39.1% of nurses reported experiencing sexual harassment sometimes to always. A total of 13.4% screened positive for PTSD. Sexual harassment was significantly associated with PTSD symptoms (OR: 1.26; 95% CI 1.164 to 1.364). Younger, single and less experienced nurses reported higher harassment levels, though sociodemographic variables were not associated with PTSD.

Workplace sexual harassment was significantly associated with increased PTSD symptoms among nurses. While demographic factors were related to harassment exposure, they were not linked to PTSD. Findings highlight the importance of preventive organisational strategies to mitigate harassment and protect nurses’ mental well-being.

Cognitive impairments, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, are considered a significant public health challenge as they affect mental functions like memory, attention, language and decision-making. With the growing number of older individuals, the prevalence of these diseases is also increasing and is projected to reach 152 million worldwide by 2050. These disorders result in difficulties with judgement, communication and daily activities, leading to more hospitalisations and risks such as disorientation in the environment and a higher likelihood of falls. Current hospital safety assessment tools mainly focus on physical aspects and overlook other crucial factors. Therefore, this study aims to clarify the concept of safety challenges for patients with cognitive impairment and to develop and psychometrically validate a multidimensional instrument for use in hospital settings.

A sequential exploratory study with mixed methods will be conducted. In the first qualitative phase, based on a content analysis approach, the aim is to explain and clarify safety issues in patients with cognitive impairment. Participants will be purposively selected until saturation is reached in educational-therapeutic centres affiliated with the University of Medical Sciences, and unstructured in-depth interviews will be conducted. The data will be analysed simultaneously using MAXQDA V.20 software. Additionally, a literature review on safety issues in patients with cognitive impairment will be conducted to supplement aspects that may not have emerged in the interviews.

In the second phase, an instrument based on the inductive–deductive method will be developed. The items will be created based on the participants’ experiences and the literature review. Face, content and construct validity, as well as reliability, will be assessed. Data synthesis will involve a linkage strategy, where the qualitative data will be linked to the quantitative data immediately after the completion of the qualitative phase, once the protocols are developed.

This study is part of a postdoctoral project approved by the Tehran University of Medical Sciences Research Ethics Board (IR.TUMS.FNM.REC.1403.006). Findings will be disseminated at the local, national and international levels.