Commentary on: Ghavi A, Hassankhani H, Meert KL. Parental supporter in pediatric resuscitation: A mixed-method study with Delphi and analytic hierarchy process. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2023 Nov 29. doi: 10.1111/jnu.12947. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38031298.
Implications for practice and research Parental presence during resuscitation is widely recommended, despite a lack of empirical evidence to guide its implementation. This study explores the characteristics and role of the parental supporter and provides an evidence-based foundation to develop this role in clinical practice.
International guidelines on paediatric resuscitation support parental presence during resuscitation.
Commentary on: Langdon, P.E., Apanasionok, M.M., Scripps, E., Barrowcliff, A., Biswas, A., Bunning, K., Burbidge, C., Byron-Daniel, K., Cookson, A., Croom, S. and Filipczuk, M.2024. Behavioural interventions to treat anxiety in adults with autism and moderate to severe intellectual disabilities: The BEAMS-ID feasibility study. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 375, p.e13282.
Implications for practice and research The BEAMS-ID study demonstrates that behavioural interventions, when properly adapted, are both feasible and acceptable for adults with autism and moderate-to-severe intellectual disabilities. A larger randomised controlled trial is warranted to evaluate the efficacy of these adapted interventions in reducing anxiety in this population.
People with autism, particularly those experiencing moderate-to-severe intellectual impairments, face an increased likelihood of developing anxiety disorders.
Commentary on: Er S, Murat M, Ata EE, Kose S, Buzlu S. Nursing student’s mental health: How does eco-anxiety effect? Int J Mental Health Nurs. 2024;00:1-12.
Implications for practice and research Nurse educators should be aware of eco-anxiety and think about the impact of climate change on nursing students. Nurse researchers should investigate ways of supporting nursing students affected by eco-anxiety and develop strategies to promote student learning during a climate emergency.
Climate change is causing a global climate emergency, which is increasingly seen as a major problem for global health concern.
Commentary on: Demerci AD, Oruc M, Kabukcuoglu K. "I need to make sense of my birth experience": A descriptive qualitative study of postnatal women’s opinions, and expectations about postnatal debriefing. Midwifery 2024;131;103955. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2024.103955
Implications for practice and research Healthcare professionals should prioritise and establish routines for postnatal debriefing, with a goal of averting problematic parenting adaptation and development of post-traumatic stress symptoms. More research is needed to determine the ideal format (structured or unstructured) and to consider whether either or both formats might influence subsequent reproductive decision making.
Previous investigations into postnatal debriefing have had mixed results regarding its effectiveness and have not established best practices for its usage.
Commentary on:Michelson KA, Rees CA, Florin TA, et al. Emergency department volume and delayed diagnosis of serious pediatric conditions. JAMA Pediatr. 2024;178:362–8. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.6672
Implications for practice and research Low-paediatric-volume emergency departments (EDs) can increase paediatric readiness by improving diagnostic tools, expanding paediatric expertise (eg teleconsultation) and using electronic clinical decision support. Further research is needed to examine the costs and effectiveness of specific interventions to improve readiness in low-volume paediatric EDs.
Children sometimes have subtle illness presentations and symptom overlap with non-serious conditions.
Commentary on: Alkhawaldeh JFM, Khawaldeh MA, Mrayyan MT, et al. The efficacy of mindfulness-based programs in reducing anxiety among nurses in hospital settings: a systematic review. Worldviews Ev Based Nurs 2024. doi.org/10.1111/wvn.12722
Implications for practice and research Implementing mindfulness-based programmes in healthcare settings can significantly reduce anxiety among nurses. Further longitudinal and well-designed randomised controlled trials are necessary to establish the long-term efficacy and optimal programme characteristics.
Anxiety is a prevalent issue among healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, owing to the highly stressful nature of their work environments.
Commentary on: Velthuijs ELM, Jacod BC, Videler-Sinke L, et al. Outcome of induction of labour at 41 weeks with Foley catheter in midwifery-led care. Midwifery 2024 Aug;135:104026. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2024.104026. Epub 9 May 2024. PMID: 38781793.
Implications for practice and research Performing induction of labour with a Foley catheter and subsequent amniotomy in midwife-led care is associated with worse neonatal outcomes and equivalent maternal outcomes compared with consultant-led care. Future research should further explore the cost-effectiveness, feasibility and neonatal outcomes associated with midwife-led care in different patient populations.
Although care for low-risk births in the Netherlands is primarily conducted by midwives, the use of consultant-led care has been increasing for a variety of indications, leading to a high patient burden for consultants. The induction of labour (IOL) of late-term pregnancies has historically been an indication for consultant-led care. This study by Velthuijs et...
Commentary on: Delaney, A. E., Fu, M. R., Conway, C., Marshall, A. C., Lindberg, J., Thiagarajan, R. R., Glazer, S.2024. Financial Stressors for Parents of Children and Emerging Adults with Congenital Heart Disease: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Pediatric Health Care.
Implications for practice and research Enhanced financial counselling and support services, coupled with strong advocacy for policy reforms, are essential to alleviate the financial burden on families of children with congenital heart disease. Future research should explore long-term financial impacts and effective interventions to alleviate economic stress.
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most prevalent birth defect that significantly affects infant and child mortality and morbidity.
Commentary on: Danne et al. Association Between Treatment Adherence and Continuous Glucose Monitoring Outcomes in People With Diabetes Using Smart Insulin Pens in a Real-World Setting. Diabetes Care. 2024.47 (6),:995-1003
Implications for practice and research Healthcare providers should emphasise consistent insulin adherence for people with diabetes, as even a few missed doses can worsen overall glycaemia. Future research should identify barriers to consistent usage of insulin and develop strategies to enable patients’ adherence, such as increasing patient engagement with smart insulin pens and continuous glucose monitoring systems.
Diabetes is a widespread chronic disease, with steadily rising prevalence in most countries. In 2019, the global prevalence of diabetes was estimated at 9.3%, affecting 463 million people. This figure is projected to rise to 10.2% by 2030 and 10.9% by 2045.
Commentary on: Hunt K, Davies A, Fraser A, Burden C, Howell A, Buckley K, Harding S, Bakhbakhi D. Exposure to microplastics and human reproductive outcomes: A systematic review. BJOG. 2024 Apr;131(5):675-683. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.17756. Epub 2024 Jan 29. PMID: 38287142.
Implications for practice and research Plastic exposure may be associated with increased deposition of microplastics in reproductive tissues, and the quantity of microplastics in these tissues may lead to adverse clinical outcomes. Future research should aim to provide high-quality, generalisable evidence to further demonstrate the impact of plastic exposure and microplastics on reproductive outcomes in humans.
As a result of the mass scale of production of plastics since the 1950s, microplastics, defined as particles 1 Microplastics have been linked to reproductive toxicity in both cell culture...
Commentary on: Heslop, P., Lauer, E. (2024). Strategies to prevent or reduce inequalities in specific avoidable causes of death for adults with intellectual disability: A systematic review. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 52(2), pp.312-349.
Implications for practice and research Preventative interventions and reasonable adjustments are required to address health inequalities experienced by adults with intellectual disability. Future research should focus on policy, population and individual interventions that reduce health inequalities and avoidable deaths.
There is well-established research evidence regarding the substantial health inequalities experienced by many adults with intellectual disabilities, with significant implications for their health, well-being and quality of life. Despite this evidence, many continue to die prematurely from conditions amenable to early interventions and preventative strategies. Limited knowledge, skills and confidence regarding the needs of adults with intellectual disabilities by some health professionals is evident. Reasonable adjustments can contribute positively...
Commentary on: Nobels A, Meersman C, Lemmens G, Keygnaert I. ‘Just something that happened?’: mental health impact of disclosure and framing of sexual violence in older victims. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2023;38. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.6036.
Implications for practice and research Healthcare professionals need training to provide supportive and effective responses to disclosures of sexual violence in older adults. Further studies should explore the impact of positive responses to disclosures on the mental health outcomes of older victims.
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.
Commentary on: Veresova M, Michail M, Richards H, et al. Emergency department staff experiences of working with people who self-harm: A qualitative examination of barriers to optimal care. Int J Mental Health Nurs. 2024. doi: 10.1111/inm.13353
Implications for practice and research Support from specialist mental health clinicians is a key mechanism for improving self-harm care among emergency department (ED) staff. Findings underpin the need for compassion and empathy when treating people presenting in distress, especially those who present multiple times. Future research should focus on strategies for improving implementation of self-harm clinical guidelines in EDs.
Emergency departments (EDs) have a crucial role in suicide prevention. Around 18% of people who died by suicide presented to ED in the month prior to death, commonly for self-harm.
Commentary on: Song Y, Wang M, Zhu M, Wang N, He T, Wu X, Shi Z, Chen M, Ji T, Shen Y. Benefit finding among family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer in a palliative treatment: a qualitative study. BMC Nursing. 2024;23(1):397.
Implications for practice and research Caregivers of family members with advanced cancer need to be empowered, supported psychologically and socially, to be resilient and function effectively as carers. Future research on this topic should consider more diverse populations to explore the holistic experiences of individuals and adopt a culturally sensitive approach to the topic.
The global incidence of cancer is significant, estimated at 53.5 million in 2022 with over 35 million new cases predicted in 2050.
Commentary on: Turk F, Sweetman J, Chew-Graham CA, et al. Accessing care for long covid from the perspectives of patients and healthcare practitioners: a qualitative study. Health Expect 2024;27:e14008. doi.org/10.1111/hex.14008
Training to enhance healthcare providers’ knowledge about Long Covid and tailored, equitable and timely access to integrated healthcare suitable for diverse and complex needs is required in the management of Long Covid. Future research is needed to address misinformation and the provision and effectiveness of reliable online resources for Long Covid patients along with an understanding of the effectiveness of integrated models of Long Covid care across diverse clinical settings.
Long Covid is an emerging long-term condition resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection, characterised by a wide array of persistent symptoms, it is heterogenous in nature with fluctuations and experiences of relapse.
Commentary on: Szymczak JE, Hayes AA, Labellarte P, et al. Parent and clinician views on not using antibiotics for mild community-acquired pneumonia. Pediatrics. 2024 Jan 1;153(2):e2023063782.
Implications for practice and research Awareness of the possibility to abstain from antibiotic treatment in mild community-acquired pneumonia in young children has to increase. Not only is research needed on improvement of diagnostics and safety of the ‘no antibiotic’ strategy, but also on how to address social, emotional and logistical barriers.
Mild community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children under 5 years is often viral in origin. Because of this, routine antibiotic treatment of mild CAP is discouraged in the 2011 Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS)/Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guideline.
Commentary on: Effectiveness of educational interventions in reducing stigma of healthcare professionals and healthcare students towards mental illness: A systematic review and meta- analysis—Wong et al.
Implications for practice and research Training programmes for all healthcare professionals should incorporate appropriate and early education on mental illness and its common societal implications to ensure that care is inclusive and non-judgmental. Education must be tailored, multimodal (in-person/online; contact-no-contact) and repeated. Further research looking at why, when and how stigma develops is necessary.
Stigma exists in society towards mental health and is also demonstrated by healthcare professionals. It develops early on in careers and impacts the delivery of care which further stigmatises this already disadvantaged population. Up to 75% of individuals with mental illness refuse treatment because of stigma leading to negative outcomes.
Commentary on: Crocker TF, Ensor J, Lam N, et al. Community based complex interventions to sustain independence in older people: systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMJ 2024 Mar 21;384.
Individualised care planning and effective and regular medication review are fundamental to ensuring the independence of older people living in the community. More research is needed to identify the particular health and social care interventions which are most beneficial to the ageing population.
Globally, by 2025, the proportion of older people ≥60 years will double to one-fifth of the total world population.
by Melissa M. Baker, Lyonel Nerolin Doffou Assalé, David Doledec, Romance Dissieka, Ahmenan Claude Liliane Konan, Agnes Helen Epse Assagou Mobio, Koffi Landry Kouadio, Oka René Kouamé, Ama Emilienne Yao, Hubert Zirimwabagabo
BackgroundWhile recent data on vitamin A deficiency (VAD) prevalence is lacking, the 2004 Côte d’Ivoire Nutrition and Mortality Survey reported that 26.7% of children aged 6–59 months were affected by VAD, and approximately 60% were at risk. Since 2016, the government has transitioned from mass campaigns to routine vitamin A supplementation (VAS) delivery integrated into health services. However, evidence on the cost-effectiveness of the routine distribution approaches is limited. This study evaluated the cost, coverage, and cost-effectiveness of three routine VAS delivery strategies across two health districts in northern Côte d’Ivoire.
MethodsA mixed-methods study evaluated three routine VAS delivery strategies – routine-fixed, advanced community-based, and catch-up – across two health districts, Ferkessédougou and Niakaramadougou, in northern Côte d’Ivoire. The quantitative cost data were collected via a structured tool covering six cost categories: planning, procurement, training, social mobilization, distribution, and supervision. VAS coverage was assessed through a post-event coverage survey (PECS) via a two-stage cluster sampling methodology. A cost-effectiveness analysis determined the cost per child supplemented, the cost per DALY averted, and a sensitivity analysis tested the robustness of the findings under different cost scenarios.
ResultsThe total program cost for July-December 2023 was 25.5 million FCFA, with personnel costs comprising over 70% of expenditures. In Ferkessédougou, the routine advanced community-based strategy was the most cost-effective, at 458 FCFA per child in rural areas (versus 596 FCFA for the routine-fixed facility-based approach in the same area). In Niakaramadougou, the December catch-up was more cost-effective in rural areas (606 FCFA per child) than the routine-fixed approach (714 FCFA). Across both districts combined, the routine-fixed strategy averaged roughly 651 FCFA per child supplemented, and the cost per DALY averted ranged from 30,093 FCFA (advanced strategy in Ferkessédougou) to 89,550 FCFA (catch-up Jul 2023 in Niakaramadougou) – all below Côte d’Ivoire’s cost-effectiveness threshold (0.5 x GDP per capita; approximately USD 1,265).
ConclusionAll three strategies were cost-effective, though the advanced community-based strategy achieved the best balance of reach and efficiency. Scaling advanced strategies within health system constraints may enhance sustainability and coverage in low-resource settings.
Tobacco consumption is a significant preventable cause of death worldwide. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of tobacco consumption among Cambodian individuals aged 15–49, utilising data from the 2021–2022 Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS).
Cross-sectional study based on secondary analysis of the 2021–2022 CDHS.
Nationwide household survey conducted across urban and rural areas of Cambodia.
A total of 28 321 respondents aged 15–49 years were included in the analysis.
Tobacco consumption categorised as no use, smoking tobacco, smokeless tobacco and dual use. Descriptive statistics, 2 tests and multinomial logistic regression were used to assess associations between background characteristics and tobacco consumption, with ‘no consumption’ as the reference category. Statistical significance was set at p
Among the 28 321 respondents (68.8% female), 91.8% were non-users of tobacco (reference group), while 6.9% reported smoking (predominantly males; adjusted relative risk ratios (ARRR)=39.29, 95% CI 29.70 to 51.96, p
While Cambodia has made notable progress in reducing tobacco consumption, the persistent challenges highlighted by the prevalence of smoking, particularly among specific demographics, indicate the need for targeted public health interventions.