Pathology of the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) frequently accompanies rotator cuff tears, with tenotomy and tenodesis often being used to address this pathology. While meta-analyses report comparable functional outcomes between these techniques, tenotomy is linked to higher rates of Popeye deformity, whereas tenodesis is more technically demanding and might involve extra material. A novel self-locking tenodesis technique aims to reduce deformity risk while being a simpler alternative to the conventional tenodesis procedure; however, comparative evidence is currently limited.

This single-centre, patient-blinded randomised controlled trial will enrol 100 patients aged ≥40 years with reparable, non-traumatic, full-thickness supraspinatus and/or infraspinatus and/or subscapularis tendon tears undergoing arthroscopic repair from January 2025 until January 2027. Key exclusion criteria include massive or irreparable tears, advanced glenohumeral osteoarthritis and prior shoulder surgery. Participants will be randomised to either 360 double lasso loop tenodesis or self-locking tenodesis. The primary outcome is the Constant score at 1 year, with a predefined non-inferiority margin of 10 points. Secondary outcomes include American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, simple shoulder value score, LHB score, cosmetic appearance, pain scores and radiographic tendon migration. Statistical non-inferiority will be assessed using a one-sided t-test.

The study protocol received approval from the National Ethical Review Board in France (CPP Sud-Est V) and was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. The results will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

NCT06774820.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made long-standing nursing workforce challenges apparent on an international scale. Decision-makers must develop multi-pronged approaches to foster the development and maintenance of a strong nursing workforce to support health systems. These approaches require attendance to recruitment and retention initiatives that show promise for stabilising the nursing workforce now and into the future.

Searches were conducted across MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and Scopus from January 2014 up to 11 March 2024. This rapid umbrella review protocol is guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology and adheres to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols guidelines. The research question guiding this review is: what structures have healthcare systems put in place to stabilise, support and sustain the nursing workforce? This review will include existing reviews of nursing workforce initiatives with outcomes that impact nursing recruitment and retention. Results will support local health transformation including the development of a jurisdictional nursing workforce stabilisation strategy. Findings from this review will be relevant for the design, refinement and implementation of nursing workforce sustainability strategies in countries around the globe and may apply to strategies for other healthcare workers.

Institutional research ethics board exemption was received. The research team is supported by an advisory group that includes provider and patient partners. The results from this study will inform the Nursing Workforce Strategy for the province of Nova Scotia as part of a larger Canadian Institutes of Health Research-funded project. They will also inform broader planning and strategy in Canada through integration with other evidence-generation activities such as comparative policy analyses and workforce planning exercises. Finally, the results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Registered through Open Science Framework: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/CUJYK