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The human race is forced to engage in a very rapid adaptation process whenever it is confronted with technological change in any sphere of life. The unabated progress of artificial intelligence (AI) has also impacted the field of critical thinking. It is fascinating that critical thinking, an essential component of intellectual intelligence in nursing, seems to be disrupted by an artificial brain-alike machine that can automatically analyze and synthesize a series of contexts. This has been an improvisation of ideas of intellectual intelligence for a very long time. Perspectives on both sides of the coin bring up interesting questions about the role that AI will play in the future, such as whether it will disrupt the critical thinking skills of nurses or whether it may be engaged as a tool to increase the critical thinking skills capability, especially in the fields of nursing care.

Background: Children in rural communities face significant health challenges due to environmental hazards and limited access to healthcare. Understanding their immune resilience and parental perspectives is crucial for addressing health disparities in such contexts. Objective: This research aimed to explore the immune resilience of children in Tugaya, Lanao del Sur, Philippines, and understand parental perspectives on fostering their children’s health in the face of environmental challenges. Methods: A qualitative case study approach was used. Ten parents of children aged 5-10 from two barangays were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected from 15 January 2024 to 15 February 2024 through semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis. Results: Three main themes were generated: 1) Parental guardianship of children’s immune resilience, 2) Parental insights on fostering immune resilience in children, and 3) Parental perception and action in nurturing children’s immune resilience. These themes highlight parental roles in nurturing health, understanding immune resilience, prioritizing children’s well-being, maintaining cleanliness, providing balanced diets, and promoting proactive and informed parenting practices. Conclusion: It is evident that parents play a crucial role in fostering immune resilience among children by adopting various strategies. Understanding these perspectives can inform public health policies and community interventions to improve children’s health in similar rural contexts. This insight has significant implications for healthcare management and policy, suggesting the need for targeted support and interventions to empower parents in rural communities to enhance their children’s immune resilience.

Background: Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) in Lanao del Sur, Philippines, face ethical dilemmas shaped by the Meranao cultural value of ‘Maratabat,’ which emphasizes family honor and dignity. Understanding these cultural nuances is crucial for improving emergency medical care and addressing the ethical challenges encountered by EMTs in this region. Objective: This study aimed to explore the ethical dilemmas experienced by EMTs in disaster management settings, particularly how cultural values shape their decision-making processes. Methods: A phenomenological design was utilized. Eight EMTs working at the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Lanao del Sur, Philippines, were purposefully selected to participate. Data were collected from 31 January 2024 to 1 February 2024 through in-depth interviews, and thematic analysis was employed for data analysis. Results: Key themes emerged, including navigating complex dilemmas, adhering to organizational protocols, influential factors impacting EMTs’ capacity to handle ethical dilemmas in emergency services, and coping strategies for EMTs in addressing the psychological burden from ethical dilemmas in emergency care. The concept of ‘Maratabat’ greatly affects EMTs’ ethical decision-making processes, guiding their actions in the field. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of cultural values, organizational backing, and coping mechanisms in effectively enabling EMTs to address moral quandaries in their professional roles. Institutional support, a positive organizational culture, and continuous education are essential in assisting EMTs in making informed decisions amid ethical dilemmas. These findings have implications for interventions and strategies to support EMTs as frontline providers of emergency medical services, enhancing patient care quality during crises.

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Background: Effective pain management for adolescents is essential because it significantly affects their quality of life and can prevent the development of chronic pain. Although there have been advancements in this field, managing pain effectively remains challenging, highlighting the need for innovative approaches that combine technology with clinical practice. Objective: This study aimed to assess adolescents’ pain management knowledge and evaluate the effectiveness of the PASHA (Pain Assessment Stimulation and Healing Application) in reducing pain intensity among adolescents. Methods: A combination of a cross-sectional design (N = 461) and one group pretest-posttest approach (N = 60) were employed in a Junior High School at Bukittinggi, West Sumatera, Indonesia. Data were collected from June to August 2022 using the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) to assess pain management knowledge and the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) to measure pain intensity. The intervention involved using the PASHA application for three days, with pain intensity assessed before and after. Descriptive statistics and Paired t-test were used for data analysis. Results: Headaches were the most prevalent pain type among adolescents (60.5%). Many adolescents lacked adequate knowledge about pain management (57.7%) and self-medication practices (49.2%). Massage/acupressure therapy was the most recognized pain management strategy (39.1%), while aromatherapy was the least known (4.8%). The PASHA application significantly reduced pain intensity (Mean difference = 0.567, p <0.001). Conclusion: Adolescents had moderate knowledge gaps in pain management, particularly in chronic pain and non-pharmacological strategies. The PASHA application effectively reduced pain intensity, suggesting its potential to enhance pain management outcomes. Future research is necessary to validate the findings.

Background: Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the proliferation of fake news and an infodemic has highlighted the necessity to enhance health literacy, particularly among school-aged children in the concrete operational phase of cognitive development. However, current health literacy studies predominantly focus on the adult population and overlook COVID-19 prevention protocols. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of COVID-19 prevention education utilizing interactive comic and animated videos on the health literacy of school-aged children in Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Methods: The study employed a quasi-experimental research design with pretest-posttest nonequivalent control groups conducted from July to November 2021. Non-random sampling was utilized to select elementary schools and students, resulting in seventy-eight respondents. Health literacy was assessed using the modified 22-item Indonesian version of the Health Literacy Scale of COVID-19. Data analysis employed the Wilcoxon test. Results: Significant improvements in children’s health literacy were evident within the intervention group from pretest to posttest (p = 0.046, p <0.05). Conversely, no significant change was observed within the control group post-intervention. Furthermore, comparable pre-intervention health literacy levels were noted across both groups, with a modest increase post-intervention, suggesting the intervention’s potential to enhance health literacy, albeit to a limited extent. Conclusion: The research highlights the significance of focused health education for school children, particularly in preventing COVID-19. Incorporating interactive media such as animated videos and comics in school programs can improve health literacy. Policymakers need to invest in creating and sharing engaging health education materials working with schools, communities, and parents. Moreover, integrating artificial intelligence-driven personalized learning platforms may be possible to enhance information delivery, enabling children to confidently address health issues in the digital era. These findings may also guide post-pandemic health education approaches, ensuring children are informed and ready for future health challenges.

This narrative review article aims to describe the issue of stunting in Indonesia, a condition from chronic malnutrition that impairs children’s growth and development. With a stunting prevalence of approximately 30% among children under five, this problem is a critical concern for policymakers and healthcare providers. The article also reviews various interventions, including programs to enhance nutrition, promote breastfeeding, and improve sanitation. By assessing these existing interventions, health policy strategies and service management enhancements are proposed to reduce stunting rates. It underlines the necessity of a comprehensive approach integrating cross-sector collaboration and community engagement to achieve lasting solutions. The insights provided are crucial for policymakers to refine and enhance intervention strategies, aiming to lessen the long-term health impacts and improve children’s well-being in Indonesia.

Background: Traditional therapy is commonly utilized for stroke treatment in various communities, including Indonesia. However, there is limited knowledge about the aspects influencing the adoption of traditional medicine for stroke in Indonesia. Objective: This study aimed to explore the key aspects contributing to the traditional therapy adoption for stroke treatment in Banjarmasin, Indonesia. Methods: An ethnographic approach was employed, involving seven key informants who were family members of stroke patients. Purposive sampling was used to select the informants. Data were collected through observations, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions from December 2018 to February 2019 in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Content analysis was utilized for data analysis. Findings: The study developed seven themes that affected the adoption of traditional therapy for stroke treatment: 1) Role of social media, 2) Desire for recovery and perceived benefits, 3) Economic considerations, 4) Psychological factors and self-motivation, 5) Health insurance and access to healthcare facilities, 6) Cultural influences: Culture, traditions, and community beliefs, and 7) Support from others and therapy logistics. Conclusion: This study provides important insights into the essential aspects that influence the adoption of traditional therapy for stroke treatment in Indonesia. The findings highlight the need for healthcare policies and practices to consider these aspects to optimize the use of traditional treatment and enhance stroke management outcomes. However, further research is necessary to expand upon these findings, fostering a more comprehensive understanding of the adoption of traditional therapy in stroke treatment.

Background: Nutrition significantly impacts disease prevention and patient recovery. As healthcare providers across various health sectors, nurses often have the opportunity to offer dietary guidance to patients. However, there is a dearth of studies in the literature that assess nurses’ nutritional knowledge in Bangladesh. Objective: This study aimed to determine the nutritional knowledge of nurses employed at a tertiary-level medical college hospital in the Dinajpur district of Bangladesh. Methods: An observational descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed, with 109 staff nurses completing a self-administered questionnaire. This questionnaire covered demographic characteristics, work-related information, and 20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) aimed at assessing nurses’ nutrition knowledge. Data were collected between April and May 2022. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square (χ2) tests, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: The average score of nutrition knowledge was 63.4% (SD = 13.94) for all nurses, falling within the low to moderate range. Nurses with a Bachelor’s degree in nursing (22.2%) and 11 - 15 years of work experience (14.7%) demonstrated a very good level of nutrition knowledge. Education level (χ2 = 18.659; p <0.05) and work experience (χ2 = 22.356; p <0.01) significantly influenced knowledge levels. Most nurses sought nutritional advice from less than 25% of patients, with doctors/physicians being the most common source of nutrition information provided by nurses. Conclusion: The average nutritional knowledge score of Bangladeshi nurses was low to moderate. Education level and length of work experience significantly impacted knowledge levels. Therefore, it is recommended that effective ongoing nutrition education programs, nursing curriculum reforms, and in-service training are crucial to enhancing nurses’ nutritional knowledge.

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Background: Primary healthcare centers provide a wide range of healthcare services, with nurses playing pivotal roles in maintaining the quality of care. To enhance nurse performance, it is essential to gain insights into their experiences regarding the implementation of nursing services in these institutions. Objective: This study aimed to explore the issues and challenges related to nursing services in primary health care centers through the perspectives of Indonesian nurses. Methods: Qualitative research using a phenomenological approach was conducted. Twelve nurses from primary health care centers were purposively selected as study participants. Data were collected through face-to-face, semi-structured interviews between January 2022 and March 2022. Thematic analysis was employed for data analysis. Results: The analysis yielded five main themes: 1) Working with additional roles and duties, 2) Uncertainty regarding nurses’ roles and functions, 3) Nurses' concerns about the nursing profession, 4) Barriers to implementing nursing services, and 5) Nurses' expectations concerning nursing services. Conclusion: Nurses in primary health care centers face challenges in fully carrying out nursing services. Numerous issues and obstacles exist in the provision of nursing services at primary healthcare facilities. Therefore, it is essential to strengthen the authority and autonomy of nurses working in primary health care settings.

Background: During the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses emerged as the forefront responders, directly confronting the outbreak and risking their well-being to provide essential care to patients afflicted by the virus. However, there is a lack of studies focusing on Filipino nurses’ working experiences. Objective: This study explored nurses’ working experiences in a COVID-19 referral facility in Lanao del Sur, Southern Philippines. Methods: A qualitative narrative inquiry design was employed. A semi-structured interview was used in the study to evaluate the nurses’ experiences at the COVID-19 referral center during the early stages of the pandemic. Data were collected from April to May 2022. A thematic analysis process was used for data analysis. Results: Three main themes were generated: 1) Working in a COVID-19 referral facility is not a matter of choice, skills mastery, or readiness, 2) Actual experience of working in the COVID-19 referral facility can be both physically and psychologically exhausting, but it brings about self-fulfillment, and 3) Social support and non-scientific sources of support can assist nurses in coping with difficulty and stress associated with working the COVID-19 facility. Conclusion: Getting through the pandemic was not easy. This study lifted the curtain that has been kept closed from the eyes of the general public for more than two years. Despite nurses being seen as resilient towards their job, it exposed their vulnerable sides that they never talked about. It also helped us grasp what it meant for nurses who worked tirelessly in the COVID-19 isolation area, a task that only a few nurses took on. These findings can provide insights for healthcare leaders on how to help nurses during tough times.

Background: At the beginning of 2020, Nigeria grappled with a severe outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic. This deadly disease significantly impacted various aspects of the country’s economy, leading to socio-economic challenges primarily attributed to daily increases in reported cases and the subsequent enforcement of lockdown measures. Gwagwalada Area Council in Abuja, Nigeria, was not exempt from the devastating consequences of this epidemic, particularly concerning income generation and food access for its residents. Although several studies have examined the impact of COVID-19 on Nigerian workers, little information exists regarding the differing effects on formal and informal sector workers. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the disparities in the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic’s lockdown on household income generation and food consumption among formal and informal sector workers in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive survey design was employed for this study. Three hundred and thirty-two completed questionnaires were collected and analyzed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, which included simple percentages and means and independent sample t-tests. Results: A significant difference was revealed in the impact of the lockdown between formal and informal sector workers (p <0.001). The lockdown impacted substantially on the informal sector workers more than the formal sector counterparts. Conclusion: The study found that informal sector workers suffered a greater negative impact from the COVID-19 lockdown in Gwagwalada compared to formal sector workers. Therefore, it is recommended that the government provide substantial loans and grants with low or no interest rates to support informal sector business owners, mitigating the effects of the COVID lockdown and creating job opportunities for those affected by the government’s lockdown measures. Additionally, introducing price control mechanisms to ensure affordable food prices is essential, even after the conclusion of the pandemic.

Background: Effective communication is crucial for health professionals who engage with patients daily. The AIDET (Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explanation, and Thank you) communication framework can facilitate the attainment of patient-centered care by ensuring that clinical staff establish effective communication and interaction with patients. Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of the AIDET communication framework on improving patient satisfaction with healthcare services. Methods: A two-group posttest design was employed to evaluate the short-term outcomes of AIDET in enhancing patient satisfaction scores and health worker-patient communication in Ghana. A modified AIDET tool and three components of the PSQ-III instrument (comprising communication, interpersonal interaction, and time) were administered to patients without AIDET experience (comparison group) from February to March 2021 and patients with AIDET experience (intervention group) from November 2021 to January 2022, following AIDET training intervention conducted from April to October 2021. Data analysis included the computation of frequencies, means (SD), and independent t-tests. Results: Patients without AIDET experience viewed the importance of AIDET at 81.6%, compared to 96.6% for patients with AIDET experience. Overall, patients were not satisfied with all PSQ-III components combined. However, more than 80% of patients reported satisfaction with the time component of the PSQ-III, with a higher proportion (90.8%) for the intervention group. The patients in the intervention group rated the importance of AIDET significantly higher (48.51 ± 5.79) compared to patients in the comparison group (41.98 ± 6.53), with a mean difference of 6.53 (95% CI = -7.867 - 5.184; SD ±0.68; p <0.001). Conclusion: The use of AIDET in communicating with patients and their relatives is well-positioned to assist health facilities in achieving higher patient satisfaction scores and positive patient outcomes. However, the study revealed that using AIDET may not yield all positive outcomes in the short term.

Background: Patients’ perceptions drive healthcare quality globally. Therefore, understanding their views on professionalism and satisfaction is crucial. A patient-centric approach is essential, offering insights into meeting their needs and expectations. Objective: This study aimed to determine patients’ perception of the quality of health service provision in Tanzanian zonal referral hospitals. Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional design in four zonal referral hospitals in Tanzania. Data were collected using a questionnaire survey from 376 participants conveniently selected from May to June 2023. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 26 for descriptive analysis and one-way ANOVA. Results: The proficiency of care and health workers’ ability to instill trust and confidence in patients and their ability and willingness to provide services accurately and reliably influenced patients’ perceptions. Furthermore, personalized attention, workers’ appearance, physical facilities, and other working materials increased patients’ ratings of the health service delivery. Conclusion: The proficiency of care, promptness, and accuracy of service delivery are essential components in health service provision that can influence patients’ ratings. Therefore, policymakers, government, and other stakeholders should train health workers continuously to improve their competencies while ensuring the entire health system is effectively monitored.

Background: The shift to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns and heightened anxiety levels, especially among student nurses adapting to academic and clinical challenges. Objective: This study aimed to assess the anxiety levels of student nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic, examining gender and year-level differences and identifying contributing factors. Methods: A quantitative descriptive research design was employed, involving 305 student nurses from Levels 1 to 4, selected using proportionate stratified and systematic random sampling at a Philippine nursing school. Data were collected in March 2022 using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and a self-made questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, Independent t-tests, and ANOVA, were utilized with a significance level of 0.05. Results: The mean anxiety level among student nurses was 1.61, significantly differing by year level and gender (p <0.05). The most contributing factor of anxiety was ‘the adjustments to make with the sudden change of face-to-face classes to online or distance learning mode’ (90.16%), while the least factor was ‘lack of financial sources' (46.23%). Conclusion: Student nurses had moderate anxiety levels, with gender and year level as significant contributing factors. Female student nurses experienced higher anxiety levels than males, and lower-level students experienced greater anxiety than their higher-level counterparts. Various factors, including academic, social, financial, and perceived health risk-related factors, affected student nurses’ anxiety levels, with academic-related factors having the most significant impact and financial-related factors having the least impact.

Objective: This article aims to explore the intricate journey by examining key historical milestones, existing challenges, and potential future directions in Thai mental health care. Methods: A narrative review approach was employed, utilizing diverse sources such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Thai libraries. Information collected in 2023 is presented descriptively, chronicling Thailand’s evolution in mental health. Results: Across centuries, Thailand’s mental health history unveils an early acknowledgment of mental health issues during the Sukhothai Kingdom. Traditional healing methods rooted in Buddhism and herbal remedies characterized ancient Thai societies. The shift to Western influence under King Rama V initiated the first mental hospital, integrating traditional Thai and Western medical practices. Thailand’s contemporary era witnessed substantial progress in mental health initiatives, including legislative reforms, community-based care, and efforts addressing specific demographic challenges. However, pressing issues persist, including a surge in mental health issues, alarming dementia rates, and professional burnout. Conclusion: Thailand’s mental health system shows a transformative journey from spiritual interpretations to Western integration and a current globalized approach. Despite remarkable progress, the nation faces critical challenges. The National Mental Health Development Plan (2018-2037) outlines a comprehensive strategy focusing on prevention, improved services, education, innovation, and regulatory support.

Background: Professional development for nurse educators is essential to ensure that nursing students receive high-quality education and can provide effective patient care. However, nurse educators in Saudi Arabia encounter numerous challenges, emphasizing the need for tailored career development opportunities. Objective: This study aimed to identify the professional development needs of nurse educators within Saudi university nursing programs. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was employed in April 2023, involving 121 nurse educators selected through convenience sampling. The study consisted of nursing colleges and departments at 15 government-operated Saudi universities. Data were collected on April 2023 through questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlational analysis. Results: Among participants, 45 (37.2%) had 6 to 10 years of teaching experience. Evaluating learning (76.9%) was the most frequently identified Professional Faculty Development Need in teaching skills. Writing articles and abstracts (73.6%) were commonly identified in scholarly development, while presentation software for teaching (79.3%) dominated technology use development. The most preferred method for taking a development program was 1–2-hour sessions (81%). Significant differences in professional needs based on years of academic experience and academic rank were observed (p <0.05). Conclusion: The study identified various terms related to nurse educators’ perceived development needs. Educator development and educational specialists must consider both overlapping and unique requirements of different health science schools in planning professional development. Crucial skills highlighted in the study include cross-cultural teaching strategies, course design, large group teaching, conflict management, negotiation, and team-building for administrative work and career development.

Background: The Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) measures self-efficacy for pain management in patients with chronic pain, including cancer pain. Although the questionnaire has been translated into many other languages, it has not yet been translated and tested in Vietnam. Objective: This study aimed to translate and validate the PSEQ into Vietnamese. Methods: The PSEQ was translated into Vietnamese using Brislin’s model. Next, the Vietnamese version of the questionnaire (Viet-PSEQ) was evaluated for content validity by six experts using the Item-Content Validity Index (I-CVI) and the Scale-Content Validity Index (S-CVI). The reliability of the questionnaire was examined with 30 patients with cancer, using test-retest reliability (Intra-Class Correlation - ICC) and internal consistency (Cronbach’s α). Results: The I-CVI values ranged from 0.5 to 0.88, and the S-CVI value was 0.93. The Cronbach's alpha was 0.91, and the ICC was 0.99 (95% CI: 0.949 – 0.997, p <0.001). Conclusion: The Viet-PSEQ was found to be valid and reliable. Healthcare professionals can use this instrument to measure self-efficacy for pain management in patients with cancer in Vietnam.

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Background: Educational interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing cancer pain for patients with cancer. However, there is a lack of educational intervention programs for cancer pain management in Vietnam, and none have been studied or implemented in clinical practice. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the cultural appropriateness and clinical applicability of a pain management educational intervention program modified from PRO-SELF©: Pain Control Program for patients with cancer. Methods: This quantitative descriptive study was conducted from January to June 2022 with 15 experts, including oncologists, nurses with palliative care and pain relief certifications, and pharmacists. Data were collected using a 23-item questionnaire rated on a 5-point scale and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: The program was evaluated for its appropriateness, clinical applicability, and feasibility, resulting in high ratings with an average of 4.49 ± 0.23, 4.56 ± 0.33, and 4.29 ± 0.55, respectively. The general mean score of the items was 4.46 ± 0.22. Experts also provided comments for adjustments to the program, which were incorporated into a revised draft of the intervention program. Conclusions: The pain management educational intervention program for Vietnamese patients with cancer was considered appropriate and clinically applicable by the experts. Further clinical trials can now be conducted to evaluate the program’s effectiveness.

Background: The Support Theory for Organizations asserts that an organization can only experience growth when its employees feel accepted and have access to opportunities for change. The behavior of organizations towards change can either be accepting or resistant. When an organization adopts an innovative support strategy, it encourages positive employee behavior and creativity, in addition to practicing transformational leadership styles. Commitment, the state of being dedicated to work or action, is a fundamental theory for a thriving workplace environment. Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between leader perception of innovation acceptance and employee work commitment among healthcare providers in multi-centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2019. Data were collected using Perceived Organization Innovativeness Scale and the Employee Engagement Questionnaire to measure leader innovativeness perception and employee work commitment. Convenience sampling was carried out in eight departments, and the data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23 for descriptive data analysis and ANOVA. Results: The result was not significant enough to reach a proven level (p <0.05). However, the leaders who participated in the study had a moderate to high perception of innovation, and 51% of the employees had an above-average commitment score. Conclusion: The study concluded that leaders' behavior towards innovation may enhance employees' work productivity. However, a well-structured multicentric project should be conducted to assess this theory further.

Background: African Americans (AA), Caribbeans (CA), and Hispanic/Latinx Americans (HL) experience higher rates of poor health and disease as compared to their non-Hispanic White counterparts. Research participation by older, ethnically diverse adults is essential in the effort to reduce these health disparities; yet they have lower enrollment and retention in health research. Little is known concerning enablers and barriers for older adults of diverse ethnic backgrounds living in the United States to participate in health research. Objective: The aim of this study was to discover the generational perceptions of health issues and research by race and age of AA, CA, and HL. Methods: Recruitment was by multiple methods of community outreach. Induction of themes was by constant comparison and thematic analysis of 86 transcripts from focus groups of three ethnic minorities by age: N = 363 older (65 years or greater) and younger adults (25-64 years). Results: There were both similarities and differences by race and age concerning perceptions of health and health research. Younger adults expressed a concern for lack of communication of family health history by earlier generations. Older adults value their privacy concerning their health. A common theme was that participation in health research is everyone’s responsibility to help family, brown and black communities for the greater good. Conclusions: This study reinforced the differences in health and health research perceptions among ethnic minorities by generation, implying the need for involving the community’s feedback in the design of health studies. Further implications are the consideration of enablers and barriers toward health research participation as a potential method to reduce health disparities.

Background: Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and lifelong learning are essential for nurses to keep up to date with innovations, technological enhancements, and development in the healthcare sector to improve patient outcomes and safety. Objective: The study aimed to identify platforms, awareness, and barriers to CPD and lifelong learning of nursing professionals at Cancer Hospital (Apeksha), Maharagama, Sri Lanka. Methods: A quantitative survey was conducted, and a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect samples from April 2022 to February 2023. Random sampling techniques were used to select the samples from the population of nurses. The study sample size was 235, and only 200 nurses responded. Results: Descriptive statistics were calculated, and cross-tabulations were also employed. The nursing professionals in the study setting are characterized by a significant gender imbalance, with most nurses being female (86.5%) and males comprising a minority (13.5%). Most nurses have one to five years of experience, with just over a third (37.5%) having between one to ten years of experience. Family responsibilities, poor physical health, and financial constraints were identified as the most common barriers to engaging in CPD. Workplace stress, lack of financial aid, lack of opportunities, leave issues, inflexible work hours, and workload at the ward/unit were the most commonly agreed-upon organizational barriers in CPD. Despite various channels for accessing CPD activities, including colleagues and the workplace, a significant proportion of respondents were not aware of opportunities and platforms through these channels, highlighting the need for increased awareness and accessibility of CPD opportunities. Conclusion: CPD is crucial for nurses to grow their careers and improve their knowledge and abilities. Main obstacles such as family obligations, financial restraints, and occupational stress must be overcome to motivate nurses to engage in CPD activities and foster professional progress. There should be a proper mechanism to increase the awareness of CPD among nurses.

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Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the lives of many people have been affected, and their lifestyles changed, including their eating habits and levels of physical activity. Objective: This study aimed to assess lifestyle changes among Saudi women before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional descriptive design. Participants were recruited via social media (WhatsApp, Twitter, and Facebook), and the data were collected in March 2021 through Godin–Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity questionnaire and eating habits questionnaire. Chi-square and t-tests were used for data analysis. Results: The number of participants included in the analysis was 979. The results of the study showed no statistically significant difference in the BMI (t = 1.29, p = 0.15) or physical activity (t = 1.49, p = 0.135) when comparing the time before and during the pandemic. However, there were changes in their eating habits, including changes in the relative frequency of eating home-cooked meals and ordering from restaurants. Ordering restaurant meals per week decreased from 78.2% before COVID-19 to 47.5% during the pandemic. Moreover, there was a marked increase in anxiety reported about food hygiene from outside sources, from 14.7% before COVID-19 to 63% during the pandemic. Regarding physical activity, 41.7% said the pandemic had moderately affected their physical activity. The home was the most common setting for exercise both before and during the pandemic, but the percentage of participants exercising exclusively at home was almost doubled during the pandemic, from 46% before the pandemic to 81% during the pandemic. Conclusion: Dietary habits have changed in a good way during the pandemic; participants increased their consumption of home-cooked meals rather than eating restaurant meals. Also, the participants were more anxious about food hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Nurses have been the frontline fighters during the COVID-19 pandemic. This challenge has placed nurses under tremendous workload pressure, which has, in turn, affected many aspects of their lives. During the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia, many hospitals and healthcare systems have been adversely affected. However, few studies have examined the impact of workload during the COVID-19 pandemic on nurses’ social lives. Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between the workload during the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the social life of nurses. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed in this study. An online questionnaire was used for data collection between April and May 2021 among 204 nurses. The frequencies, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were computed to describe the results. In addition, the Chi-squared test was conducted to test the relationships among variables. Results: There were 73.53% female and 26.47% male respondents with a mean age of 27.64 ± 10.62 years, and the majority of the participants were Saudi (87.25%) and single (52.45%). The mean score of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and work pressure on nurses’ social lives was 7.31 ± 1.84 out of 10. There was a significant relationship between workload during the COVID-19 pandemic and the social life of nurses (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The study revealed how the workload in the hospital during the pandemic period affected the healthcare workers’ social lives, especially nurses. Therefore, it is necessary to support nurses and know their needs during the pandemic, which may reduce their workload to improve their work/life balance and performance. The other lessons learned from the pandemic are that the hospitals should focus more on providing a training program for nurses on a crisis preparedness plan and positive coping techniques.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, all health workforces, including nursing students, were mobilized to prevent the spread of the disease. The physical and mental health of frontline healthcare workers has been shown to have several adverse effects during the COVID-19 outbreak. However, few studies analyzed the mental health of nursing students participating in COVID-19 prevention, especially in Vietnam. Objective: The study was to identify and analyze the mental health of students and its related factors during the fourth wave of COVID-19 in Vietnam. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 672 nursing students participating in COVID-19 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from September to October 2021. Self-administered and online-based surveys were used to collect data using Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9),and the Insomnia Severity Index. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were done for data analysis using R 3.6.0 software. Results: Among our participants, the proportion of depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and insomnia were 2.88%, 5.1%, and 4.33%, respectively. Students who had physical activity habits before involvement in COVID-19 and maintained physical activity while participating in the epidemic had lower symptoms of anxiety, depression, and the risk of sleep disturbances. Furthermore, students with healthy diet status had fewer negative consequences on their mental health. Conclusions: Our findings provided evidence for organizations strategizing to preserve the emotional health of nursing students while engaging in the COVID-19 campaign.

Background: Depression is a common medical illness that affects a million of individuals around the world. The prevalence of depression is increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but little is known if the depression persists in the post-pandemic. Objective: This study aimed to describe the current status of depression among Indonesian citizens in urban areas. Methods: A quantitative descriptive survey was used involving 105 Indonesian citizens conveniently selected from urban areas in Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang, Depok, and Bekasi (JABODETABEK). Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used for online data collection using Google Forms from 6 September 2022 to 12 September 2022. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Results: Of the participants, 74.3% had no depression, and 25.7% had mild depression. Those having mild depression were mainly females, those aged 20-30 years, and those working in the health sector. Conclusion: The study may provide a piece of basic information for healthcare professionals to provide mental health interventions, especially to reduce depression in the communities. However, further studies are needed to confirm the results.

It is no doubt that being a nurse is very promising in the future, considering the existence and importance of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the government is asked to invest more seriously in the advancement of nurses, both in terms of competence and their professional career path. This article focuses on an overview of the nursing career ladder system and how far it is applied in the context of hospitals in Indonesia. Barriers and challenges are also presented for future recommendations.

The purpose of this paper is to describe the current state of the recruitment and selection of nurses in Indonesia as a reflection on the pandemic. This article may be useful for evaluating the effectiveness of the human resource management system in Indonesia.  However, nurses are heroes to be appreciated.

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This article aims to describe the current context of the surplus-shortage of nurses in Indonesia. Some concerns are raised, and recommendations are provided. The data provided in this paper may be helpful to policymakers, human resource managers, hospital managers, and nurse managers in solving the problems.

This article aims to describe salary of nurses in Indonesia based on employment status, place of work, and geographical context. The information presented in this paper can be used as basic data or a reference in choosing a job or a career in nursing.