Early COVID‐19 and Severity of Subsequent Omicron Infection in Ontario Canada

ABSTRACT We evaluated whether having early COVID‐19 reduced the severity of subsequent Omicron infection, assessing activities of daily living (ADL), healthcare utilization and illness duration. Comparisons were made between persons with (1) early COVID‐19‐compatible illness with a negative test, (2) early lab‐confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 14–26 months and (3) early lab‐confirmed SAR‐CoV‐2 > 26 months before Omicron infection. Among 261 patients with laboratory‐confirmed Omicron, 177 (68%) had COVID‐19 in 2020, a median of 793 days (IQR, 659–902) prior to Omicron infection. Compared to no early COVID‐19, COVID‐19 14–26 months, but not > 26 months, before was associated with reduced impact on ADL during first Omicron infection (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.29–0.93).

Clinicians' Perspectives of the Pressure Injury Treatment Advisory ‘ PITA ’ Quick Guide: An Evaluation Across Three Australian Healthcare Settings

ABSTRACT Pressure injuries present significant challenges in clinical care, leading to severe complications such as infection, pain and delayed wound healing. They are a common chronic wound that contribute to increased morbidity, prolonged hospital stays and substantial healthcare costs. Despite national efforts to enhance chronic wound management, development of optimal treatment strategies remains a priority. The Pressure Injury Treatment Advisory (PITA) Quick Guide was developed to provide an evidence‐based guide to support clinicians in pressure injury management. A survey was conducted to evaluate clinician perspectives on the usability and practicality of the Guide in acute care, residential aged care and community settings. A post‐test survey was conducted on a convenience sample of healthcare professionals from three healthcare settings across metropolitan, regional and rural Australia. The survey included 5‐point Likert‐scale items assessing ease of use, effectiveness and integration with workflows. Three hundred and two responses were received (66.7% response rate). Clinicians expressed overwhelmingly positive perceptions, with over 95% agreeing or strongly agreeing on the guide's utility and effectiveness. No respondents strongly disagreed with any item. Residential aged care and rural clinicians rated the tool slightly higher than acute care and medical clinicians. The PITA Quick Guide was well‐received across all settings, demonstrating strong potential to enhance evidence‐based pressure injury management.

Working at the Edges: Material Explorations on Change in Art Education and Policy Through Teacher Agency

Abstract My research aims to investigate structures built from the intertwined relationships between education policy, its underlying neoliberal agendas and prevalent Filipino family values, and how these affect the way art is taught in the Philippine basic education system. Through my positions as artist and educator seeking ways to address my criticisms of the treatment of art education in my country, I explore the nature of change within these described structures through practice‐based research via a participatory art installation. The paper details my methodology and observations together with related academic theories in order to draw insights on how and where change begins within these structures. This work also problematises change in the Philippines' complex setting and will eventually weigh the implications and potentials of teacher agency in this context and how these could contribute to a more global conversation on change in education.

Why Is Starting and Sustaining a Clinical Academic Role in Nursing Still So Difficult?

Registered Nurse‐Led Assessments in Australian Residential Aged Care Homes: A Scoping Review

ABSTRACT Aim To understand the current evidence base regarding holistic nursing assessments performed by registered nurses in residential aged care homes in Australia, and identify the gaps in knowledge and potential areas for future research. Design A scoping review informed by JBI guidelines and the PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews. Methods The electronic databases Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus and ProQuest Central were searched, alongside citation chaining and manual journal searches. Limits of English language and publication after the year 2000 were applied. Studies were screened against pre‐defined eligibility criteria. Data were extracted and analysed using descriptive statistics and a narrative synthesis. Results A total of 3987 studies were identified, of which 28 were categorised as comprehensive or multimodal assessment programmes, standalone assessment tools or assessment infrastructure papers. Key outcomes described included staff factors and resident emergency department transfers or hospitalisations. The key feature of existing nursing assessments across studies was education, which was generally associated with improved staff knowledge, confidence and efficiency. Apart from this, there was large heterogeneity among assessment interventions with inconsistent effects. Few studies focused on residents with dementia or palliative care needs. Conclusion There is currently no standardised, systematic approach to the holistic assessment of residents by registered nurses in Australia. This gap in assessment is especially evident for residents with dementia or palliative care needs. Impact This research highlights the need to develop standardised holistic nursing assessments to bridge this gap in practice. Patient or Public Contribution No Patient or Public Contribution.

Key Features of Successful Research‐Related Roles for Nurses and Midwives in out of Hospital Settings: A Mixed Methods Approach

ABSTRACT Aim To explore the views of health care professionals involved in initiatives that have led to successful research‐related roles for nurses and midwives working in community settings. Design A sequential mixed‐methods study. Methods Between December 2022 and January 2023 a survey was completed by health care professionals with relevant experience of successful research‐related initiatives for nurses and midwives in community settings. Survey responses were categorised into low, medium or high‐priority examples of productive practice. Nineteen of the twenty responders who provided high‐priority examples were interviewed between May and July 2023. The research capacity development for impact framework underpinned data collection and analysis. Data were thematically analysed using the framework method. Results The seven themes of the research capacity development for impact framework: leadership and sustainability, skills and confidence building, infrastructures, linkages and collaborations, ownership and responsibilities, actionable dissemination and co‐production were identified as important features of successful research‐related roles in community settings. A new cross‐cutting theme of trust and relationships was generated. The initiation, continued growth and ambition continuum guided the development of the planning change and features of success template. Conclusion This study highlighted the key features that matter when planning change and developing research‐related roles for nurses and midwives in community settings. Impact Study findings have the potential to inform policy and practice for organisations focused on developing research capacity and capability in community settings. Reporting Method This study adhered to the COREQ reporting guidelines. Patient and Public Involvement No patient or public involvement.

Impacts of Financial Stress on Mental Health and Wellbeing of Nursing Students: A Systematic Integrative Review

ABSTRACT Aim To explore the direct relationship between financial stress and mental health and wellbeing of nursing students and characterise the effectiveness of available support mechanisms. Design Systematic integrative review. Data Sources Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, Education Research Complete, MEDLINE, ProQuest Central, PsycNET, Scopus and Web of Science were searched in January and October 2024. Methods Studies reporting a direct relationship between financial stress and mental health and wellbeing in nursing students were included. Data related to sources of financial stress, mental health impacts, and support mechanisms were extracted, synthesised narratively, and reported thematically. Results Findings from nine studies reveal that financial stress significantly affects nursing students' mental health and wellbeing, contributing to emotional distress and reduced quality of life. Financial stress arises from personal, academic and clinical sources, with the intensity varying based on individual demographic profiles and fluctuating throughout their educational journeys. Marginalised and underserved groups experience greater impacts due to pre‐existing disadvantages. Current support mechanisms are largely reactive, providing only short‐term relief and failing to address root causes. Additionally, students' efforts to alleviate financial stress in one domain often exacerbated it in another. Conclusion This review highlights the multifaceted and compounding effects of financial stress on nursing students' mental health and wellbeing. Proactive strategies, including structured employment programs, embedded financial literacy education, and transparent pre‐enrolment information offer promising solutions. Implications for the Profession While financial stress cannot be fully eradicated, targeted support for at‐risk students can mitigate its impacts, improving their mental health and educational outcomes. Impact This review addresses the critical issue of financial stress among nursing students, highlighting its disproportionate impact on marginalised and underserved groups. It underscores the need for proactive interventions and systemic reform to improve educational experiences globally. Reporting Method Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 Statement. Patient or Public Contribution No patient or public contribution. Trial Registration: PROSPERO: CRD42024514262

Landscape Structure Shapes the Equilibrium Between Migratory and Sedentary Species in Avian Breeding Communities Along an Altitudinal Gradient

ABSTRACT Aim Human land use shapes landscapes and threatens avian biodiversity, yet its interaction with altitudinal gradients and the consequences for the assembly of long‐distance migratory and sedentary bird communities remain poorly understood. Location Southern France. Taxon Avian breeding communities. Method We examined the changes in the migratory–sedentary ratio (the relative proportion of migratory versus sedentary species) in avian breeding communities (5 × 5 km resolution) in response to a regional‐scale altitudinal gradient (4000 m), in interaction with landscape structure (landscape heterogeneity and forest cover) and species richness. Results We detected interactions between altitude, landscape structure and species richness influencing the migratory: sedentary ratio. This highlights the complex responses of avian communities to both abiotic and biotic drivers. Reduced habitat diversity and evenness at lower altitudes promoted the occurrence of migratory species. While increasing forest cover generally promotes bird species richness, our results showed that its effect on the migratory: sedentary ratio differ between altitudinal belts. Specifically, forest cover was associated with a decrease in the proportion of migratory species at lower altitudes but with an increase at higher altitudes. Finally, increasing total bird richness altered the equilibrium at lower altitudes, where the richest communities (above ~117 bird species) hosted more migratory species than expected from the regional pool. We hypothesise that adding migratory rather than sedentary species to the richest communities reduces competitive interactions for resources and limits niche saturation. Main Conclusions Understanding interactions among environmental drivers is essential for predicting the assemblage of avian communities. Our results identify specific environmental conditions that promote or threaten the richness of migratory and sedentary bird species and thus provide insights to inform conservation actions and policy decisions aimed at mitigating the impacts of environmental change on avian communities.

Premature Ventricular Contractions From the Proximal Left Anterior Fascicle: Insight From the Electrophysiologic and Anatomic Parameters

ABSTRACT Introduction Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) originating from the proximal left anterior fascicle (LAF) are rarely discussed. We aimed to describe the characteristics and ablation outcome of PVCs originating from the proximal LAF and propose a stepwise approach. Method and Results From 2018 to 2024, 16 patients (nine males) with proximal LAF–PVCs who underwent ablation were enrolled, and their electrophysiological characteristics and procedural details were analyzed. The acute procedural outcomes were complete success, success with residual nonclinical PVCs, and partial success (decrease in clinical PVCs). The electrocardiographs of the PVCs showed a right bundle branch block with an inferior axis. In the initial ablation attempt, targeting the earliest left ventricular (LV) endocardial activation site eliminated clinical PVC in 14 patients. Nonclinical PVC occurred in seven patients. A second attempt from the right coronary cusp (RCC) was made in four patients (three nonclinical and one clinical PVC), which resulted in complete success. One patient (6.3%, partial success) had PVC recurrence. Sites with a successful ablation showed a significantly greater Fascicle‐QRS[PVC] interval, Delta Fascicle‐QRS[PVC–Sinus] interval, and more reverse fascicle potentials than other sites. Patients who underwent successful supra‐RCC ablation had a shorter RCC‐LV earliest activation site distance (EAS). Conclusion This is the first study to investigate the dynamic electrogram property in LAF–PVC ablation. The Fascicle–PVC interval and reverse fascicle are useful for predicting acute ablation success. The RCC approach may be effective in cases with a short RCC–LV EAS distance. Nonclinical PVC morphology could be due to LAF block and might not affect the long‐term outcome after careful mapping.

Transcriptomic and Functional Comparison of Cells Isolated From Healthy and Degenerated Ovine Intervertebral Discs

ABSTRACT Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a leading cause of chronic low back pain, yet its cellular and molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Sheep represent a valuable in vivo and ex vivo model for IVDD due to their anatomical and biomechanical similarities with humans and the possibility to access disc samples at early stages of degeneration. In vitro, isolated annulus fibrosus (AF) and nucleus pulposus (NP) cells may provide insights into age‐associated degenerative processes; this work investigates how well they capture senescence and metabolic alterations observed in vivo. Transcriptomic profiling of AF and NP cells from healthy young lambs and mildly degenerated aged sheep revealed distinct age‐ and tissue‐specific signatures, with upregulation of inflammatory mediators, ECM‐remodelling enzymes, and senescence‐associated genes in aged cells. Cross‐species deconvolution using a human single‐cell RNA‐sequencing reference confirmed conserved transcriptional modules between aged sheep and human degenerated discs, underscoring the model's translational relevance. However, functional assays demonstrated comparable responses of young and aged cells under basal conditions and after exposure to pro‐degenerative stressors (IL‐1β, senescence induction). Altogether, these findings validate sheep cells as a suitable in vitro model for studying disc degeneration mechanisms and for preclinical testing, although aged donors offer no clear additional functional benefits.