Nursing & Health Sciences

02/12/2025

Public cancer screening services and participation: What meanings in users' narratives to promote engagement?



🔗 https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.13146

Why do many people avoid or delay cancer screening—even when services are free and effective?

This study explores the deep emotional, sensory, and symbolic meanings that shape individuals’ decisions to participate (or not) in public cancer screening programs in Southern Italy.

Based on 101 in-depth interviews, analyzed with an innovative qualitative–quantitative approach (T-Lab), the authors uncovered:

Five narrative clusters

• Prevention as an emotional and sensory burden

• Managing hereditary risk and fear of death

• Internal personal demand for health

• Times, spaces, and contexts of prevention

• The concreteness and practicality of carrying out prevention

Two major meaning dimensions

• From fear of diagnosis → toward preventive measures

• From external healthcare systems → toward internal self-care

Why it matters

Low participation in cancer screening is not just about access—it’s about how people make meaning of prevention, their fears, their experiences in the health system, and their sense of responsibility toward themselves and their families.

The study highlights the importance of:

• Creating supportive spaces to discuss prevention

• Enhancing communication and relational skills in primary care teams

• Training healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, psychologists) to foster intrinsic motivation and sustained engagement

This powerful research sheds light on how to design prevention programs that truly resonate with people’s lived experiences.

Despite the effectiveness of cancer screening (CS) in providing timely diagnoses and early treatments, the participation of citizens remains very low in particular in Southern Italy. This study aims ...

02/12/2025

New Article Highlight from Nursing & Health Sciences!

🧠 Philosophectomy in Health Professional Education: Reclaiming Humanity and Ethics in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.70263

What happens when philosophy is removed from health professional education?

This commentary article introduces the powerful concept of “philosophectomy”: the systematic exclusion of philosophy and ethics from health curricula. The authors argue that this intellectual amputation leaves future clinicians unprepared for the ethical, existential, and humanistic challenges brought by AI and rapidly evolving technologies.

Key Insights

• Removing philosophy weakens the ability of health professionals to navigate complex ethical dilemmas, especially in AI-driven environments.

• Reintegrating philosophy strengthens critical thinking, moral sensitivity, and humanistic care.

• Educators should embed ethical dialogue, reflective practice, and narrative medicine to empower compassionate practitioners.

This is a timely and thought-provoking read for anyone interested in the future of healthcare, ethics, and professional education.

“Philosophectomy”—the systematic removal of philosophy from health curricula—is our core concept. This intellectual amputation disarms future professionals, unpreparing them for the ethical and exist...

02/12/2025

Last Saturday, our Editor-in-Chief, Janet Delgado, had the honor of being invited to speak at the 8th Multi-Level Systems Medicine Symposium, “New Challenges to Treat Intractable Diseases with Artificial Intelligence and Systems Medicine,” organized by AISMEC at Yamaguchi University.

It was an extraordinary opportunity to engage with a truly interprofessional network of engineers, informatics specialists, and healthcare professionals, all committed to advancing innovative approaches in AI-driven and systems-based healthcare.

Events like this strengthen the bridges between technology, ethics, and clinical practice, and set the stage for future collaborations that will shape the future of healthcare.

Want to know more about AISMEC?

Check it out here:

In 2018, the Center for AI Systems Medicine and Medical Research and Education, which promotes both AI and systems biology, was established at the Graduate School of Medicine and the School of Medicine. From this Center, we will communicate the importance of educating future data science physicians,...

26/11/2025

Have you ever wondered what drives nursing students to prioritize medication safety?

A new study, “Nursing Students' Behavioral Intentions Toward Medication Safety: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior,” explores exactly that.

Conducted with 498 nursing students in Spain, this study validates the Spanish version of the Theory of Planned Behavior–Medication Safety Questionnaire (TPB-MSQ-S) and sheds light on the psychological factors influencing nursing students’ willingness to report medication errors.

Key Findings

• Attitude emerged as the strongest predictor of students’ intention to engage in safe medication practices.

• Fostering positive attitudes during training can meaningfully enhance readiness to report errors—ultimately improving patient safety.

Medication administration errors remain a critical challenge in healthcare. Understanding—and improving—nursing students’ behavioral intentions is an essential step toward building safer clinical environments.

This study offers an evidence-based tool for educators, researchers, and clinical mentors committed to promoting a culture of safety.

🔗 Read the full article here:

Medication administration errors pose a significant risk to patient safety and the quality of healthcare. Measuring the involvement of nursing students in incidents during supervised clinical placeme...

21/11/2025

Have you ever heard about the impostor phenomenon?

Imposter phenomenon, or syndrome, is a behavioral health phenomenon described as self-doubt of intellect, skills, or accomplishments among high-achieving individuals — and it is especially common in healthcare settings.

This newly published study in Nursing & Health Sciences explores how authentic pride, hubristic pride, and the impostor phenomenon shape perfectionistic self-presentation among ICU nurses in South Korea.

Key Insights

• ICU nurses reported high levels of perfectionistic self-presentation, a tendency that may impact well-being and clinical performance.

• The impostor phenomenon emerged as the strongest predictor, followed by hubristic pride and education level.

• Nurses with associate degrees reported lower levels of perfectionistic self-presentation than those with higher qualifications.

These findings highlight the emotional and psychological mechanisms that may intensify performance pressure in critical care settings.

Understanding the factors that fuel perfectionistic self-presentation is essential for supporting nurses’ mental health, strengthening professional identity, and improving patient care.

📌 Implications for Nursing Leadership

Nurse leaders and managers should consider:

• Developing counselling and training programs to reduce impostor feelings

• Creating supportive, nonjudgmental environments to offset unhealthy pride dynamics

• Implementing strategies to promote psychological safety and balanced self-evaluation

Factors Affecting Perfectionistic Self-Presentation Among ICU Nurses, Focusing on Pride and Impostor Phenomenon

📖 Read the full article:

This study aimed to explore perfectionistic self-presentation among ICU nurses in South Korea and investigate factors affecting perfectionistic self-presentation, focusing on authentic pride, hubrist...

18/11/2025

Most Read Articles of 2025! 🌟
We are delighted to highlight one of the top-performing papers in Nursing & Health Sciences this year.

The Effect of Nursing Interventions in Women With Gestational Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders remain a major global cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. This comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizes evidence from 13 studies involving 1,458 women.

Key Findings
✔️ Significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure
✔️ Reduced anxiety and depression
✔️ Shorter hospital length of stay
✔️ Positive effects observed across all included studies

Effective Nursing Interventions Identified
- Educational and training programs
- Home-based comprehensive nursing
- Nurse-led case management
- Vascular symptom management
- Clinical nursing pathways
- Psychosocial approaches, including music therapy

This paper reinforces the critical contribution of nursing to improving health outcomes in gestational hypertension. It showcases the importance of holistic, evidence-based care that integrates physical, psychological, and social support.

🔗 Read the full article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nhs.70074

17/11/2025

We are pleased to highlight one of the standout contributions from our latest special issue:

Value-Based Experiences Related to Digital Follow-Up Services Among Critical Care Survivors: An International Qualitative Study

This international qualitative study sheds light on how digital follow-up services can support the recovery of critical care survivors from a value-based perspective. Drawing on focus group interviews in four European countries, the authors identify key patient-reported experience themes, including:

-The journey from feeling powerless to regaining control after ICU discharge

-The importance of clear, accessible digital information

-The need for technologies that reflect survivors’ preferences, including personalized content, opportunities for e-consults, and access to peer support

-The findings underscore the potential of digital tools to enhance post-ICU recovery by aligning care with what survivors value most. This research contributes meaningfully to ongoing discussions about cost-effective, person-centered innovations in intensive care follow-up services.

Access the full article:

Intensive care units (ICUs) are increasingly striving to provide cost-effective and value-based support. To meet this trend, digital solutions might offer appropriate opportunities for delivering rem...

14/11/2025

We are delighted to share the latest Best Practice Information Sheet (BPIS) by the Joanna Briggs Institute.

This BPIS presents the best available evidence on caregivers’ experiences of feeding children with cerebral palsy (CP).

The review synthesizes studies exploring the perspectives of parents, foster carers, and grandparents caring for children with CP—whether feeding orally, via tube, or using a combination of both.

It highlights caregivers’ thoughts, challenges, perceptions, emotions, beliefs, and the impact of feeding on their quality of life.

Feeding children with CP can be complex and emotionally demanding. This BPIS offers evidence to support clinicians, caregivers, and policymakers in improving care strategies and family support.

Discover the full Best Practice Sheet — now Free to Read for 90 days:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nhs.70244

13/11/2025

🎉 Our New Special Issue Is Now Online! 🎉

We are delighted to announce that our Special Issue on Value-Based Health Care and Patient Experience is now available online!

A very special thank you to Dr. Kate Kynoch for her excellent leadership as the Editor of this special issue.

All articles are Open Access or Free to Read for the next 90 days!

Today, we would like to highlight the Editorial for this Special Issue:

Opportunities and Challenges to Implementing Value-Based Health Care Across a Multisite Health Service

This insightful editorial explores the potential and complexities of adopting value-based healthcare in large multisite health systems—addressing standardization, collaboration, data utilization, and the cultural and operational challenges involved. A highly recommended read for anyone interested in advancing patient-centered, sustainable healthcare models.

👉 Read the full editorial here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nhs.70136

To access the special issue, please visit https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1111/(ISSN)1442-2018.value-based-health-care-patient-experience

12/11/2025

📢 New Publication Alert!
Efficacy of Kinesio Taping in Reducing Pain in Women With Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of kinesio taping as a non-invasive, non-pharmacological approach for menstrual pain relief.

Key Findings:

Kinesio taping significantly reduces menstrual pain

It also lowers the use of oral analgesics

Both professional and self-applied taping methods are effective.

Nurses play a key role in empowering women to self-manage dysmenorrhea through education and taping guidance.

Takeaway:

Kinesio taping offers a promising, accessible strategy for managing primary dysmenorrhea and reducing dependence on pain medication.

First published: 07 October 2025
https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.70236

Now available Free to Read for 90 days!

Although kinesio taping has emerged as a potential non-invasive and non-pharmacological therapy for pain management in various conditions, its effectiveness in reducing menstrual pain remains inconsi...

11/11/2025

Yesterday, we had the great pleasure of welcoming Professor Emeritus Susumu Tomonaga to Yamaguchi University.

Professor Tomonaga is one of the founders of the journal Nursing & Health Sciences, which he established 26 years ago together with Heisuke Hironaka.

It was truly an honor to host him and to learn more about the early days of the journal — how it was founded and the inspiring vision that guided its creation. His reflections offered a fascinating glimpse into the passion and purpose that shaped Nursing & Health Sciences from the very beginning.

10/11/2025

New Research Alert!

Machine Learning Techniques for Identifying Lifestyle Factors Associated With Low Back Pain in Adults Aged 50 and Older

Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is one of the most common health issues among older adults — but what daily habits contribute most to its risk?

A new study uses machine learning to uncover key modifiable lifestyle factors linked to cLBP in adults aged 50+.

Key findings:

Higher risk linked to prolonged sitting (≥6 h/day), low walking frequency (

Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is shaped by multiple lifestyle factors, yet models with practical behavioral cutoffs remain scarce. This study developed a machine learning model to identify key lifesty...