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New psychoactive substance (NPS) use in mental health and addiction health-care services is a common co-morbidity. This paper aims to explore the survey responses with health-care professional’s (HCPs) engagements and experiences towards people who use NPS in five health-care services.

A theoretically adapted online survey design explored the engagements and experiences of participants towards people who use NPS across (n = 3) community and (n = 2) rehabilitation mental health and addiction health-care services consisting of (n = 1,027) service users.

A total of 92 participants (of 120 participants) completed the survey and 28 did not. Most (56.33%) reported neutral to poor experiences and engagements and a lack of NPS-related policies, procedures and educational training. Participants (99%) recognised the harmful effects of NPSs and (87%) requested clinical assessment procedures. The participants are unable to identify and manage acute intoxication by NPS, lack knowledge of NPS adverse effects and requested NPS-specific training on drug legislation.

The sample may not be representative with the broader UK population. The study’s methods are comparable to similar research surrounding NPS in health-care services. Similar studies may advance the findings.

The implications for practice include NPS awareness trainings, educational updates through seminars and conferences. Participants requested clearer NPS assessment, referral and management processes. Several policy-making and procedural opportunities exist to ensure a better health outcome for people who use NPS.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first theoretically adapted survey to explore participant’s engagements and experiences with people who use NPS in addiction and mental health settings.

This study aims to endeavor to discern the predominant leadership styles used by nursing managers within the framework of Slovenian primary health centers. Using a quantitative research approach, the study was conducted through the administration of a structured questionnaire.

The investigation encompassed 67 nursing managers, representing the entire spectrum of primary health centers in Slovenia. A stratified representative subset comprising 53 top nursing managers actively participated in this study.

The prevailing leadership style among nursing managers predominantly manifests as the “integrated” style, characterized by a balanced emphasis on both interpersonal relationships and task-oriented elements. These nursing leaders exhibited a proclivity for fostering collaborative teamwork, with their leadership approach notably shaped by traits such as positive thinking, self-assuredness, comprehensive leadership knowledge and an intrinsic motivation to guide and inspire individuals. Notably, leadership knowledge emerged as the most influential factor in determining the selected leadership style. The study’s findings recognize specific areas in which leadership competencies among nurse managers may require further enhancement and development.

The study’s findings are based on a specific subset of nursing leaders in a particular region, which can add to the originality, especially as there is limited prior research in this specific context. The study’s exploration of leadership styles is original in the sense that it provides insights into the leadership behaviors and traits of nursing managers in the given context. The emphasis on factors such as positive thinking and leadership knowledge as influential elements adds originality to the study.

This research paper aims to study the achievement of the objectives set by the Government of Kerala through the Arogyakeralam Pain and Palliative Care project.

The research paper delves into diverse facets of an individual’s well-being including medical, emotional, spiritual and social aspects, when confronted with an incurable and incapacitating disease through the intervention of the PPC project. This insightful study was conducted in the state of Kerala, India.

The analysis reveals that quality of life (QoL) is most influenced by spiritual, social and psychological factors. This paper raises pertinent questions about the effectiveness of PPC initiatives within the realm of medical care.

The thought, conception and preparation of the subject is on improving social health care by assessing the existing practices followed by the local governance. This, by far, would benefit millions by formulating appropriate policies for improving the QoL.

The Kerala model of health care has garnered global acclaim, standing shoulder to shoulder with the health systems of developed nations. Adopting “active total care” to address pain and allied indications, the Arogyakeralam palliative care program significantly enhances patients' QoL. The focus was to uplift the QoL of patients suffering from terminal illnesses post-pandemic.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the primary cause of dementia in elderly people and needs extensive professional care. The aim of our study was to assess the level of knowledge among primary health-care providers, primarily Family Physicians (FPs) and community pharmacists (CPs), about AD and its treatment.

A cross-sectional study using Google Forms sent by email or message to FPs and CPs in Istanbul in June–July 2023. Turkish modified the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) and Alzheimer’s Medicines Knowledge Level Questionnaire (AMKLQ) were used in this study.

A total of 63 FPs with a mean age of 35.3 ± 7.8 and 138 CPs with a mean age of 38.6 ± 12.6 enrolled in the study. There was no statistically significant difference between FPs and CPs in terms of total ADKS score (19.82 ± 2.30 vs 19.23 ± 3.08, p = 0.136), but there was a significant difference in terms of total AMKLQ score (4.31 ± 1.40 vs 3.81 ± 1.49, p = 0.020). Health-care providers with Alzheimer’s training had a higher total AMKLQ score (OR =1.08 CI 95% [1.03–1.14], p = 0.012).

FPs’ knowledge of AD is on par with that of CPs. Nevertheless, it has been observed that FPs have more proficiency in delivering accurate responses to the AMKLQ and ADKS inquiries, which encompass crucial details regarding the treatment of AD. The sole determinant of the highest mean AMKLQ score was found to be professional education. Collectively, these arguments emphasize the need for primary health-care practitioners to obtain comprehensive and ongoing education regarding AD and its treatment.

In this article, we outline our views on the appropriateness and utility of Return on Investment (ROI) for the evaluation of the value of healthcare quality improvement (QI) programmes.

Our recent research explored the ROI concept and became the genesis of our viewpoint. We reflect on our findings from an extensive research project on the concept of ROI, involving a multidisciplinary global systematic literature review, a qualitative and Delphi study with mental healthcare leaders from the United Kingdom National Health Service. Research participants included board members, clinical directors and QI leaders. Our findings led to our conclusions and interpretation of ROI against the broad QI governance. We discuss our views against the predominant governance frameworks and wider literature.

ROI is in-line with top-down control governance frameworks based in politics and economics. However, there is evidence that to be of better utility, a tool for the assessment of the value of QI benefits must include comprehensive benefits that reflect broad monetary and non-monetary benefits. This is in-line with bottom-up and collaborative governance approaches. ROI has several challenges that may limit it as a QI governance tool. This is supported by wider literature on ROI, QI as well as modern governance theories and models. As such, we question whether ROI is the appropriate tool for QI governance. A more pragmatic governance framework that accommodates various healthcare objectives is advised.

This article highlights some of the challenges in adopting ROI as a QI governance tool. We signal a need for the exploration of a suitable QI governance approach. Particularly, are healthcare leaders to be perceived as “agents”, “stewards” or both. The evidence from our research and wider literature indicates that both are crucial. Better QI governance through an appropriate value assessment tool could improve clarity on QI value, and thus investment allocation decision-making. Constructive discussion about the utility and appropriateness of ROI in the evaluation of healthcare QI programmes may help safeguard investment in effective and efficient health systems.

The article raises awareness of QI governance and encourages discussions about the challenges of using ROI as a tool for healthcare QI governance.

When coping with uncertainties, three characteristics distinguish firms: agility, adaptability and alignment (triple-A). Based on significant field research, the triple-A highlights the significance of coordinating agility, adaptability and alignment. Start-ups are facing a lot of challenges in this turbulent environment. However, this sector is undergoing a major transformation. Agility, adaptability and alignment concepts have had a major influence on the supply chain, but their implementation in start-ups has been less visible. This paper aims to identify, analyze and categorize the enablers for agility, adaptability and alignment in start-ups using the total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) approach.

In addition to the scheduled interview, a closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect data. To identify how the factors interact, the TISM technique is used, and the Matriced’Impacts Croises-Multipication Applique’ and Classment method is used to rank and categorize the agility, adaptability and alignment enablers.

This study identified ten agility, adaptability and alignment factors for start-ups. It has been found that the key importance should be given to management involvement, conflict management, collaboration and information integration.

This study primarily focused on the agility, adaptability and alignment factors in start-ups.

This study will help academics and key stakeholders understand the aspects that lead to agility, adaptability and alignment in start-ups.

Agility, adaptability and alignment concepts have had a major influence on the supply chain, but their implementation in start-ups has been less visible. Therefore, this is a novel attempt in this industry’s agility, adaptability and alignment.

This study aims to examine the effects of Internet of Things (IoT) technology on efficiency and patient care in Italian and Israeli intensive care units (ICUs). The goal is to study how IoT might improve care settings by controlling health dynamics and responding to life-threatening circumstances.

This survey-based research explores IoT use, challenges and adaptability in ICUs in both countries. Interviews and surveys of ICU health-care workers are used to get both quantitative and qualitative data on integrating experiences and perspectives.

The research found significant variations between Italy and Israel due to technology infrastructures and health-care practices. Israel shows a more concentrated deployment in a major medical centre with advanced but limited uptake, whereas Italy shows application throughout ICUs highlighting regional health-care system disparities. Interoperability, data security and IoT training are common difficulties.

This research has limitations. One drawback is the geographical dispersion of study sites, with a bigger sample size in Italy than in Israel. This discrepancy may affect findings applicability. However, these preliminary findings provide a foundation for further research into the complexities of deploying IoT in various health-care settings.

This study compares IoT integration in two national health-care systems, adding to health-care technology literature. Regional variations affect technology adoption, but IoT may enhance ICU operations and patient care, according to one research. This study helps health-care practitioners, academics and policymakers understand the pros and cons of IoT in health care.

Integrated care (IC) is mainly studied from the perspectives of organisations or employees. However, less research is focussed on how patients themselves experience person-centred (PC) IC in practice. This context-specific, small-scale study examines what PC-IC means to older patients who went through joint replacement surgery (JRS).

The data consists of ten in-depth interviews of older patients, focussing on their experiences of care during their patient journey related to joint knee or hip replacement surgery. The data were analysed with thematic analysis.

Three central dimensions of PC-IC for older patients were identified: information sharing, continuity of care and compassionate encountering. Human validation and compassionate encountering were experienced as important aspects of PC-IC. Compassionate encountering was concretised through professionals’ very small everyday practices, which made the patient feel comfortable and respected. Instead, probably due to the medical and quite straight-forward nature of the joint replacement care process, patients seem to be pleased to trust the expertise of professionals and did not necessarily expect an active role or participation in the decision-making.

This Finnish case study focusses on the patients’ authentic perceptions of what is central to person-centred IC in the specific context of JRS.

This study aims to evaluate the association between ethnic minority membership and their knowledge about their human health rights in Peru.

A secondary analysis of the National Health User Satisfaction Survey 2015–2016 was conducted using an analytical cross-sectional design. Participants who spoke Quechua, Aymara, Awajun, Bora or a language other than Spanish aged 15 year were considered as a racial minority. The question “Do you know that by law you have health rights?” was applied to incorporate knowledge on health rights. Generalized linear models of the Poisson distribution were used to calculate crude prevalence ratio and adjusted prevalence ratio. A total of 3,721 responses were included in the analysis.

The average age was 38.3 year, and 26.6% were males. The prevalence of belonging to an ethnic minority was 7.7%, and 27.6% of the participants did not know about their health rights. An association was found in the adjusted regression analysis between belonging to an ethnic minority and a greater probability of not knowing human health rights.

The value of the works lies in one in four participants who did not know he had health rights by law. Belonging to an ethnic minority was associated with not knowing about having human health rights.

This study aims to assess the prevalence of burnout among undergraduate medical and health science students and to identify the factors associated with its development.

A cross-sectional study was conducted involving students from Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Science University. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey was used to evaluate three subscales of burnout. Ethical considerations were met, and informed written consent was obtained from participants. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between demographic, personal and school environment factors and burnout.

Out of 453 students surveyed, the majority were females (74.8%) aged 18–20 years (60%). Significant levels of burnout were reported, with emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment affecting over half of the participants (69%). Factors such as being in the clinical years, long-distance commuting challenges and involuntary college selection were identified as predictors of burnout.

While the study provides valuable insights, limitations may include the specific context of the university and potential biases in self-reported data.

The findings underscore the importance of raising awareness, maintaining work-life balance and implementing coping strategies to support student well-being and foster a positive learning environment. Suggestions include time management and seeking guidance from mentors or mental health professionals.

This study contributes to the understanding of burnout among medical and health science students, especially within the unique context of the United Arab Emirates, given the convergence of students from diverse nationalities and cultural backgrounds.