School of Nursing

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The School of Nursing evolves with the latest research and needs of the healthcare sector. Our research focuses on advancing knowledge to improve patient outcomes and recovery.

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Evaluating the Suitability of the Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression for Māori in Forensic Mental Health Services in New Zealand: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Enhanced by Aspects of Participatory Action Research
(SAGE Publications, 2025-10-07) Kim, Amy; Adrian, Colette; McKenna, Brian
In New Zealand, service users who are Māori (Indigenous people of New Zealand) comprise roughly half of the population in forensic mental health services (FMHS). An actuarial risk assessment instrument, the Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression (DASA) has been introduced to reduce the risk of imminent inpatient aggression, which is prevalent in such services. The current study is a qualitative descriptive design, enhanced by aspects of participatory action research, to evaluate the suitability of the DASA for Māori from a Māori perspective. Two hui (a Māori gathering) were held with seven Māori nurses and a Māori cultural advisor from a FMHS. The first hui (n = 7) explored Māori perspectives on the strengths, limitations and suitability of the DASA for Māori, and the second hui (n = 6) reflected on appropriate adaptations to the measure. The findings of this study confirmed support for using the DASA with Māori. However, five recommendations were made for adaptations for cultural enhancement. Such cultural enhancement would require further refining with Māori cultural advisors and psychometric testing to ensure the validity and reliability of the DASA for Māori.
Evaluation of the Aspiring Deans Leadership Development Program in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand
(College of Nurses Aotearoa - NZ - Inc, 2025-08-28) Neville, Stephen; Napier, Sara; Langford, Megan; East, Leah; Strickland, Karen; Adams, Jeffery
The global demand for registered nurses outstrips supply. The sustainability of the registered nurse workforce is exacerbated by a global shortage of suitably qualified faculty to educate the next generation of nurses and midwives. The Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery (Australia & New Zealand) (CDNM) provides leadership to academics who deliver higher education to nurses and midwives. To support succession planning, the CDNM launched the inaugural Aspiring Deans Leadership Development Program (ADLDP) in 2020. The purpose of the ADLDP was to provide mentorship to academic nurses and midwives aspiring to be the next generation of academic leaders. A pragmatic qualitative study was undertaken to assess the quality, impacts and key success factors and provide insights and empirical evidence to CDNM executive on how the ADLDP could be strengthened in the future. The findings indicate the ADLDP was effective in contributing to leadership development and career advancement. Programme activities increased leadership confidence. Networking between current leaders and aspiring nursing and midwifery leaders was a highlight. Challenges for both mentees and mentors included planning dedicated time for scheduled meetings. Recommendations to consider for strengthening future programmes were provided to the CDNM including more opportunities to meet face-to-face, build continuous improvement into the ADLDP and to explore how Indigenous nurses and midwives are supported in academia and leadership. The findings provide empirical evidence in the under-researched area of nursing leadership development and contributes to a global need for a resilient and sustainable academic workforce to support and educate future nursing and midwifery graduates. Te Reo Māori Translation: He Aromātai i te Kaupapa Whakawhanake i te Hunga e Whai nei kia Tū hei Kaihautū Mātauranga i Ahitereiria me Aotearoa Ngā Ariā Matua Kei runga kē noa atu te hiahia o te ao ki tēnei mea te tapuhi rēhita i te maha o ngā tapuhi e puta ake ana. Nā te korenga o te kāhui kaiako whai tohu mātauranga tōtika hei ako i tērā whakatupuranga o ngā tapuhi, me ngā kaiwhakawhānau hou o muri ake, i raru ai te toitū o te ohu kaimahi tapuhi rēhita. Ka mahi nui te Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery (Ahitereiria & Aotearoa) (CDNM) ki te hora tikanga ārahi ki ngā kaiako e hora nei i te mātauranga tiketike ki ngā tapuhi me ngā kaiwhakawhānau. Hei tautoko i te whakakīnga whāwhārua, i whakarewaina e CDNM te Kaupapa Whakawhanake i te Hunga e Whai nei kia Tū hei Kaihautū Mātauranga (ADLDP) i te tau 2020. Ko te whāinga o te kaupapa he hora kaiakopono ki ngā tapuhi me ngā kaiwhakawhānau e anga nei kia eke hei kaihautū pūmātauranga i roto i te whakatupuranga hou. I whāia tētahi rangahau ine kounga ngāwari o ngā ritenga mahi hei aromatawai i te kounga, i ngā pānga me ngā pūtake o te whāinga hua, hei hora māramatanga, taunakitanga whai take hoki ki te kāhui whakahaere o CDNM mō te kaupapa, me pēhea hoki e whakapakaritia ai ā tōna wā. E waitohu ana ngā kitenga he whai take te kaupapa hei hora i te ārahitanga i ngā kaihautū me te ahunga whakamua o te ara mahi o te tangata. Nā ngā mahi o te kaupapa i piki ake ai te māia o ngā kaihautū. He mea ātaahua te whakawhanaunga i waenga i ngā kaihautū o nāianei me ngā kaihautū kaiwhakawhānau. Ko ētahi o ngā pīkauranga mō ngā ākonga me ngā kaiakopono ko te whakamahere wā motuhake tōtika mō ngā hui i āta whakaritea. Ko ētahi o ngā tūtohu mō te whakapakari i ngā hōtaka mō ngā wā e tū mai nei i horaina ki CDNM kia whānui kē atu ngā whāinga wā mō te tūtaki ā-kanohi, te hanga whakapikinga ake ki roto i te hōtaka, me te tūhura me pēhea e tautokona ai ngā tapuhi iwi taketake me ngā kaiwhakawhānau ki te ao mātauranga me ngā mahi hautū tikanga. Nā ngā kitenga nei ka horaina mai he taunakitanga mō tēnei āhuatanga kāore anō kia tino rangahaua, o te hautū tikanga, ka takohatia hoki he āwhina mō te hiahia o te ao whānui ki tētahi ahumahi mātanga rangahau pakari, toitū hoki hei tautoko, hei ako hoki i ngā pia tapuhi, pia whakawhānau hoki, mō ngā rā kei mua i te aroaro.
Embracing Creativity in Child and Youth Health Research: Using Participatory Video to Engage Young People in Rights-based Research [Editorial]
(Elsevier BV, 2024-08-06) Neufeld, Michael; Ripley, Paul
Being Participatory with Videography
(Springer, 2024-03-16) Neufeld, Michael Todd; Ripley, Paul
Social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok are powerful distribution networks for stories and ideas and an integral aspect of many (if not most) young people’s lives. Participatory video (PV) methods offer a collaborative framework for working with young people to help them express their interests and perspectives within digital storytelling spaces. Reaching young people in ways that many traditional research methods cannot, PV helps young people analyse their experiences and communicate their ideas and insights on things that affect them. By promoting the collective identification of important patterns within their stories, PV can elicit nuanced narratives and promote shared understandings through digital media. These shared understandings develop not only between adults and young people, but also between participants and other young people alike. The ability for PV to convey deeper truths and understanding makes it a powerful tool for change. Using “The Creating Space Project: Youth Voice in Healthcare” as an exemplar, this chapter explores the advantages and challenges of undertaking PV projects with young people. The authors offer specific techniques, resources, and advice that facilitate collaboration with young people to identify the health issues most important to them. The videos produced through PV can be used to amplify the participants’ ideas about what should be done to resolve the issues they have identified.
Pediatric Nurses' Perspectives of Integrating Spiritual Care Into Everyday Practice: An Integrative Review
(Elsevier BV, 2026-06-09) Htay, YMH; Foster, M; Mowat, R
Aim: To explore nurses' perspectives regarding children's spiritual care in pediatric healthcare settings. Background: Spiritual care is a fundamental source of comfort and healing and an essential component of nursing practice. However, pediatric nurses often lack the competence and confidence to incorporate spiritual care into their clinical routines. Despite its importance, the perceptions and practices of pediatric nurses across various clinical specialties regarding spiritual care remain underexplored in current literature. Methods: The integrative review methodology was chosen to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of the literature. Four electronic databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus and Google Scholar) were used to search for relevant manuscripts. These studies were critically appraised by the three nursing academics using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, Version 2018. Themes were subsequently generated following Braun and Clarke's (2022) thematic analysis framework. Results: Eight manuscripts were selected. Thematic analysis generated three themes: spiritual care practices, barriers to spiritual care and nurses' inner spirituality. Conclusion: Providing spiritual care is a fundamental element of holistic care. Nurses achieve this by respecting family values, culture, rituals, traditions and facilitating opportunities for spiritual expression, however many nurses experience a sense of incompetence in delivering spiritual care. Barriers such as heavy workloads and insufficient formal education impair the effective delivery of spiritual care. Implication to practice: Healthcare organisations should provide structured training and clear guidelines to help nurses deliver culturally sensitive and age-appropriate spiritual care. Supporting nurses' spiritual well-being also requires a committed, system-wide approach to foster resilience and a supportive work environment.
Implementation of Non-Medical Prescribing by Therapeutic Radiographers: Views of Prescribers and Service Managers in Devolved UK Health Systems
(Elsevier BV, 2026-05-25) Crowther, K; McFadden, S; Carey, N; Edwards, J; Hughes, C
Introduction: Workforce shortages and rising demand have increased interest in advanced practice (AP) and task redistribution in healthcare. In radiotherapy, non-medical prescribing by therapeutic radiographers (NMP-TRs) may improve medicines management and symptom control. However, adoption varies due to governance, leadership, culture and regulation. Differences in legislation, prescribing models and implementation timelines across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (N.I.) create variable conditions for role enactment and sustainability. This study explored the experiences of NMP-TRs and radiotherapy managers regarding the implementation and impact of the role in Scotland, Wales and N.I. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven NMP-TRs and six radiotherapy service managers across Scotland, Wales and N.I. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, with interpretation using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and Diffusion of Innovations theory as sensitising lenses. Results: Four overarching themes were identified: implementation and governance; preparation for the prescribing role; advantages and impact of NMP-TR; and disadvantages and constraints. NMP-TR was associated with medicines optimisation, continuity of care, delays in symptom management and service responsiveness. Prescribing authority supported professional autonomy, legitimacy and workforce retention. However, implementation was fragile and uneven, constrained by limited training capacity, banding and funding restrictions, legislative variability and reliance on prescriber cohorts. Professional identity work and emotional labour were prominent during transition into prescribing roles, particularly in early adopter sites. Conclusion: NMP-TR represents a workforce innovation capable of enhancing patient care and service efficiency. In devolved health systems, sustainable implementation depends on coordinated system level alignment across legislation, governance, leadership and organisational culture. Implications for practice: Successful integration of NMP-TR roles requires support beyond individual qualification, including governance, protected training capacity and clear pathways to strengthen sustainability and maximise impact.
Workplace Violence Casts a Long Shadow [Editorial]
(Pasifika Medical Association Group, 2026-05-08) Ardagh, M; Richardson, S
Tauiwi (Settler) Visioning an Antiracist Health System for Aotearoa Before the National-led Coalition Government
(University of Otago Library, 2025-08-15) Came, Heather; Kidd, Jacquie; Rae, Ngaire; Badu, Emmanuel; Rigby, Garrick; McCreanor, Tim
In Aotearoa, systemic ethnic inequities are longstanding and fuelled by the intergenerational impacts of colonisation and systemic racism. Our health system disadvantages Māori (the Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa) while Pākehā (white settlers) are advantaged. This paper addresses a literature gap by describing a Tauiwi (settler) vision of an antiracist health system. It is a companion piece to a Māori-led paper on the same topic. An exploratory qualitative design, informed by kaupapa Māori research, drew on three virtual wānanga (learning spaces) with twenty-eight Tauiwi health practitioners, activists and academics held in November 2021. A reflexive thematic analysis then generated four themes: i) honourable kāwanatanga and decolonisation; ii) building antiracism infrastructure; iii) understanding privilege and power; and iv) a shared commitment to transformation. Participants described a Tiriti o Waitangi-based health system as just, culturally safe, holistic, and well-being focused. Transforming the health system requires Indigenous leadership and the engaging of settler hearts, heads and hands in solidarity with those targeted by racism.
Performance of Large Language Models on Nursing Licensure Examinations: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
(Elsevier BV, 2026-05-12) Amankwaa, I; Odoom, A; Kasim, A; Kobiah, E; Diebieri, M; Boateng, EA; Gyamfi, S; Hales, C
Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the performance of large language models (LLMs) in nursing licensure examinations. Despite the increasing use of LLMs in healthcare education, their capabilities in nursing licensure examinations remain uncertain. This study provides evidence on the accuracy and limitations of LLMs to help guide their integration into nursing education and licensure. Design: The systematic review and meta-analysis adhered to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Data sources: PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMCARE, and ERIC were searched from April to June 2025. Eligibility criteria: Studies were eligible if they evaluated LLMs (e.g., GPT-4, ChatGPT, Qwen-2.5) using multiple-choice nursing licensure questions under exam-like conditions and reported quantitative accuracy. Open-ended items were excluded from the meta-analysis due to incompatible scoring methods, but were narratively synthesised. Review methods: Two reviewers independently screened, extracted data, and appraised the risk of bias. A random-effects meta-analysis estimated pooled accuracy; subgroup and meta-regression analyses explored heterogeneity. Results: Twelve studies assessed 13,870 MCQs across seven exam systems and ten LLMs. Pooled accuracy was 69.6% (95% CI: 65.6–73.6%) with substantial heterogeneity (I² = 98%). GPT-4 outperformed GPT-3.5 (77.2% vs. 60.4%); domain-customised and newer models reached 93.6%. LLMs excelled in general medicine and pharmacology but underperformed in ethics and psychosocial integrity. Accuracy did not differ significantly by exam system (p = 0.14), question difficulty (p = 0.90) or format (p = 0.96). In meta-regression, Custom GPT (p = 0.0006) and Qwen 2.5 (p = 0.026) were the only significant predictors of higher accuracy; no exam system, question format, or difficulty level reached significance. Methodological variability and underreporting of model parameters were common. Conclusions: LLMs show promise for low-stakes educational applications, such as formative assessments within hybrid teaching models; however, they are unsuitable for unmoderated, high-stakes licensure decisions due to inconsistent performance. Regulatory guidelines, equitable access, and nursing-specific model development are needed to ensure fairness and validity. Research must prioritise standardised frameworks, error analysis, and broader geographic representation to address these limitations.
Validating a Parental Trauma Informed Approaches Scale in Low-Income Countries Using the Rasch Model
(Elsevier, 2025-10-16) Efstratopoulou, M; Opoku, MP; Tsingilis, N; Nur, S; Gyimah, EM; Moustafa, A
Low-income countries, such as Bangladesh, Egypt and Nepal, are experiencing enormous social problems, such as poverty, violence and extremism, which can expose children to trauma. However, the literature on parental awareness of trauma-informed approaches is very limited, possibly due to the lack of a reliable instrument for continuous data collection on parental knowledge regarding the onset of trauma and the best management strategies. The overarching aim of this study was to thoroughly validate the parental trauma identification and management scale (PTIMS), a newly developed tool for trauma-informed approaches, using data collected from parents in three low-income countries. A total of 750 parents from three low-income countries (Bangladesh, n = 300; Egypt, n = 205; Nepal, n = 245) shared experiences of poverty and social problems that could increase their children's vulnerability to trauma. The parents completed the PTIMS, which was translated into the first language of each of the studied countries and subjected to validation using item response theory. Multivariate analysis of variance was computed to understand the differences between participants. Rasch analysis yielded appropriate psychometric properties for the PTIMS. For example, the outfit mean square and infit mean square values of all 33 items ranged from 0.878 to 1.124 and from 0.910 to 1.096, respectively. The multivariate analysis of variance revealed differences between participants in some demographic variables, such as country, age, employment status and school type. The PTIMS is a valid instrument for gathering surveillance data on trauma awareness among parents, who are important stakeholders in efforts to create trauma-informed schools in low-income contexts.
ICIRAS: Research and Reconciliation With Indigenous Peoples in Rural Health Journals
(Wiley, 2022-07-20) Lock, MJ; McMillan, F; Warne, D; Bennett, B; Kidd, Jacquie; Williams, N; Martire, JL; Worley, P; Hutten-Czapski, P; Saurman, E; Matthews, V; Walke, E; Edwards, D; Owen, J; Browne, J; Roberts, R
Aim: We aim to promote discussion about an Indigenous Cultural Identity of Research Authors Standard (ICIRAS) for academic journal publications. Context: This is based on a gap in research publishing practice where Indigenous peoples' identity is not systematically and rigorously flagged in rural health research publications. There are widespread reforms, in different research areas, to counter the reputation of scientific research as a vehicle of racism and discrimination against the world's Indigenous peoples. Reflecting on these broader movements, the editorial teams of three rural health journals—the Australian Journal of Rural Health, the Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine, and Rural and Remote Health—recognised that Indigenous peoples' identity could be embedded in authorship details. Approach: An environmental scan (through a cultural safety lens where Indigenous cultural authority is respected, valued, and empowered) of literature was undertaken to detect the signs of inclusion of Indigenous peoples in research. This revealed many ways in which editorial boards of Journals could systematically improve their process so that there is ‘nothing about Indigenous people, without Indigenous people’ in rural health research publications. Conclusion: Improving the health and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples worldwide requires high quality research evidence. The philosophy of cultural safety supports the purposeful positioning of Indigenous peoples within the kaleidoscope of cultural knowledges as identified contributors and authors of research evidence. The ICIRAS is a call-to-action for research journals and institutions to rigorously improve publication governance that signals “Editing with IndigenUs and for IndigenUs”.
Organizational Innovation in Long Term Care Enabled by Collaboration Between Government Agencies: A Critical Realist Case Study
(SAGE Publishing, 2023-01-13) Shannon, Kay; Neville, Stephen
Long term care for older people is a highly regulated sector providing accommodation, health, and social care to vulnerable older adults. Older adults in New Zealand are among the highest users of long term care services globally. Traditionally those requiring specialist care for dementia are housed apart from other residents. In an example of organizational innovation, 1 provider relocated residents to a secure village where residents requiring specialist dementia care would be desegregated. We utilized a critical realist case study to explain the role of intersectoral collaboration among government agencies in supporting the transition while managing risk and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Evaluating Adherence to COVID-19 Quarantine Protocols at Two International Ground Crossings in Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR
(BMC, 2026-02-20) Xaylovong, Khamsamay; Adjei-Gyamfi, Silas; Pongvongsa, Tiengkham; Moji, Kazuhiko; Aiga, Hirotsugu
BACKGROUND: Border surveillance measures, including health screening and mandatory quarantine for travelers, are critical components of global pandemic response strategies. In Lao PDR, however, no known study has assessed the performance of the quarantine system, which was designed to protect the health of both citizens and incoming travelers, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and in preparation for future outbreaks. This study therefore evaluates adherence to the national COVID-19 quarantine protocols at two ground crossings (Vietnam-Laos and Thailand-Laos) in Savannakhet Province during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 380 registered adult incoming travelers who entered Lao PDR via Dansavanh-Lao Bao border or Second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge between April 2020 and March 2021. Data were extracted from point-of-entry registers, provincial hospital records, and quarantine facility registers. Overall quarantine performance (OQP) was defined as completion of the Lao PDR national quarantine protocol. Binary logistic regression was employed to identify the factors associated with OQP completion. RESULTS: Of the 380 incoming travelers, 277 (72.9%; 95%CI 68.2-77.1) completed the full quarantine procedures. Body temperature screening was conducted for 348 individuals (91.6%), with 13 (3.7%) presenting with fever ≥ 37.5 °C and referred for further screening. Among 335 incoming travelers directed to quarantine facilities, 264 (78.8%) completed the 14-day quarantine. Multivariate analysis revealed that female incoming travelers were significantly more likely to complete quarantine procedure than males (aOR: 1.84; 95%CI 1.14-2.96; p = 0.013). Those who traveled into the provinces other than Savannakhet had higher odds of quarantine completion (aOR: 1.78; 95%CI 1.49-3.26; p = 0.042). CONCLUSION: Based on locally defined indicators, the quarantine system achieved OQP rate of 72.9% which reflects an acceptable level of compliance. Gender and destination province were significant predictors of adherence. Enhancing communication strategies and standardizing strict quarantine procedures could improve border surveillance and preparedness for future public health emergencies.
Establishing Standards of Care for Forensic Mental Health: An International Delphi Consensus-building Study
(Frontiers Media SA, 2026-04-16) Leclair, Marichelle; Imbeault, Arianne; McKenna, Brian; Nicholls, Tonia; Crocker, Anne; Thomson, Lindsay
OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to establish a consensus on a definition of forensic mental health systems and services, and to identify principles and components of forensic mental health systems. METHODS: A Delphi consensus-building process was employed among 23 experts in forensic mental health, defined by lived experience of forensic mental health services, professional, clinical or management practice in forensic settings, or academic research in the field. Items were rated on a 9-point Likert scale, with consensus defined as ≥75% of panelists rating an item between 7 and 9. Across three Delphi rounds, items were revised, merged, or added based on participant feedback. Data were collected anonymously using LimeSurvey, with reminders sent to maximize participation, followed by a structured consensus meeting to resolve remaining areas of disagreement. RESULTS: The final consensus statement comprises three components: (1) a definition of forensic mental health services; (2) a general statement including 12 guiding principles; and (3) 43 core components organized across 10 thematic domains addressing models of care, pathways and processes, programs and activities, physical health, service user and peer involvement, evaluation and improvement, service integration, safe environments, restrictive practices, and other system-level considerations. While all items achieved consensus at the consensus meeting, areas of sustained discussion related to the integration of cultural expertise, the inclusion of a lived experience workforce, and the distinction between descriptive and aspirational elements of forensic mental health services. CONCLUSIONS: This international consensus statement provides a structured framework for understanding forensic mental health systems. By articulating shared principles and core components while allowing flexibility across jurisdictions, the framework offers a foundation to support service development and evaluation across diverse jurisdictions.
Towards Promoting Innovation in Inclusive Education: Behavioural Intention of Teachers Towards Adopting AI to Teach Students with Learning Disabilities in the UAE
(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2026-01-13) Zraydi, F; Opoku, MP; Guirguis, BM; Ndijuye, LG; Gyimah, EM
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education offers significant potential for identifying and supporting all students, including those with learning difficulties. Although discussions on the potential of AI to advance the learning of students are ongoing, AI usage among teachers to leverage it in the teaching of students with learning disabilities in nonwestern contexts, such as the United Arab Emirates, is unresearched. The study was guided by a unified theory of acceptance and use of technology to examine teachers’ intentions toward adopting AI tools to enhance educational outcomes for students with learning disabilities in the UAE. Using a quantitative research approach, a structured survey was completed by 244 teachers from both public and private schools. The data were subjected to analyses, such as structural equation modelling, to test the structural validity of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology. Moreover, confirmatory factor analysis, means, multivariate analysis of variance and path analysis were computed to explore the variables that impact the behavioural intentions of teachers. The findings provide support from instruments used to measure intentions towards AI. While social influence positively predicts intention, effort expectancy makes a negative but significant contribution to the variance in intention (social influence: β =.32; effort expectancy: β = −.26, R² = 0.14). The implications of the study for AI policy development and teacher development are discussed.
“I will advocate for rehabilitation specialists…”: A Secondary Analysis of In-Service Adolescents with Disabilities and Families’ Recommendations to Enhance Rehabilitation Access in Ghana
(Wiley, 2026-01-20) Gyimah, EM; Dassah, E; Nuri, RP; Okyere, FC; Opoku, MP
Background: Despite supportive national policies in respect of healthcare access, in-service adolescents with disabilities and their families in Ghana still face key barriers in accessing rehabilitation services. The aim of this study is to identify and understand recommended solutions from in-service adolescents with disabilities and their families to improve access to rehabilitation services in Ghana. Methods: The study is a secondary analysis of data set from a previous qualitative study with 45 participants (consisting of 25 adolescents with disabilities and 20 families of adolescents with disabilities). We collectively analyzed the data thematically in combination with elements of a grounded theory approach. Results: We identified four key recommended solutions from the analysis. These are (i) affordable rehabilitation services, (ii) availability of services, (iii) protection of human rights, and (iv) greater awareness of rehabilitation services. Overall, participants’ recommended solutions related to policies and practices that can potentially improve access to rehabilitation services for adolescents with disabilities in Ghana and similar contexts. Conclusion: Participants’ recommended solutions have important implications for rehabilitation service provision and policy decision-making. As such, there is an urgent need to involve in-service adolescents with disabilities and their families in the development and implementation of rehabilitation interventions to meet the specific and unique needs of adolescents with disabilities. This may advance Ghana’s efforts towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Rehabilitation and, ultimately, the Sustainable Development Goal 3.
Exploring the Attitudes Toward Climate Change and Pro-Climate-Change Behavior Among People With Sensory Disabilities in the Middle East and North Africa
(Informa UK Limited, 2026-04-07) Opoku, MP; Gyimah, EM; Alnuaimi, A; Frimpomaa, L; Sallam, A; Mansour, K; Mustafa, A
Global ecosystems, including those of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, are severely threatened by the climate crisis. However, there are limited studies on climate change awareness among people with sensory disabilities, especially as climate change affects them as they navigate their daily activities. Guided by Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior, 542 participants with sensory impairments in the MENA region completed the Awareness of Climate Change and Pro-Environmental Behavior Willingness Questionnaire. We performed confirmatory factor analysis and multivariate analysis of variance to understand the influence of demographics on awareness and behavior. The instrument demonstrated robust validity and reliability, with appropriate fit indices and mean scores indicating participants’ ambivalence toward awareness and pro-climate-change behaviors, as well as notable demographic variations. The findings underscore the need for targeted education and climate change activism, as prescribed by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
How Does Pre-Registration Child Specific Education Prepare Newly Qualified Nurses’ to Care for Children, Young People, and Their Families? An Empty Narrative Review
(Informa UK Limited, 2026-04-23) Carey, Matthew; Edge, Danielle; Blamires, Julie; Foster, Mandie; Neill, Sarah
This narrative review investigates the influence of child-specific content within pre-registration nursing programs on newly qualified nurses’ perceptions of preparedness to care for children, young people, and their families. Despite international recognition of the specialised competencies required for pediatric nursing, the proportion and quality of child-focused education across Higher Education Institutions is not clear. The Population, Exposure, Outcome framework provided a comprehensive search strategy applied across eight databases to identify relevant studies that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of 663 records identified, 451 were screened and 25 full texts were assessed for eligibility by two reviewers. No studies met the eligibility criteria, resulting in an empty review. Although no empirical evidence could be synthesized, the absence of eligible studies is itself a notable finding. Empty reviews are becoming increasingly recognized within structured review methodology as scientifically meaningful contributions. An empty review can highlight areas where assumptions are made without evidence and where systematic research is urgently needed. In our review, the lack of studies reveals a critical and previously uncharted gap in the literature. Although authors acknowledge that a strict inclusion criteria may narrow the field for capturing relevant studies. Rather than representing a failure of the review process, the empty review demonstrates that the research question has not been empirically investigated despite longstanding concerns about adequacy of children’s nursing education. Empty reviews aid researchers to identify gaps in the evidence base and to identify where research is needed. They can ensure that policy or curriculum reform is not based upon untested beliefs. Empty reviews offer guidance for researchers, educators and healthcare providers on future research. By confirming through a robust and comprehensive search strategy that no eligible evidence exists, this empty review strengthens the case for dedicated studies exploring the relationship between curriculum content and preparedness outcomes. It highlights the need for empirical work before evidence‑based recommendations on child‑specific content can be made. In this sense, the empty review is not a negative result but an important and constructive contribution, drawing attention to a neglected but vital area of nursing education research.
Who Cares for the Carers? A Holistic Approach to Teacher Wellbeing in a Tribal Head Start Context
(Teachers College Press, 2026-02-27) Gourneau, Hilary; Brockie, Teresa N.; Wilson, Deborah H
Introduction: Often, our focus when investigating the stress and well-being of teachers is on how it affects the students they teach. It’s true that a teacher’s levels of stress, depression, and well-being affects the socio-emotional and academic development of the children, not to mention students often come to school with physical, mental, social, learning difficulties, or trauma, that teachers can be ill-supported in handling. However far less time and resources have been spent on valuing teachers as individuals who themselves need psychological support and resources to optimize their own health and well-being. Methods: Through a research-practice partnership between the Fort Peck Native American Reservation, Fort Peck Head Start and Johns Hopkins University, USA we implemented a culturally informed intervention focused solely on the teachers, to support their well-being and find ways to help them manage and decrease stress and depression. Results: By focusing on re-connection to culture, healing historical and contemporary traumas perpetrated by colonizing practices and normalizing traditional cultural practices we supported a process of healing. Discussion: This presentation discusses what has followed on from the research study. We describe the process of building morale, improving partnerships between Tribal Head Start administration and staff as we navigate reconnection to our Native American culture, put supports in place to mitigate the harmful effects of colonization such as addiction, suicide, poverty and poor physical health. Conclusion: Focusing on our Sovereignty, rich cultural heritage, connection to land, relatives and the Creator is enabling a flourishing and healing in our teachers.
Envisioning Auckland 2050: Insights from Emerging Scholars for a Thriving Future
(AUT Graduate Research School, and Te Mātāpuna: AUT Library, 2026-03-24) Nagalingam, Jayanthi
Kia ora and welcome to the latest edition of Rangahau Aranga. This edition marks the journal’s first issue dedicated to the theme “Auckland 2050”. As a fellow doctoral student, I am delighted to contribute to the editorial for the first issue of 2026, highlighting the work of postgraduate researchers whose scholarship explores how Auckland and Aotearoa New Zealand might evolve and flourish in the decades ahead. Together, these contributions offer diverse perspectives on the opportunities and challenges shaping our shared urban future. To begin with, a brief context, the Auckland Plan 2050, developed by the Auckland Council, is the region’s long-term spatial plan designed to guide growth in ways that respond to future opportunities and pressures. The plan outlines Auckland’s current state, identifies major challenges, and sets a strategic direction to ensure the city remains a place where people want to live, work, and visit (Auckland Council, 2018). This issue builds on that vision by presenting research that engages with themes such as urban design and architecture, social geography and demographics, cultural identity in urban spaces, environmental sustainability, wellbeing, and artificial intelligence (AI). Submissions for this edition were received as research summaries and one research overview, with three projects adopting participatory or co-design approaches. Yang Guo examines how AI is reshaping journalism and newsroom ethics. Focusing on Channel 33, a television station serving Auckland’s Chinese community, the study uses ethnographic methods to explore how AI tools influence reporting practices, editorial decision-making, and public discourse. The research raises critical questions about whether AI will ultimately supplement or replace journalistic expertise and highlights the ethical dilemmas that arise as newsrooms integrate automated systems into their workflows. Khulani Dube draws on experiences from the DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe) programme in Zimbabwe. Coordinated by Zimbabwe Health Interventions (ZHI), the DREAMS initiative aims to reduce HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women through various prevention and support services. Using a reflective, practice-based approach, Khulani discusses the practicalities of implementing Community-Led Monitoring (CLM), emphasising the importance of stakeholder engagement, simplifying monitoring tools, and involving communities in co-designing data collection mechanisms. The findings underscore the value of empowering communities to collect, analyse, and interpret their own data, strengthening advocacy and accountability. The research also acknowledges the structural and operational challenges of CLM. Importantly, the lessons from DREAMS offer insights that could be adapted to the New Zealand context, particularly in addressing health inequities, improving mental health and wellbeing among vulnerable populations, and designing inclusive, community-owned service delivery systems. Sarah Bodmer and Cath Conn present research of vital importance to the future healthy cities agenda by creating a collaborative space for university students to envision sustainable urban futures. Conducted as a summer project, the research involved a co-design workshop with four university students and a student researcher. The study highlights the potential of serious games, especially world-building games, to foster creative, interdisciplinary thinking about complex urban challenges such as climate change, overpopulation, and social disconnection. Participants imagined solutions including eco-bubbles, arcologies, improved transport systems, and free community-based services. Their ideas reflected values such as Kaitiakitanga (Māori environmental guardianship), demonstrating how Indigenous perspectives can enrich future city design. The authors argue that youth-led co-design and serious games should be embedded in policy development processes to ensure young people’s voices shape long-term sustainability and health strategies for cities like Auckland. Cassie Wang, Cath Conn, and Julie Trafford address how Auckland’s emerging smart-city systems can support healthy ageing among Asian communities. Using a co-design methodology that blends creative participation with policy analysis (Berg & Gulden, 2012; Sanders & Stappers, 2014), the researchers developed an adapted World Café method called the “World Teahouse”. This culturally resonant format brings together older Asian adults (aged 55+), policymakers, service providers, and technology actors to share stories, ideas, and aspirations in both English and heritage languages (Brown & Isaacs, 2005). By foregrounding the experiences of Asian older adults' voices, which are often absent from ageing and digital health discussions, the study positions healthy ageing as a shared act of design. The authors envision a 2050 Auckland that is not only smart but wise: a city where ageing means becoming more connected, and where every generation sees its future reflected with dignity and hope. Collectively, the research presented in this edition demonstrates the depth, creativity, and commitment of postgraduate scholarship focused on shaping a thriving, inclusive Auckland. Each contribution offers unique insights into the opportunities and challenges ahead, enriching our understanding of what it means to design a city for all. Thank you to everyone (contributors, reviewers, editors and the entire team of Rangahau Aranga) who have made this issue possible. I hope this issue inspires continued dialogue and collaboration as we work toward a vibrant Auckland of the future.

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