King's Fund

Core collections have been produced by CILIP's Health Libraries Group, then called the Library Association's Medical Section, since 1952. Maintained by a Working Group of health librarians based in the UK NHS, higher education and specialist libraries, the collections provide an up-to-date curated list of reliable titles essential to health libraries. The core collections currently include nursing, midwifery, medicine and dentistry. The newest core collection is being developed in collaboration with the African Hospital Libraries to provide a list of key resources relevant to sub-Saharan Africa. Expressions of interest to help develop this latest collection are invited.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Sussex-Oxford Compassion for Others Scale (SOCS–O) in a large sample of Spanish undergraduate nursing students.MethodAfter a forward–backward translation process, we conducted a cross-sectional study among nursing students in their first year of training at two Spanish universities. The mean age of the participants (n = 683) was 22.74 years old, and 83.46% were women. Together with compassion for others, mindfulness was also assessed.ResultsDescriptive results revealed high scores across all dimensions of the SOCS–O. The data supported a 3-factor structure with correlated factors (χ2(167) = 363.47, p < 0.01; CFI = 0.96; TLI = 0.95; RMSEA = 0.05, 90% CI = 0.04, 0.05; SRMR = 0.04). Reliability estimates, measured by Cronbach’s alpha, were excellent, ranging from 0.87 to 0.93. Measurement invariance across gender was confirmed. Men exhibited significantly lower levels in all compassion dimensions: Recognizing suffering (mean difference = − 0.40), Understanding the universality of suffering (mean difference = − 0.33), and Behavioral compassion (mean difference = − 0.57) (all p < 0.01). The structural equation model showed a clear relationship between mindfulness and compassion (χ2(581) = 1345.79, p < 0.01; CFI = 0.92; TLI = 0.92; RMSEA = 0.04, 90% CI = 0.04, 0.04; SRMR = 0.06).ConclusionsThe findings showed that the Spanish version of the SOCS–O has robust psychometric properties. The SOCS–O is a reliable tool for measuring compassion with three subscales and helps advance understanding of compassion among student nurses. The positive relationship between mindfulness and compassion suggests that incorporating mindfulness training into nursing curricula could enhance the delivery of compassionate care.PreregistrationThis study was not preregistered.

Insufficient and above WHO-recommended levels of iodine intake during pregnancy can lead to serious health outcomes. This study aimed to assess median urine iodine concentration and its associated risk factors among pregnant women in the Mbeya region, Tanzania. A cross sectional survey involving 420 pregnant women (n=420) aged 15-49, registered in Reproductive and Child Health Clinics was conducted. Socio-demographic and dietary factors were assessed by structured questionnaire and the urine samples were analyzed using the ammonium persulfate digestion method. Median urinary iodine concentration (mUIC) was 279.4μg/L and it ranged from 26.1 to 1915μg/L. Insufficient mUIC (below 150μg/L) was observed in 17.14% of participants, sufficient mUIC was 24.29% and 58.57% had mUIC above the recommended level (>250μg/L). Sample women who reported consuming fish in the last 24 hours had an increased risk of insufficient mUIC [Adjusted OR= 2.60 (95%CI 1.31-5.15)] while the risk was lower for those who attended at least primary education [AOR= 0.29 (CI 0.08-0.99)]. Further, sample women resident in Mbarali district, in the oldest age group (35-49) and having a higher socio-economic status were associated with an increased risk of having MUIC above recommended level [AOR=4.09 (CI 1.85-9.010], [AOR=2.51 (CI 0.99-6.330] and, [AOR=2.08 (CI 0.91-4.71) respectively. This study demonstrated a significant association between geographical, age and socio-economic factors and median urine iodine concentration above the WHO-recommended level. Further, this study found association between inadequate iodine in diet and insufficient median urine iodine concentration. Therefore, educational programs on iodine intake should be strengthened.

BackgroundEthnic minority groups in England have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and have lower vaccination rates than the White British population. We examined whether ethnic differences in COVID-19 mortality in England have continued since the vaccine rollout and to what extent differences in vaccination rates contributed to excess COVID-19 mortality after accounting for other risk factors.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective, population-based cohort study of 28.8 million adults aged 30–100 years in England. Self-reported ethnicity was obtained from the 2011 Census. The outcome was death involving COVID-19 during the second (8 December 2020 to 12 June 2021) and third wave (13 June 2021 to 1 December 2021). We calculated hazard ratios (HRs) for death involving COVID-19, sequentially adjusting for age, residence type, geographical factors, sociodemographic characteristics, pre-pandemic health, and vaccination status.ResultsAge-adjusted HRs of death involving COVID-19 were elevated for most ethnic minority groups during both waves, particularly for groups with lowest vaccination rates (Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Black African, and Black Caribbean). HRs were attenuated after adjusting for geographical factors, sociodemographic characteristics, and pre-pandemic health. Further adjusting for vaccination status substantially reduced residual HRs for Black African, Black Caribbean, and Pakistani groups in the third wave. Fully adjusted HRs only remained elevated for the Bangladeshi group (men: 2.19 [95% CI 1.72–2.78]; women: 2.12 [1.58–2.86]) and Pakistani men (1.24 [1.06–1.46]).ConclusionsLower COVID-19 vaccination uptake in several ethnic minority groups may drive some of the differences in COVID-19 mortality compared to White British. Public health strategies to increase vaccination uptake in ethnic minority groups would help reduce inequalities in COVID-19 mortality, which have remained substantial since the start of the vaccination campaign.

Abstract Adopting an ethnographic approach, this paper analyses the interpretation, application and consequences of the most relevant tool for the protection of victims’ rights in the European Union – the so-called Victims’ Rights Directive (Directive 2012/29/EU). The analysis is grounded on multi-sited fieldwork that includes 106 in-depth interviews with professionals working with victim support in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Spain. The results unravel the perspectives and experiences of the professionals working on the ground and the uneven implementation of the Directive across the EU and in highly diverse contexts. The analysis shows the tensions and deficits in its implementation that are inseparable from the social construction of the ‘ideal victim’ that informs the prioritising of support. This paper will evidence how the ‘hierarchisation of victims’ is echoed in the unequal transposition and implementation of the Directive throughout the EU, from law enforcement agencies to prosecution, courts and victim support.

Abstract Global perspectives on the pathways for developing capacity for conservation remain limited. Hindering the robustness of solutions is a dearth of opportunities to foster discussion and dialogue among capacity development practitioners, academics, partners, beneficiaries and donors. Additionally, little is known about donor perspectives on capacity development, and about pathways to developing a more sustainable investment in capacity development for conservation. The 2019 Capacity Building for Conservation Conference in London, UK, provided a unique opportunity to convene more than 150 capacity development practitioners from the global conservation community. The Conference included structured opportunities to hear donor perspectives on strengthening capacity development. Session leaders took detailed notes to document donor perspectives and the discussions around them. A thematic analysis of this empirical evidence resulted in the identification of four key themes with corresponding recommendations, consisting of (1) collaborative design of capacity development initiatives, (2) monitoring and evaluation, (3) longer-term and flexible investments, and (4) building strong relationships between donors and grantees. Given the Convention on Biological Diversity is currently drafting the long-term strategic framework for capacity development post-2020, and global calls to protect significant portions of our land- and seascapes, our recommendations are timely and may inform a way forward.