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Background: The UK National Health Service (NHS) is one of the largest employers in the world and employs around 360,000 registered nurses. Following a protracted pay dispute in December 2022 NHS nurses engaged in industrial action resulting in the largest nurse strikes in the 74-year history of the NHS. Initially it appeared these strikes were a direct consequence of pay disputes but evidence suggests that the situation was more complex. This study aimed to explore what the key factors were in driving UK NHS nurses' decision to strike. Methods: A convergent parallel mixed methods design was used. The study was conducted throughout the UK and involved participants who were nurses working for the NHS who voted in favour of strike action. Data collection involved the use of an online survey completed by 468 nurses and 13 semi-structured interviews. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for quantitative data analysis and a process of inductive thematic analysis for the qualitative data. The quantitative and qualitative data were analysed separately and then integrated to generate mixed methods inferences. Results: The quantitative findings showed that patient safety, followed by staff shortages, pay, and unmanageable work demands were the most important factors encouraging nurses' decision to strike. The qualitative findings served to further the understanding of these factors particularly in relation to participants' perception of the NHS and the consequences of inadequate pay and staff shortages. Three overarching and overlapping themes represented the qualitative findings: Save our NHS, Money talks, and It's untenable. Integration of the findings showed a high level of concordance between the two data sets and suggest that the factors involved are interconnected and inextricably linked. Conclusions: The UK NHS is a challenging and demanding work environment in which the well-being of its patients is dependent on the well-being of those who care for them. Concerns relating to patient welfare, the nursing profession and the NHS played a large part in driving UK NHS nurses' decision to strike. In order to address these concerns a focus on recruitment and retention of nurses in the NHS is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This initial article delves into the methodology, methods and theories, while the subsequent article will centre on the discoveries, discussion and conclusion. The study aimed to address the research question: how do men perceive their engagement in the self-management of non-cancer-related lymphoedema? An interpretivist qualitative methodology was employed, utilising an online survey based on the validated lymphoedema quality of life tool (LYMQoL). The data underwent inductive narrative inquiry. The study incorporated theories such as hegemonic masculinity and the health, illness, men and masculinities (HIMM) framework. The findings will be detailed in the second article in this series. This article has delineated the objective, methodologyand methods, employing a qualitative interpretivist approach through narrative inquiry. The study incorporated masculinity theories, including hegemonic masculinity and HIMM. The second article will present the findings and their significance within the broader literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore longer-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and participation outcomes and goals of children and young people (CYP) with acquired brain injuries (ABI) and their families in a region of the UK and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cross-sectional survey of (5-18 CYP) and their parent-carers 12–43 months following ABI. Included measures of HRQoL, participation, family function and parental wellbeing and demographic and free text questions. Ninety-five responses (30% response) were received. 67% of CYP were at risk of impaired HRQoL, 72% had severely impaired participation. 53% of parent-carers reported reduced HRQoL and family functioning, 37% of parent-carers screened positive for anxiety/depression. Relationships exist between CYP participation and HRQoL and parental HRQoL and family functioning. Goals were overwhelmingly activity and participation focused. Participants described the global impact of an ABI on the CYP and family as well as the additional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CYP and family wellbeing. ABI significantly impacts CYP participation and both CYP and parent-carer wellbeing in the long-term, potentially further impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Rehabilitation interventions should address both participation and the psychological wellbeing of CYP with ABI and their parent-carers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate how distributed leadership via the Shared Governance programme influences employee engagement, empowerment, job satisfaction and turnover intentions among direct care nursing staff in a large UK hospital. Background: Increasing turnover rates and shortages of health care staff in the UK has called for interventions to improve employee engagement and job satisfaction. Methods: 116 direct care nursing staff were sampled in a mixed‐methods explanatory sequential design. A maximum variance sample of 15 participants were subsequently interviewed to gain a deeper understanding of the motivations and attitudes that influenced employee outcomes through distributed leadership. Results: Higher levels of distributed leadership predicted increased employee engagement and job satisfaction, and lower turnover intentions. Staff also felt more empowered and committed to the organisation despite some challenges experienced in implementing the Shared Governance programme. Conclusion: Distributed leadership was found to be beneficial in promoting employee engagement and empowerment, increasing job satisfaction and organisational commitment and reducing turnover intention in the UK health care setting. Implications for Nursing Management: By encouraging the practice of distributed leadership at work, health care staff can become more engaged and empowered, leading to higher rates of job retention, job satisfaction and organisational commitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: this article shares findings from a service evaluation exploring the views of patients relating to the specialist sexual function education and information provided following a spinal cord injury. Background: education optimises patients' involvement in their own decision-making and care processes, with the aim of promoting adherence to agreed plans, reducing the risks of post-injury complications, promoting independence and improving quality of life. Sexual function is a well-known quality-of-life indicator and it has been widely documented that it is not well addressed following spinal cord injury. A previous service evaluation exploring education provided to patients with spinal cord injury identified the need for improved provision of sexual function education/information. As a result, weekly 1-hour sessions focused on sexual function for up to three patients of the same sex were held, facilitated by a clinical nurse specialist. The sessions had an open forum structure. They were initially designed to discuss thoughts and feelings around intimacy and sex after a spinal cord injury, but focused on group members' requests. In addition, patients were offered a one-to-one session where the 'mechanics' of sex could be discussed in further detail. Design and methods: a service evaluation used a questionnaire survey to collect data from a purposive convenience sample of spinal cord injury patients. Data were collected between July and September 2018. Participants completed a locally designed paper questionnaire, which included Likert-style questions and space to add free text comments. Descriptive analysis of the data was used. Results: survey results suggest that the newly formed sexual function education session is positively evaluated in terms of usefulness and all attendees to date would recommend this session to other patients. Conclusions and recommendations: following completion of data analysis, findings will inform the further development of sexual function education, with a particular focus on tailoring it to the patient and reducing the stigma around talking about sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are no published empirical research studies exploring transgender people's experiences of seeking and receiving counselling or psychotherapy outside of gender identity clinics within the UK. As a result, counsellors know little about why transgender people seek counselling, who they seek counselling from, and what their experiences are of receiving counselling. Aim: To address this gap in the literature, this study investigated transgender people's experiences of seeking and receiving counselling or psychotherapy outside of gender identity clinics within the UK. Funding for this study was provided by a BACP Seedcorn grant. Method: A mixed method small‐scale qualitative research design was employed, comprising an online survey and five semi‐structured interviews. Findings: Participants tended to seek counselling on two or more occasions and received between 2 and 12 sessions. Participants sought counselling for common psychological concerns as well as gender identity and coming out issues. A fear of being discriminated against and exploring gender for the first time were significant barriers in seeking help. Participants reported mixed experiences of counselling but valued a therapeutic relationship in which they felt affirmed, listened to and understood. Discussion: The findings from this study mirror aspects of previous research conducted in the USA concerning transgender clients' experiences of counselling. However, these findings point to the importance of recognising the potential vulnerability transgender clients experience when seeking counselling and the need for therapists to develop greater awareness, knowledge and competence regarding working with transgender clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]