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The National Health Service (NHS) Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is a comprehensive initiative in the United Kingdom aimed at preventing type 2 diabetes (T2DM) among individuals with prediabetes. The NHS DPP emphasizes early intervention and underscores the potential for preventing or delaying T2DM. Currently, it operates since 2015 at 44 geographically defined sites, serving an estimated annual volume of 200,000 patients. This narrative review evaluates the NHS DPP. A literature search, adhering to the Participants, Concept, and Context review framework, was conducted in various databases and sources, limited to the period from 2015 to 2023. Data were categorized based on publication date, study type, program indicators, and focus areas, forming the framework for the review discussion. The review search yielded a total of 18,357 articles, of which 45 were included, with a predominant focus on program effectiveness. The NHS DPP demonstrates strengths in risk reduction and cost-effectiveness but faces challenges related to fidelity and the needs of diverse populations. The review highlights the importance of evidence-based service delivery, stakeholder engagement, and digital innovation in future DPP programs. While a centralized approach provides structure, local flexibility is essential to cater to population-specific needs. This review underscores the importance of strategic planning, political support, partnerships, and robust data collection in DPP implementation. It recommends targeting high-risk individuals, intensive lifestyle interventions, and embracing digital solutions for program delivery. Ongoing research, including analysis of long-term data and user perspectives, will further enhance the evidence base for DPP programs worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac rhythm interpretation and management are key skills required by nurses to practise safely in a monitored care environment. However, the Fraser Health (FH) region in British Columbia (BC) reportedly has considerable variation in the skill levels of nurses to identify and manage dysrhythmias. Differences in content and scope, as well as employer requirements for cardiac rhythm training programs contribute to this variation. The purpose of this educational program development project was to assess the status and need for dysrhythmia training in nurses within FH, and then to develop, implement, and evaluate a program for dysrhythmia competency and education. The goal of this regional program was to set a minimum standard of knowledge required for safe nursing cardiac monitoring practice. Initial outcomes suggest healthy participation rates. Implications for nursing practice include the potential for more accurate and timely identification of cardiac dysrhythmias, which in turn may improve patient care and safety outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mortality rates of women suffering from an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are high, and in young women are on the rise. The goal of this review is to investigate what is known about women's experience of AMI symptoms. By exploring the complexity and intersections evident in the literature though an integrative literature review process, it becomes apparent that the problem involves deeper contextual influences arising from women's situation in society. Key findings in this review suggest that not recognizing the risk or symptoms of an AMI can lead to delayed health care seeking behaviours, and warrants the need for further education. Awareness of these findings has implications for women's health outcomes and mortality rates. This review adds value to clinical practice by reifying the potential gaps in knowledge currently available to women and health care providers, and suggests filling these gaps with new more inclusive ways of knowing surrounding this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "The Practical Side of Research" in the October 2015 issue.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of teaching in a nursing school and traits related to the condition of healthcare organizations in Great Britain, United States and Canada.