Population aging has emerged as one of the most important demographic transformations of the twenty-first century, fundamentally altering healthcare delivery, workforce requirements, and long-term care systems worldwide. As life expectancy increases and fertility rates decline, healthcare professionals are increasingly required to address the complex and multidimensional needs of older adults. Geriatric and gerontological nursing have consequently evolved into specialized disciplines that integrate biological, psychological, social, cultural, and environmental dimensions of aging. This review examines the historical development of geriatric and gerontological nursing, theoretical foundations of aging, epidemiological trends, and contemporary challenges associated with population aging. The review further explores how evolving concepts such as healthy aging, functional ability, person-centered care, and agefriendly health systems have transformed nursing practice. Evidence indicates that gerontological nursing is transitioning from a diseaseoriented paradigm toward a holistic framework emphasizing resilience, autonomy, quality of life, and maintenance of function. Understanding the historical evolution and conceptual foundations of the specialty is essential for addressing future healthcare demands associated with rapidly aging populations. Keywords: geriatric nursing, gerontological nursing, healthy aging, population aging, frailty, older adults, healthy ageing, nursing science
Background Burnout is increasingly recognized as a significant occupational health concern among nursing students worldwide. Despite growing evidence of its adverse academic and psychological consequences, Saudi-specific prevalence estimates remain inconsistent, and no previous synthesis has quantitatively pooled findings from this population. Aim This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of burnout and its three core dimensions, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment among undergraduate nursing students in Saudi Arabia, and to synthesize associated risk and protective factors. Methods A comprehensive systematic search was conducted across five electronic databases, PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL Complete, Scopus, and Web of Science, from February to April 2026. Observational studies employing validated burnout measurement instruments and conducted among undergraduate nursing students in Saudi Arabia were eligible for inclusion. Methodological quality was independently appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) prevalence checklist. A random-effects meta-analysis with a variancestabilizing transformation was used to estimate the pooled prevalence, and heterogeneity was quantified using the I² statistic. This review was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD420261320297). Results Six studies (N = 1,851 participants) met the inclusion criteria; four reported overall burnout (N = 1,298). The pooled prevalence of overall burnout was 43% (95% CI: 20%–67%). Reduced personal accomplishment was the most prevalent dimension (59%), followed by depersonalization (52%) and emotional exhaustion (41%). Heterogeneity was extremely high across all outcomes (I² > 95%). Narrative synthesis, guided by the Job Demands–Resources (JDR) framework, identified academic workload, clinical placement stress and maladaptive coping strategies as significant risk factors. In contrast, resilience, adaptive coping and self-efficacy emerged as protective factors. Conclusion Burnout is prevalent and multidimensional among nursing students in Saudi Arabia, with nearly half affected. These findings underscore the need for theory-informed, multi-level interventions that address both academic demands and personal resources. The limited number of eligible studies restricts subgroup analysis and publication bias assessment, highlighting the urgent need for methodologically rigorous primary research in this region. Keywords burnout; nursing students; academic stress; Saudi Arabia; meta-analysis; systematic review; Job Demands–Resources; prevalence
Background: The emergence of bacterial pathogens and their associated resistance to antibiotic therapy is one of the most serious public health concerns threatening today’s society, including Saudi Arabia’s intensive care units (ICUs). Aim: This study used a systematic review to explore the antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the intensive care units (ICUs) in Saudi Arabia. Methods: The review adhered to the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 guidelines. The search was limited to studies published within 13 years between 2010 and 2023 through CINAHL, Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Results: Fifteen studies were reviewed: 12 were retrospective, 1 was comparative historical, 1 was descriptive epidemiologic and 1 was a surveillance study. Most frequently isolated antibiotic-resistant bacteria were Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacter. These pathogens were found resistant to various antibiotics including methicillin, tazobactam, cilastatin, meropenem, tigecycline, imipenem, meropenem, piperacillin, colistin, penicillin, ampicillin, oxacillin, vancomycin, carbapenems, amoxicillin, ceftriaxone, amikacin, gentamicin, clindamycin, azithromycin, levofloxacin, nitrofurantoin, trimethoprim, cefuroxime, ciprofloxacin, aztreonam, and cefotaxime. Conclusion: To eradicate future infection outbreaks of K. pneumonia, P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii, and other antibiotic-resistant pathogens in Saudi Arabia’s ICUs, comprehensive surveillance programs, strict infection control and prevention guidelines, and stringent implementation of proactive antimicrobial stewardship program are warranted. Keywords: antibiotic; antibiotic-resistant bacteria; intensive care unit; Saudi Arabia
Background: Sickle cell diseases (SCDs) are inborn and catastrophic processes on vascular endothelium, particularly at the capillaries. Methods: All patients were included. Results: We studied 222 males and 212 females with similar mean ages (30.8 vs 30.3 years, p>0.05, respectively). Beside digital clubbing (14.8% vs 6.6%, p<0.001), smoking (23.8% vs 6.1%, p<0.001), alcohol (4.9% vs 0.4%, p<0.001), transfused red blood cells (RBCs) in their lives (48.1 vs 28.5 units, p=0.000), disseminated teeth losses (5.4% vs 1.4%, p<0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (25.2% vs 7.0%, p<0.001), ileus (7.2% vs 1.4%, p<0.001), cirrhosis (8.1% vs 1.8%, p<0.001), leg ulcers (19.8% vs 7.0%, p<0.001), coronary heart disease (CHD) (18.0% vs 13.2%, p<0.05), chronic renal disease (CRD) (9.9% vs 6.1%, p<0.05), and stroke (12.1% vs 7.5%, p<0.05) were all higher, and autosplenectomy (50.4% vs 53.3%, p<0.05) and mean age of mortality were lower in males, significantly (30.2 vs 33.3 years, p<0.05). Conclusion: The hardened RBCs-induced capillary endothelial damage initiates at birth, and terminates with multiorgan failures even at childhood. Parallel to digital clubbing, all of the atherosclerotic risk factors or consequences including smoking, alcohol, disseminated teeth losses, COPD, ileus, cirrhosis, leg ulcers, CHD, CRD, and stroke were higher, and autosplenectomy and mean age of mortality were lower in males which can not be explained by effects of smoking and alcohol alone at the relatively younger mean age. So autosplenectomy may be a good whereas male gender alone may be a bad prognostic factor, and digital clubbing may have an atherosclerotic background in SCDs. Key words: Sickle cell diseases, hardened red blood cells, capillary endothelial damage, capillary endothelial edema, sudden deaths, atherosclerosis, digital clubbing
While the bombing of Gaza and the resulting loss of civilians continues, I urge the international community to stop the war now, protect civilians (including health-care workers), lift the 16-year blockade on Gaza immediately, and allow international aid to enter Gaza to support the health-care system that has already collapsed.
