Globally, the demand for qualitative research has risen, driven by the health sector’s need for in-depth investigation of complex issues behind any phenomenon that may be inadequately comprehended and that other research methods cannot explore, uncover, or describe. The authors aimed to improve the accessibility and comprehensiveness of reporting guidelines for qualitative research. A comprehensive review of scientific articles was conducted on PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, and Embase, and it retrieved 1989 articles plus 13 more articles through the snowball method. After screening, 17 key articles were identified, which led to the development of Comprehensive Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research that comprises 14 categories, offering key elements in an organized table. This novel guideline complements the two widely used guidelines, Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research and Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research, by including additional aspects like objectives, existing knowledge, rationale behind methodologies, conclusions, recommendations, and reference citations. The study responds to the rising need for improved qualitative research reporting guidelines in global health.

Background: Family members caring for people living with mental illness (PLWMI) are prone to grapple with caregiver burden. The caregivers often contend with a decline in their mental and physical well-being while executing their role. This exploration aimed to understand the needs of family caregivers of PLWMI. Aim: An integrative review was conducted to analyse the existing literature on the needs of family caregivers for PLWMI. Method: The review adhered to the instructions provided by Toronto and Remington, drawing upon the guidance of Whittemore and Knafl. The search used four electronic databases: PubMed, African journals, EBSCOhost and Scopus. After screening 3253 references, 18 studies (10 qualitative, 4 quantitative and 4 mixed methods) were included. Results: The review identified various needs of PLWMI caregivers, including the need for support (financial, social, peer and psychological), psychoeducation, community acceptance of family caregivers, and comprehensive family caregiver health assessments. Conclusion: This review recognises the significance of addressing the needs of the caregivers of PLWMI to alleviate the impact of caregiver role strain. Promoting nursing care that recognises the importance of caregiver-oriented practice in healthcare is essential. This can help address the needs of the caregivers, enhance their ability to cope with caregiver role strain and promote a better quality of life. Contribution: This review may inform policymakers to ensure the need for mental health practice to demonstrate knowledge in caring for caregivers of PLWMI. Furthermore, there is a need to integrate the management of PLWMI with that of the caregivers.

Background: Substance use relapse is a significant obstacle that hinders the success of addiction treatment and recovery for youths struggling with substance use challenges. The economic and social impacts of substance use and relapse in young people are a cause of concern worldwide; Botswana is not an exception. Objective: The study aimed to explore and describe the perceptions of youth substance users regarding the prevention of relapse in Lobatse, Botswana. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted, following an exploratory, descriptive, and contextual research design. In total, 15 participants were selected using a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using semi-structured questions, and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: Data analysis yielded two themes and subthemes. The first theme was on the perceptions of youth substance users on the causes of substance use relapse. The second theme was on the perceptions of youth substance users on the prevention of substance use relapse. Conclusion: The study showed that substance use relapse can be caused by psychological challenges, social problems, societal issues, and healthcare barriers. Our study suggests that to abate relapses to substances, interventions should encompass individual, social, and community dimensions of a substance user’s life. Furthermore, there should be healthcare interventions geared towards relapse prevention.

Caregivers frequently encounter significant role strain as they care for family members dealing with substance use and addiction issues. This burden encompasses profound emotional exhaustion and a sense of helplessness as they observe their loved ones grappling with addiction and experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Additionally, family caregivers face financial strain due to the steep costs associated with treatment and rehabilitation. They may also bear the financial repercussions of debts or losses incurred from the actions of the individual with the substance use problem. Despite playing a vital role, these caregivers – often family members – face substantial psychological and social hurdles, particularly in environments where stigma is widespread. As a result, families affected by addiction endure considerable emotional strain, which is further exacerbated by a lack of supportive resources, stigma, and limited access to mental health services.

Background: The abrupt start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted educational systems globally, including nursing education institutions (NEIs). Teaching and learning in academic institutions were disturbed because of strict legislation measures, like lockdowns, that were implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19. These measures affected the quality of teaching and academic attainment. Aim: This study aimed to explore and describe the experiences of nurse educators regarding teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic at a NEI in the North West province (NWP). The study was conducted at a selected NEI, which comprises two campuses that are 178.1 km apart. Method: A qualitative descriptive phenomenology approach was used. The nurse educators were purposively sampled, and 25 nurse educators participated in this study. Four focus group discussions (FGDs) were held to collect data through face-to-face semi-structured interviews. The data analysis followed Colaizzi’s seven-stage process. Results: Three themes emerged from data analysis: positive experiences and negative experiences regarding teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, and strategies for overcoming the challenges experienced by nurse educators during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: The study findings revealed that nurse educators experienced positive and negative challenges regarding teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, there is a need for NEIs to employ teaching and learning innovations, including the use of technology, to be able to divert to online teaching and learning during future pandemics where face-to-face teaching is halted. Contribution: The study findings may provide valuable insights for policymakers in higher education institutions (HEIs) to develop policies that incorporate innovative teaching methods. These methods will be relevant for future pandemics that may disrupt traditional face-to-face teaching and learning. As an enhancement of existing teaching practices, innovative approaches have proven to be effective and contribute to more inclusive education. By adopting these methods, HEIs can better support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4, which aims to ensure quality and equitable education for all.

The requirement for in-depth exploration of complex issues beyond the scope of other research methods in the health industry has increased the demand for qualitative research globally. The authors aimed to improve the accessibility and comprehensiveness of reporting guidelines for qualitative research. A comprehensive review of scientific articles was conducted on PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, and Embase, and it retrieved 1989 plus 13 more articles through the snowball method. After screening, 17 key articles were identified, which led to the development of Comprehensive Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research that comprises 14 categories, offering key elements in an organized table. This novel guideline complements the two widely used guidelines, Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research and Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research, by including additional aspects like objectives, existing knowledge, rationale behind methodologies, conclusions, recommendations, and reference citations. The study responds to the rising need for improved qualitative research reporting guidelines in global health.