Aim: This study aimed to determine factors that influence the nursing workforce shortage and their impact on nurses.Design: This study applied a systematic review design.Methods: Using Cochrane library guidelines, five electronic databases were systematically searched (Research 4life—PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL) from 2010–2021. The remaining articles with pertinent information were presented in a data extraction sheet for further thematic analysis. A Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis Flow Diagram was adopted and used. The studies published from 2010–2021 and in English language were examined and included in the systematic review.Results: Four themes were identified as factors influencing the nursing workforce shortage, including Policy and planning barriers, Barriers to training and enrolment, Factors causing nursing staff turnover and Nurses' stress and burnout. Nursing workforce shortage is a global challenge that roots in multiple causes such as individual, educational, organizational and managerial and policy‐making factors.

Background: With evolving health care industry toward patient centered orientation, inputs from the patients' perspective is valuable. Improved patient satisfaction is associated with increased levels of adherence to treatment processes and recommended prevention, and improved health outcomes. Hence, this study was conducted to assess the current level of patient satisfaction and explore its determinants in the Suva Subdivision health centers, Fiji, 2018. Methods: This was a mixed method cross-sectional study employing both quantitative and qualitative designs. A random sample of 410 participants attending the outpatient services completed the self-administered structured questionnaire. The questionnaire focused on socio-demographic features, waiting time, doctors' communication, and patient trust. Data from 375 questionnaires (response rate of 91%) was analyzed in SPSS where descriptive analysis and univariate and multivariate logistic regression was done at 0.05 level of significance and 95% confidence interval to find the determinants of patient satisfaction. From these 375 participants, 20 participants were purposefully selected for audio recorded interview guided by a semi-structured questionnaire and data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: The majority of the patients were generally fully satisfied with their consultation (69.3%). Univariate logistic regression showed that age, gender, education level, waiting time, doctors' communication behavior, and patient trust level were significantly associated with patient satisfaction independently. After controlling for all the variables, gender, number of visits, waiting time, and patient trust were significantly associated with trust. Those who had full trust in the doctors, were more likely to be fully satisfied with their consultation (aOR of 18; p = 0.0001) and those who got seen within 1 h, were more likely to be satisfied with their consultation (aOR of 3.3; p = 0.0001). Though, the patients voiced that getting a satisfying consultation was worth the wait. The doctors' attitude and way of communication also made a difference to the patient's level of satisfaction. Conclusions: This study showed that patient satisfaction is positively associated with patient trust, doctors' interpersonal skills and communication behavior and negatively associated with waiting time. Hence, doctors upgrading their communication skills and health service managers strategizing ways to improve waiting time can contribute to better patient trust and thus lead to better patient satisfaction and positively influence health outcomes.

Immunization against common childhood diseases is an important strategy as it is critical for reducing the global child morbidity and mortality. This review explores the perceptions of parents and HCWs toward childhood immunization. The PRISMA guideline was used to search and include the studies. Relevant electronic databases were systemically searched for the years ranging from 2000 to 2021 to identify studies reported in English. Themes were then identified using thematic analysis. A total of 44 studies met the review criteria and were summarized and categorized into 4 themes: barriers to immunization, parental knowledge, attitude and behavior (KAB), health system factors and HCWs’ KAB. This review found that immunization decision-making is a complex process. Parental KAB leads to immunization decisions. HCWs were also noted to be the trusted sources of immunization information. Further research can be conducted on how to improve parents’ perceptions of immunization and immunization practices.

Historically, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) are disproportionately affected by disasters. In Pacific Island Countries (PICs), the risks and vulnerabilities of PwDs arise from social inequalities, as well as environmental barriers. As the frequency and intensity of disasters will increase over the next decade, it is critical that the challenges faced by PwDs are addressed and that they are prepared. This study explores disaster preparedness, perceptions, and experiences with disasters among PwDs in Tuvalu. This qualitative study was carried out among people with physical and sensory disabilities and without post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), who are aged 21 and above. Using grounded theory methodology, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 24 participants, with 7 then participating in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD). A total of 31 PwDs participated, of which 65% were male and 35% female, with a mean age of 44 ±15.70. The results showed how the PwDs ability to prepare, their perceptions, and experiences with disasters have contributed to their resilience to disasters. This study highlights the importance of understanding PwDs lived disaster experience to improve their preparedness and resilience for future disasters. This knowledge will assist government and non-government organisations, communities, and families to develop policies and plans that will enhance the preparedness of PwDs for disasters.

From a clinical perspective, effective and efficient communication is part of a strategy to ensure doctors are providing high-quality care to their patients. Despite the positive impact of effective doctor–patient communication on health outcomes, limited information is available on this in Fiji. This study was carried out to determine the current patients’ perception of doctors’ communication behaviour and identify factors affecting the doctor–patient communication in Fiji. This mixed-method study was conducted in the outpatient setting of three randomly selected health centres in the Suva Subdivision, Fiji. For the quantitative phase, systematic random sampling was used to select the 375 participants who completed the structured questionnaire; of those, 20 participants were selected for the qualitative interview. From the patients’ perception, 45.6% of them perceived doctors’ communication behaviour as good, 53.6% as fair, and 0.8% as poor communication behaviour. Qualitative findings highlight factors such as the attitude of the doctors, their approach, their interaction with the patients, and them providing an explanation as important factors during doctor–patient communication. In Fiji, the majority of patients perceived doctors’ communication behaviour as fair to good and the doctors’ skills were important for effective doctor–patient communication. This study highlighted the importance of doctor–patient communication and suggested that doctors might not be practicing patient-centred care and communication; thus, they need to upgrade their patient-centred communication skills.

Background. Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) remains a challenge globally. This study aims to gauge the perceptions of parents towards the delivery of SRH education in mainstream public secondary schools in Fiji. Methods. The qualitative study design was used to collect the data from parents in Suva, Fiji, from July to August 2018. A semistructured questionnaire was developed to run Focus Group Discussion (FGD) among parents residing in Suva who had school-attending children from years 11 to 13. Parents were recruited from five schools with the help of students. Twenty-six parents of which 10 were males, aged between 38 and 65, participated in this study. Consent was obtained from each participant prior to the data collection stage. Data collected were transcribed verbatim and were analyzed thematically. Ethical approvals were obtained before collecting the data. Results. Seven themes emerged which included the provision of school-based sex education, parental involvement with school-based sex education, sex education at home, age-appropriate incremental sex education, ethnic variations regarding sex education, barriers and facilitators for the delivery of school-based sex education, and perceived ideal version of sex education. Conclusions. Findings from this study suggest for policy and programs to match parents, schools, and students’ expectations. Effective interventions need to involve and help parents to take a more active part to change policy, program, and advocacy for relevant SRH education.