Background: Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the proliferation of fake news and an infodemic has highlighted the necessity to enhance health literacy, particularly among school-aged children in the concrete operational phase of cognitive development. However, current health literacy studies predominantly focus on the adult population and overlook COVID-19 prevention protocols. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of COVID-19 prevention education utilizing interactive comic and animated videos on the health literacy of school-aged children in Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Methods: The study employed a quasi-experimental research design with pretest-posttest nonequivalent control groups conducted from July to November 2021. Non-random sampling was utilized to select elementary schools and students, resulting in seventy-eight respondents. Health literacy was assessed using the modified 22-item Indonesian version of the Health Literacy Scale of COVID-19. Data analysis employed the Wilcoxon test. Results: Significant improvements in children’s health literacy were evident within the intervention group from pretest to posttest (p = 0.046, p <0.05). Conversely, no significant change was observed within the control group post-intervention. Furthermore, comparable pre-intervention health literacy levels were noted across both groups, with a modest increase post-intervention, suggesting the intervention’s potential to enhance health literacy, albeit to a limited extent. Conclusion: The research highlights the significance of focused health education for school children, particularly in preventing COVID-19. Incorporating interactive media such as animated videos and comics in school programs can improve health literacy. Policymakers need to invest in creating and sharing engaging health education materials working with schools, communities, and parents. Moreover, integrating artificial intelligence-driven personalized learning platforms may be possible to enhance information delivery, enabling children to confidently address health issues in the digital era. These findings may also guide post-pandemic health education approaches, ensuring children are informed and ready for future health challenges.

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Background: Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) in Lanao del Sur, Philippines, face ethical dilemmas shaped by the Meranao cultural value of ‘Maratabat,’ which emphasizes family honor and dignity. Understanding these cultural nuances is crucial for improving emergency medical care and addressing the ethical challenges encountered by EMTs in this region. Objective: This study aimed to explore the ethical dilemmas experienced by EMTs in disaster management settings, particularly how cultural values shape their decision-making processes. Methods: A phenomenological design was utilized. Eight EMTs working at the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Lanao del Sur, Philippines, were purposefully selected to participate. Data were collected from 31 January 2024 to 1 February 2024 through in-depth interviews, and thematic analysis was employed for data analysis. Results: Key themes emerged, including navigating complex dilemmas, adhering to organizational protocols, influential factors impacting EMTs’ capacity to handle ethical dilemmas in emergency services, and coping strategies for EMTs in addressing the psychological burden from ethical dilemmas in emergency care. The concept of ‘Maratabat’ greatly affects EMTs’ ethical decision-making processes, guiding their actions in the field. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of cultural values, organizational backing, and coping mechanisms in effectively enabling EMTs to address moral quandaries in their professional roles. Institutional support, a positive organizational culture, and continuous education are essential in assisting EMTs in making informed decisions amid ethical dilemmas. These findings have implications for interventions and strategies to support EMTs as frontline providers of emergency medical services, enhancing patient care quality during crises.

This narrative review article aims to describe the issue of stunting in Indonesia, a condition from chronic malnutrition that impairs children’s growth and development. With a stunting prevalence of approximately 30% among children under five, this problem is a critical concern for policymakers and healthcare providers. The article also reviews various interventions, including programs to enhance nutrition, promote breastfeeding, and improve sanitation. By assessing these existing interventions, health policy strategies and service management enhancements are proposed to reduce stunting rates. It underlines the necessity of a comprehensive approach integrating cross-sector collaboration and community engagement to achieve lasting solutions. The insights provided are crucial for policymakers to refine and enhance intervention strategies, aiming to lessen the long-term health impacts and improve children’s well-being in Indonesia.

The human race is forced to engage in a very rapid adaptation process whenever it is confronted with technological change in any sphere of life. The unabated progress of artificial intelligence (AI) has also impacted the field of critical thinking. It is fascinating that critical thinking, an essential component of intellectual intelligence in nursing, seems to be disrupted by an artificial brain-alike machine that can automatically analyze and synthesize a series of contexts. This has been an improvisation of ideas of intellectual intelligence for a very long time. Perspectives on both sides of the coin bring up interesting questions about the role that AI will play in the future, such as whether it will disrupt the critical thinking skills of nurses or whether it may be engaged as a tool to increase the critical thinking skills capability, especially in the fields of nursing care.

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Background: Effective pain management for adolescents is essential because it significantly affects their quality of life and can prevent the development of chronic pain. Although there have been advancements in this field, managing pain effectively remains challenging, highlighting the need for innovative approaches that combine technology with clinical practice. Objective: This study aimed to assess adolescents’ pain management knowledge and evaluate the effectiveness of the PASHA (Pain Assessment Stimulation and Healing Application) in reducing pain intensity among adolescents. Methods: A combination of a cross-sectional design (N = 461) and one group pretest-posttest approach (N = 60) were employed in a Junior High School at Bukittinggi, West Sumatera, Indonesia. Data were collected from June to August 2022 using the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) to assess pain management knowledge and the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) to measure pain intensity. The intervention involved using the PASHA application for three days, with pain intensity assessed before and after. Descriptive statistics and Paired t-test were used for data analysis. Results: Headaches were the most prevalent pain type among adolescents (60.5%). Many adolescents lacked adequate knowledge about pain management (57.7%) and self-medication practices (49.2%). Massage/acupressure therapy was the most recognized pain management strategy (39.1%), while aromatherapy was the least known (4.8%). The PASHA application significantly reduced pain intensity (Mean difference = 0.567, p <0.001). Conclusion: Adolescents had moderate knowledge gaps in pain management, particularly in chronic pain and non-pharmacological strategies. The PASHA application effectively reduced pain intensity, suggesting its potential to enhance pain management outcomes. Future research is necessary to validate the findings.

Background: Children in rural communities face significant health challenges due to environmental hazards and limited access to healthcare. Understanding their immune resilience and parental perspectives is crucial for addressing health disparities in such contexts. Objective: This research aimed to explore the immune resilience of children in Tugaya, Lanao del Sur, Philippines, and understand parental perspectives on fostering their children’s health in the face of environmental challenges. Methods: A qualitative case study approach was used. Ten parents of children aged 5-10 from two barangays were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected from 15 January 2024 to 15 February 2024 through semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis. Results: Three main themes were generated: 1) Parental guardianship of children’s immune resilience, 2) Parental insights on fostering immune resilience in children, and 3) Parental perception and action in nurturing children’s immune resilience. These themes highlight parental roles in nurturing health, understanding immune resilience, prioritizing children’s well-being, maintaining cleanliness, providing balanced diets, and promoting proactive and informed parenting practices. Conclusion: It is evident that parents play a crucial role in fostering immune resilience among children by adopting various strategies. Understanding these perspectives can inform public health policies and community interventions to improve children’s health in similar rural contexts. This insight has significant implications for healthcare management and policy, suggesting the need for targeted support and interventions to empower parents in rural communities to enhance their children’s immune resilience.