Roger Watson

The World Health Organization (WHO) has grown markedly since its inception and has achieved major successes in global public health, including the eradication of smallpox and leadership in vaccination programmes and disease surveillance. Nevertheless, WHO has come under increasing scrutiny over its handling of recent international health emergencies, its governance, and its financial dependence on a relatively small number of major contributors. Much of its budget now derives from voluntary, highly specified contributions that limit organisational flexibility and raise legitimate questions about institutional independence and priority setting. Recent controversies surrounding the COVID-19 measures, together with broader debates about global health governance, have exposed concerns extending beyond emergency response. Critics have questioned WHO’s transparency, accountability, responsiveness and ability to balance technical advice with the political realities of an organisation governed by sovereign member states and increasingly influenced by earmarked funding. Calls for reform have emerged from across the political and academic spectrum, ranging from proposals for incremental organisational restructuring to more fundamental redesign of global health governance. We argue that the world continues to require a credible international health organisation, but that restoring WHO’s legitimacy will require more than additional funding or administrative restructuring. It will require greater transparency, financial independence, clearer institutional priorities, stronger external accountability and renewed confidence that scientific evidence rather than political expediency drives decision-making. Without such reforms, future global health emergencies risk exposing the same structural weaknesses that have increasingly undermined public confidence.

Detailed submission requirements are a journal’s first line of quality control. Clear, specific guidance helps authors prepare stronger submissions, promotes fair and consistent screening, and reduces preventable queries, revisions, and editorial delays.

Editorial boards are a familiar feature of almost every journal website, typically listed on the “About the Journal” page. Some members have clearly defined roles, such as the Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editors, Managing Editor, or Statistical Editor. Others are simply listed as editorial board members, with no explanation of their responsibilities. What are these members expected to do? How are they selected? Should they serve indefinitely, or should membership be reviewed periodically? These are important questions for every journal editor and the focus of this article.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs on disaster preparedness and management for emergency nurses and nursing students, focusing on teaching methods that enhance readiness and competence. Background: The increasing frequency and severity of disasters require healthcare systems to be adequately prepared. Nurses, often on the frontline, must receive structured and effective training to respond to critical events with competence and resilience. Methods: A Rapid Evidence Assessment was conducted to explore and synthesize the available literature on educational interventions in disaster preparedness. Studies were identified through structured searches in international databases and were selected and evaluated using the PRISMA 2020 checklist. The quality of included studies was appraised using the CASP tool. Results: Thirty‐six studies met the inclusion criteria. Educational programs incorporating realistic simulations, virtual technologies, and interprofessional exercises were most effective in improving technical skills, confidence, and crisis management. Programs varied in format and intensity but shared common elements such as experiential learning and integration of psychological preparedness. Discussion: Educational interventions must balance theory with practice and adapt to diverse cultural and contextual needs. Simulations and technology‐enhanced learning emerge as critical strategies to reinforce emergency competencies. Conclusion: Educational programs in disaster preparedness positively influence nurses’ readiness, skills, and confidence. Integrating these interventions into nursing education is essential to prepare a responsive and resilient workforce. Implications for Nursing: Ongoing and structured education strengthens nurses’ ability to respond effectively during disasters, promoting professional growth and emotional resilience. Implications for Health Policy: Policies should support the mandatory inclusion of disaster preparedness training in nursing curricula and continuing education. National frameworks must prioritize standardized educational models to ensure healthcare system resilience and nurse preparedness worldwide.

The EQUATOR Network enhances research transparency by providing reporting guidelines, which editors can utilize to strengthen submission protocols and peer review processes. Implementing these guidelines requires careful editorial judgment to ensure rigorous adherence rather than mere compliance, ultimately improving the quality of published research.

Desk rejection is an essential editorial function that enables editors to manage submissions effectively, based on criteria like scope and fit. While it can feel personal for authors, it's a routine decision for editors to maintain workflow. Understanding this process can help authors navigate publication challenges and accept decisions more objectively.

Publikacija "Napredne kvantitativne raziskovalne metode v zdravstveni negi" daje študentom zdravstvene nege in medicinskim sestram znanje in spretnosti za razlago različnih statističnih metod na njihovem področju, kar lahko izboljša spretnosti uporabnikov pri zbiranju, analizi in razlagi rezultatov iz klinične prakse ter tako prispeva k izboljšanju kakovosti zdravstvene oskrbe. Vsebuje podrobna navodila za uporabo programa IBM SPSS in izvajanje statističnih analiz, ki jih morajo medicinske sestre poznati pri svojem delu, saj pri vsakodnevnem delu s pacienti uporabljajo in ustvarjajo podatke. Glavni cilj zdravstvene nege pacientov je zagotavljanje kakovostne in na dokazih temelječe zdravstvene nege, zato so medicinske sestre dolžne slediti najnovejšim raziskavam in dokazom ter jih uporabljati pri svojem delu. Znanje, pridobljeno v tej knjigi, lahko medicinskim sestram pomaga tudi pri boljšem razumevanju in interpretaciji predhodno objavljenih rezultatov ter s tem pri kritični presoji veljavnosti in zanesljivosti rezultatov, ki jih bodo uporabljale v klinični praksi.

The current system of scholarly publishing is often criticized for being slow, expensive, and not transparent. The rise of open access publishing as part of open science tenets, promoting transparency and collaboration, together with calls for research assesment reforms are the results of these criticisms. The emergence of new open access publishers presents a unique opportunity to empirically test how universities and countries respond to shifts in the academic publishing landscape. These new actors challenge traditional publishing models, offering faster review times and broader accessibility, which could influence strategic publishing decisions. Our findings reveal a clear division in European publishing practices, with countries clustering into two groups distinguished by the ratio of publications in new open access journals with accelerated review times versus legacy journals. This divide underscores a broader shift in academic culture, highlighting new open access publishing venues as a strategic factor influencing national and institutional publishing practices, with significant implications for research accessibility and collaboration across Europe.