Practice guidelines for Australian primary health professionals (PHPs) highlight their crucial role in preventive care. However, PHPs report a lack of knowledge and skills regarding early childhood obesity prevention. This study aimed to identify the training needs of Australian PHPs – including child and family health nurses (CFHNs), general practitioners, general practice nurses and other community-based health professionals – to support early childhood health promotion and obesity prevention.

From August 2022 to July 2023, PHPs were recruited to participate in an online survey and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data was analysed descriptively and qualitative data analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

227 PHPs returned a survey (46% CFHNs) and 28 were interviewed (13 CFHNs). Almost a quarter (23%) of participants had not received any continuing education regarding early childhood health behaviours and obesity prevention, with general practice professionals less likely to have participated in such education. PHPs identified a need to develop skills in growth assessment and working with children at risk of obesity. Digital and visual parent-facing resources were required to support PHPs’ discussions of child health behaviours. Important components of education were case studies, self-paced learning, and live interactive discussions (37–46% of PHPs rated as highly important). PHPs sought interactive education activities from reputable service providers and reported time and cost were barriers to education.

Australian PHPs require access to evidence-based education and resources to support early childhood health promotion and obesity prevention. Professional education providers should prioritize interactive and flexible modes of delivery.

Inner ear malformations, particularly incomplete partition type I, are well-recognised risk factors for cerebrospinal fluid leakage, which may result in recurrent meningitis.

We present a case series of three paediatric patients with incomplete partition type I malformation who experienced an intra-operative cerebrospinal fluid ‘gusher’ during cochlear implantation and subsequently developed meningitis due to contralateral cerebrospinal fluid leakage from a stapes footplate fistula. Detailed clinical assessments, radiological findings and surgical management are described.

In all three cases, the initial suspicion of a cerebrospinal fluid fistula was directed towards the implanted ear. However, radiological evaluation and intra-operative findings confirmed a stapes footplate fistula in the non-implanted ear. Surgical closure was achieved using temporal fascia and fibrin glue. In one case, subtotal petrosectomy was required because of persistent cerebrospinal fluid leakage.

In patients with incomplete partition type I malformations undergoing cochlear implantation, contralateral cerebrospinal fluid fistula should be considered in the differential diagnosis of post-operative meningitis.

The purpose of this study was to assess senior nursing students’ performance and perceived readiness following a fully immersive VR mass disaster triage simulation and evaluate the effectiveness of VR as an educational modality for emergency preparedness training.

A retrospective observational study assessed BSN students who participated in a VR simulation incorporating START triage and TeamSTEPPS™ principles. Sixty-four students completed the post-experience survey using validated PACT instruments and custom measures.

Students demonstrated successful application of START triage methods and TeamSTEPPS domains during the simulation. Students reported significant increases in perceived knowledge of emergency response (M = 64.3%, SD = 27.5), attitude toward mass disaster training importance (M = 76.8%, SD = 24.5), and ability to respond (M = 66.9%, SD = 26.2). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests revealed significant improvements in understanding of all TeamSTEPPS concepts (P <.05).

VR simulation effectively enhanced nursing students’ perceived readiness for mass disaster response and demonstrated successful application of emergency skills, supporting its integration into nursing curricula for Generation Z learners.

Childhood trauma is common in functional motor disorder (FMD), but it is unclear whether specific trauma dimensions are differentially linked to symptom burden, and whether depression, anxiety, or multimorbidity can mediate these associations.

We conducted a cross-sectional case–control study including 322 patients with clinically definite FMD and 215 neurologically healthy controls, balanced with respect to age and sex. Six outcomes – motor symptom severity, cognitive complaints, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and pain – were jointly modeled using Bayesian multivariate regression with Childhood Trauma Questionnaire subscales as predictors. Bayesian structural equation modeling tested mediation by depression, anxiety, and multimorbidity.

In FMD, emotional abuse was the most consistent trauma correlate, associated with higher depression (β = 0.37, 95% CrI 0.22–0.51), anxiety (β = 0.32, 95% CrI 0.16–0.47), cognitive complaints (β = 0.27, 95% CrI 0.11–0.42), fatigue (β = 0.17, 95% CrI 0.03–0.32), and motor symptom severity (β = 0.15, 95% CrI 0.04–0.25). Mediation analyses indicated that affective symptoms fully accounted for trauma–symptom associations (indirect effect β = 0.42, 95% CrI 0.27–0.56). Multimorbidity was associated with more severe affective symptoms (β = 0.24, 95% CrI 0.12–0.37) and FMD symptoms (β = 0.24, 95% CrI 0.07–0.42) but did not mediate trauma–symptom relationships.

Emotional abuse is a key developmental risk factor for FMD, with its effects on symptom severity mediated by depression and anxiety. Multimorbidity increases symptom burden but is not a primary pathway linking trauma to FMD. Findings support routine trauma and affective symptom screening in FMD and targeted psychotherapeutic interventions.