Dr. Prasanthi Sumudrika Ilankoon Mudiyanselage

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a depressive disorder that occurs in specific times of through, typically seen in the fall and winter months, due to less daylight hours in the northern hemisphere.
This temporal pattern strongly suggests that environmental light exposure plays a key role in the pathophysiology of SAD, likely by disrupting circadian rhythms and reducing serotonin and melatonin regulation. SAD significantly impacts daily functioning, work productivity, and overall quality of life. Individuals with SAD frequently report increased sleep, weight gain, social withdrawal, and feelings of hopelessness. As such, effective treatment strategies are crucial to mitigate its psychosocial and occupational burden. This review of evidence aims to address this gap by evaluating the individual and combined impacts of vitamin D supplementation and light therapy on functional status and quality of life in individuals diagnosed with SAD.

Shift length is a pivotal factor influencing nurse performance, patient safety, and quality of care. Research has shown that longer shifts, particularly those exceeding 12 hours, are associated with increased fatigue, cognitive impairment, and higher rates of adverse events (Battle & Temblett, 2018; Hussien et al., 2025; Varghese et al., 2023). While 12-hour shifts are commonly implemented to improve staffing efficiency and continuity of care, studies suggest they may compromise both nurse well-being and patient outcomes due to reduced recovery time, increased burnout, and greater likelihood of medical errors. Conversely, 8-hour shifts may support better nurse recovery, sustained vigilance, and lower fatigue-related errors, though they may require more handovers, which can introduce communication risks and disrupt continuity (Webster et al., 2019). Understanding the comparative effects of 12-hour versus 8-hour shifts is essential to inform evidence-based staffing models that balance operational needs with the safety, satisfaction, and long-term health of both patients and nursing staff.

Burn wound care, especially dressing changes and therapy, is extremely painful and anxiety inducing, often delaying healing and rehabilitation while increasing distress. With over 450,000 burn injuries treated annually in the U.S., this remains a major clinical challenge. Opioids, though standard for pain control, have limited effectiveness and carry risks of sedation, respiratory depression, and dependency. Immersive virtual reality offers a promising non-drug alternative by engaging patients in interactive environments that redirect attention. Research shows VR can significantly reduce pain and distress, improve treatment tolerance, and lower opioid use enhancing comfort and recovery.

Active parental participation improves neonatal comfort but is often limited by institutional barriers (Feng et al., 2025). NICU infants experience 7–17 painful procedures daily, increasing stress and risk for altered neurodevelopment (Lopes et al., 2024). Non-pharmacologic methods such as skin-to-skin contact, oral sucrose, and breastfeeding effectively reduce pain and promote brain development (Lopes et al., 2024; Sánchez-Infante et al., 2024). Ongoing research highlights their safety and neuroprotective benefits (Chen et al., 2024).