Digital Commons Network^™

The Cowl - V. 89 N. 20 - April 30, 2026

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 89 No. 20 - April 30, 2026. 32 pages.

Health-Related Quality Of Life Of Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome In Malaysia, Stephanie Yang

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevalent endocrine condition among women of reproductive age. PCOS is known to be a chronic disease that presents significant physical and body image issues, which in turn are associated with lowered emotional and health-related quality of life. Previous studies point to widespread dissatisfaction and delays with the diagnosis of PCOS and a lack of information provided by doctors. This phenomenological study was guided by Wilson and Cleary’s model of health-related quality of life to explore the health-related quality of life in Malaysian women with PCOS. Seven Malaysian women aged 29 to 50 years …

Staging The Commons Through The “Padha Nonton” Song; Youtube, Community Engagement, And Gandrung Cultural Practice, Intan Mustika Sari

Wacana, Journal of the Humanities of Indonesia

This study examines how the Gandrung accompaniment song “Padha nonton” participates in processes of digital cultural sharing when circulated on YouTube. It employs a qualitative interpretive method within a netno‑pragmatic framework to analyse audience engagement as a culturally informed social practice. The findings show that the song’s linguistic features convey cultural scripts of invitation, togetherness, and communal spectatorship, reflecting the role of the Gandrung tradition in shaping shared social relationships and cultural values. Furthermore, the study identifies three interrelated processes: re-medialization, re-experiencing, and re-conception through which the performance extends beyond its original ritual context and becomes a shared …

Monastic Botanical Gardens: Medicinal Plants, Cultural Heritage, And Tourist Routes, Polyxeni G. Moira Dr, Dimitrios Mylonopoulos

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

in the natural environment. The natural environment, of which humans are an integral part, served as the first laboratory for the production of medicines. Medicinal botany can be traced back to ancient Greece, continued through ancient Rome, was closely linked to Islamic tradition, and persisted through the rise of Christianity in monasteries, enduring to the present day. Monastic botanical gardens serve as living proof of the relationship between humans, nature, healing, and spirituality. These gardens, which for centuries cultivated plants for medicinal, nutritional, and functional uses, can now be leveraged to promote tourism, cultural heritage, and environmental awareness.

This study …

Is Less More? An Analysis Of Microblogs Vs. Discussion Forums As Tools For Understanding The Public, Marco Castillo

Publications and Research

Social media platforms offer valuable tools for public administrators seeking to assess public sentiment on policy issues, especially in urban areas with diverse stakeholder interests. This study investigates how public administrators can leverage social media by comparing communications on Reddit’s discussion forum platform with X’s microblogging platform. I hypothesize that Reddit fosters more subjective, nuanced discussions, providing richer insights into public sentiment. To test this, sentiment and regression analyses are conducted on communications about urban cycling on both platforms. Results indicate that while Reddit facilitates deeper exploration of public issues, X also effectively assesses public sentiment. The study concludes by …

Documentation And Dashboard Driven Quality And Safety Improvement In Interpreter Services For Limited English Proficient Patients, Richard T. Dillehay, Samuel Verkhovsky, Andrew Bohm, Harley Friedman, Dawn Welshman, Ann Morong, Vidya Karthikeyan, Jessica Dampier, Amanda Racine, Brant Oliver

Patient Experience Journal

Limited English Proficiency is known as an independent driver of disparities in patient's access to healthcare and their healthcare outcomes. The Joint Commission standards require that health systems document language services delivery to patients with limited English proficiency in a systematic way. Our health system had not historically utilized a methodical system for documenting language services utilization prior to the launch of this initiative. By utilizing a Lean Six Sigma approach, a project team comprised of leaders from interpreter services, operations, data analytics, and data informatics codesigned an Epic SmartForm data collection instrument and series of Tableau dashboards to monitor …

From Talking The Talk To Walking The Walk: Reflection On Dartmouth Health's Care Experience Week, Rosie Bartel, Corey Kimpson, Tanya Lord, Victoria Lyons, Tony Serge, Brant Oliver

Patient Experience Journal

This article explores the participation of expert members from the Beryl Institute's Global Patient and Family Advisory Board (GPFAB) during Dartmouth Health's Care Experience Week, under the theme ``From Talking the Talk to Walking the Walk.'' This week aligns with the national Patient Experience Week. The Patient Family Advisor (PFA) presenters and authors of this article have shared their lived experience locally, nationally, and internationally through conferences, webinars, podcasts, videos, blogs, white papers, journal articles, books, and in many other ways for and as PFA members of a multitude of healthcare organizations co-create change that improves outcomes for all human …

Improving Human Experience In Health Care: Leveraging ``Humanistic Learning Health Systems'' To Accelerate Change At Scale, Brant J. Oliver, Jason A. Wolf

Patient Experience Journal

Included in a special segment in this issue of the Patient Experience Journal, are a series of reports on improving HX in healthcare supported by a humanistic LHS– the Dartmouth Promise Partnership Coproduction Learning Health System in New Hampshire, USA. Promise is a strategic partnership between a medical school and a multi-center rural academic health system. It integrates translational science education and research, data informatics, and scaled and networked humanistic applied change initiatives. One of these initiatives is the Care Experience Collaborative, a multi-center improvement initiative across the health system focused on improving HX. This special segment includes five reports …

Patient Experience (Px) In Low- And Middle-Income Countries (Lmics): A Scoping Review, Yara Abou Harb, Geoffrey A. Silvera

Patient Experience Journal

Patient Experience (PX) is a growing subject in the healthcare industry due to its association with improved clinical outcomes, patient safety, and business motives. While PX is well studied in high income countries, little is known about the state of PX in Low and Middle-income countries (LMICs). Objective: The study aims to examine literature on PX and related concepts in LMICs. Methods: This study executes a PRISMA literature review of academic databases (Ovid Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE and Google Scholar) as well as hand searching of PX related websites from 2005 to 2024. Results: 67 references met search criteria. Four themes …

Nursing Staff Attitude Towards Nurse-Physician Collaboration In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit In Al Ahsa City, Saudi Arabia, Makarim Taqi Al Helal, Yaqoub Yousef Al Mousa

Patient Experience Journal

Objective: Effective nurse-physician collaboration is fundamental to ensuring quality healthcare delivery, particularly in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), where patient outcomes rely heavily on coordinated teamwork. This study aimed to assess nursing staff attitudes toward nurse-physician collaboration in NICUs, examine the influence of demographic and professional characteristics, and provide evidence-based recommendations to strengthen interprofessional collaboration. Methods: A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional survey was conducted from April to June 2024 in the NICU of Maternity and Children's Hospital, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. A total of 180 nurses with at least one year of NICU experience participated. Data were collected using the …

System-Level Barriers To Patient Engagement With Electronic Medical Records, Corey Adams, Reema Harrison, Guncag Ozavci, Kathleen Gray, Nilmini Wickramasinghe, Vicky Yuan, Tracey Bucknall, Elizabeth Manias

Patient Experience Journal

Objective: Electronic medical records (EMRs) can support patient-centered care, but system-level barriers often limit how patients engage with EMR systems. This study explored the system-level barriers and enablers to patient engagement with EMRs from the perspectives of healthcare leaders. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 participants in senior EMR-related roles across healthcare organizations in two Australian states. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify key system-level influences on patient engagement. Results: Seven themes were identified: 1) EMRs for digital storage, not connection, 2) Privacy rules create challenges to accessing information, 3) Communication barriers when using EMRs, 4) …

Virtual Caregiving And The Evolving Role Of Carers And Patients: Virtual Hospital Interview Analysis, Kanesha Ward, Tim Jackson, Jenna Bartyn, Shannon Saad, Sue Amanatidis, Owen Hutchings, Annie Y.S. Lau

Patient Experience Journal

Virtual hospitals are transforming healthcare by enabling remote monitoring and management of patients, improving accessibility and care continuity. As part of the transformation, there are changes to the roles and responsibilities of patients and their carers as they engage in virtual hospital care. The impact on family caregiving remains underexplored. Guided by Family Systems Theory, this qualitative study investigated how family caregiving roles adapt within a virtual hospital and identified opportunities to further support families. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients, carers, and healthcare workers from one model of care, at a metropolitan virtual hospital in New South Wales, Australia. …

Leveraging Digital Patient And Family Advisory Councils To Drive Patient Engagement, Priya Radhakrishnan, Shambhavi Mishra, Melissa Price, Cammy Sanders, Fiker Bekele, Kathi Zarubi, Craig Kartchner, Amrit Singh Johal, Carol Mayer, Craig Norquist

Patient Experience Journal

Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs) have been integral in enhancing patient care, but their limited reach often excludes underrepresented populations. Digital PFACs present an opportunity to overcome these barriers and engage a broader spectrum of patients and families, fostering more inclusive healthcare decision-making. We implemented a Digital Patient and Family Advisory Council (DPFAC) at HonorHealth, as part of the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) capacity building grant. We used the RE-AIM and PRISM frameworks to engage participants through a digital platform. The process began with a needs assessment and was followed by the development of the platform, during …

Supporting Families Of Children With Craniosynostosis: A Qualitative Exploration Of Parental Usage Of Online Forums, Elisha L. Rea, Rachel M. Roberts, Amanda J. Osborn

Patient Experience Journal

Objective: Craniosynostosis is characterised by the early fusion of cranial sutures, resulting in an abnormal head shape. This study examines the psychosocial impact of a child's craniosynostosis diagnosis on families, by analysing online forum discussions. While surgery is often needed to address appearance-related and neuropsychological concerns, parents face challenges navigating their child's diagnosis. Many seek support through online forums, yet research on their experiences remains limited. This study aims to understand parental needs and experiences by analysing forum discussions. Method: Online forums were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Significant features of the data were systematically coded and themes reflecting …

Validation Of A Copd Patient-Reported Experience Measure (Prem-C9) In Ontario, Canada, Elaine Zibrowski, Floriana Islami, Alyson Kellar, Christopher Licskai, Madonna Ferrone, Shannon L. Sibbald

Patient Experience Journal

Objective: Patient-reported experience measures (PREM) are important tools for evaluating healthcare quality, yet their implementation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) care within Canada remains limited. Our objective was to examine the construct validity of the PREM-C9 instrument in a Canadian context and explore its potential clinical applications beyond measuring patient experience. Methods: A two-phase, prospective, cross-sectional, mixed-methods study was conducted across 41 Best Care COPD sites in Ontario, Canada. In the quantitative phase, confirmatory factor analysis assessed the construct validity of the PREM-C9. In the qualitative phase, focus group interviews with COPD case managers explored implementation experiences and perceived …

Development And Psychometric Assessment Of The Sub-Scales Of The Ontario Perception Of Care Tool For Mental Health And Addictions (Opoc-Mha), Brian Rush, Karen Urbanoski

Patient Experience Journal

Historically, the tools designed to measure of ``patient satisfaction'' or ``perception of care'' have been developed and evolved separately for the mental health and substance use health sectors. This presents challenges for implementation and usefulness of the results for quality improvement and evaluation given recent efforts aimed at more integrated services and systems. The objective of this study was to psychometrically evaluate eight domain-specific sub-scales of a perception-of-care tool developed specifically for mental health, substance use and/or concurrent disorder services - the OPOC-MHA. The development and process for widescale implementation of the OPOC-MHA has resulted in a large provincial dataset …

Inaccessibility And Performative Inclusivity: Higher-Weight Francophone And Newcomer Adults' Experiences In A Canadian Atlantic Province, Andrea E. Bombak, Norma Chinho, Kathleen O'Keefe, Sumaiya Akhter, Lisa Thomson, Courtney Burk, Lee Turner

Patient Experience Journal

Weight stigma research is needed in diverse populations. Two populations that may experience compromised healthcare in New Brunswick, Canada's only officially bilingual province (English/French), are Francophone New Brunswickers and newcomers to Canada. As such, this study explores the experiences of higher-weight (Body Mass Index ≥ 30) adults (≥ 18 years of age) who also identify as primarily Francophone or as having moved to Canada ≤ 5 years ago in and out of healthcare contexts. Participants were interviewed according to a semi-structured interview guide face-to-face, by telephone, or video-call two times, at 2-to-3-month intervals. Interviews included questions about experiences and effects …

Applying A Patient Journey Mapping Approach To Understand Maternal Care Patient Journeys: A Pilot Study, Nicole Hicks, Kristin Tully, Christopher Goodier, Sreenath Chalil Madathil, Ayaba Logan, Myrtede Alfred

Patient Experience Journal

Introduction: In the United States, giving birth is the most common cause of hospitalization. Maternal care frequently represents birthing people's first experiences of prolonged interactions with the healthcare system. However, the structure of services is often fragmented and misaligned with individuals' needs, particularly for Black birthing people. Documenting birthing people's experiences during pregnancy and postpartum allows for identification of practices working well and opportunities to improve patient-centered maternal care. Methods: The mixed-methods study was conducted in the southeastern United States and used patient journey mapping(PJM) to document experiences of patients receiving maternal care at a large academic hospital …

No One-Size-Fits-All: Patient Perspectives Of Key Factors Influencing Their Inpatient Rehabilitation Experience, Mirline Milien, Megan Bewernitz, Katherine Stallings, Mary Ellen Young

Patient Experience Journal

Although patient experience in healthcare settings has historically been an ambiguous concept, it has received increasing recognition as a measure of healthcare quality. Despite this growing recognition and efforts to define patient experience, few studies have explored patient perspectives on the key factors driving this quality indicator. This study aimed to explore the core elements patients view as influencing their experiences in the inpatient rehabilitation setting. This was a single-visit, cross-sectional qualitative interview study. Thirteen patients with diverse diagnoses who received at least one week of rehabilitation services were recruited from a single inpatient rehabilitation facility. Purposive sampling was employed …

Improving Patients' Experience Through Nurturing Care For Patients Undergoing Kidney Biopsies: A Feedback Survey, Molefe Rapalai, Mahmoud Elshehawy, Johann Nicholas, Patrick Anthony Ball, Hana Morrissey

Patient Experience Journal

Background: Renal biopsies are a key tool in diagnosing kidney diseases, providing histopathological insights for personalised treatment plans. Despite their clinical value, little is explored about how patients experience this invasive procedure. Understanding these experiences is important for improving care quality, safety, and ensuring the process is as patient friendly as possible. There is also a lack of research capturing patient experience feedback on renal biopsies, making studies like this essential for guiding service improvement initiatives. Method: Observational study, May 2022 to June 2024. Eighty-six percutaneous renal biopsies performed. Fifty eligible patients invited to complete the Kidney Biopsy Patient Experience …

Capturing Patient-Centered Quality Of Life: Usability And Initial Validation Of The Pediatric Patient-Generated Index Following Esophageal Atresia Repair, Zanib Nafees, Julia Ferreira, Elena Guadagno, Nikki Ow, Nancy Mayo, Jean-Martin Laberge, Dan Poenaru

Patient Experience Journal

The Patient-Generated Index (PGI) is an individualized measure that allows patients to define the domains most important to their quality of life (QoL). This study evaluates the usability and preliminary validity of the pediatric Patient-Generated Index (pPGI) in children who previously underwent esophageal atresia (EA) repair. We conducted a mixed-methods study including the pPGI, EuroQol-5D-Youth (EQ-5D-Y), and PROMIS Life Satisfaction Short Form-8a. Children aged 7–17 years completed self-reports, while parents served as proxies for younger children. Cognitive interviews explored how children understood and completed the pPGI, and clinician interviews assessed clinical usability. Among 25 participants, the pPGI generated 104 text …

Preventing Delirium After Surgery: A Qualitative Study Of Patients, Caregivers, And Providers, Jennifer O'Brien, Maria Cruz, Heather Dyck, Hassan Yassin, Una Goncin, Lei Xia, Huma Aftab, Lilian Thorpe, Peter Hedlin

Patient Experience Journal

Post-operative delirium is the most common complication in older adults following surgery. Symptoms include agitation, difficulty focusing, sluggishness, hallucinations, slurred speech, restlessness, rapid mood swings, and uncooperative or aggressive behaviour. It can result in longer hospital stays, increased mortality, loss of functional independence, increased need for a higher level of care post-surgery, and an increased risk of readmission to hospital. We aimed to understand and describe the experiences of patients, families, and healthcare providers with postoperative delirium, and to identify targeted initiatives to support patient and family centered care for high-risk patients. We conducted a qualitative descriptive study using interviews …

The Voices I Never Heard: Reflections From A Public Health Advocate On Representation, Silence, And Struggle, Araya Gautam

Patient Experience Journal

Representation of ethnic minorities among trial participants in the UK is poor. It is true that the need for diversity and inclusive language is important in research, but the practicality of making this a reality for patients from under-represented groups has not generally been the case. As a patient advocate, I have been a participant in clinical trial reviews and advisory boards during the past three years and have engaged in a national-level conversation about patient voice and equity. I draw connections between structured frameworks for patient and public involvement (PPI) in the UK and the more informal, community-based caregiving …

Volume 12 Full Text, Bjur Staff

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Front Matter And Table Of Contents, Bjur Staff

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Toward Healing And Justice: Building Equitable Relationships With Community Archives In El Salvador, Giada Ferrucci, Amanda Oliver, Tom Belton, Fernando Chacon

Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies

The article examines an archival component of a larger research initiative. Surviving Memory in Postwar El Salvador is a multidisciplinary, cross-sector partnership. The overall methodology of the project is participatory and survivor-centered. It aims to document and commemorate the history of the Salvadoran Civil War (1980-1992) and prevent future violence. The component of the Surviving Memory partnership the authors describe in this article elucidates the crucial importance of community archival practices undertaken to support memory, healing, and justice in El Salvador. The authors are co-investigators and collaborators who have supported the work of community archivists in El Salvador through a …

Reflections On Language And Translation: Toward A "Translation Turn" In Archival Studies, Fiorella Foscarini

Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies

As the dominant lingua franca, the English language acts as an invisible, hegemonic force that exerts a strong influence over the framing of the global world. By using English unreflexively in research, education, and professional cross-cultural exchanges, we may unwittingly support unequal power structures, the homogenization of research, and the marginalization of traditions and knowledge systems based on languages other than English. In most cases where translation is involved, the translating act is treated as a fait accompli or a mere technical process, without acknowledging that exact equivalence is impossible to achieve, and that translation has important epistemological, methodological, …

Russian Linguistic Policy In The Post-Soviet World, Payton G. Deichler

The Dialogue

This paper examines the role of the Russian language as an instrument of soft power in the post-Soviet space, arguing that its geopolitical influence extends beyond demographic prevalence to the institutional frameworks through which it is promoted and mediated. Rather than functioning solely as a neutral medium of communication, Russian operates as an infrastructural component of influence that shapes access to media ecosystems, educational systems, and professional mobility across former Soviet republics. Drawing on the concept of a “Monopoly of Interpretation,” this study proposes that the centralized, state-linked promotion of Russian enables the consolidation of political narratives within shared linguistic …

From Superstition To Stability: Hobbes On Religion And Political Order, Erin Schulz

The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations

In this article, the author argues that Hobbes treats religion as a profound political problem because its psychological origins, susceptibility to manipulation, and competing claims to authority can fracture obedience and destabilize the commonwealth. Through a systematic reinterpretation of miracles, prophecy, spirits, and Scripture, Hobbes strips religious authorities of independent power and places all public religious meaning under the sovereign’s control. The paper concludes that Hobbes does not abolish religion but domesticates it, transforming faith into a politically safe instrument that reinforces unity, obedience, and civil peace.

Final Report: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap), Chelsea Livingstone

The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations

The article evaluates the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), arguing that while it is one of the nation’s most effective anti-hunger policies—reducing food insecurity, lifting millions out of poverty, and stabilizing household resources—it continues to produce uneven outcomes due to administrative burdens, geographic disparities, and barriers faced by rural, immigrant, and mixed‑status households. Using Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework, the paper explains how SNAP’s expansions and limitations reflect shifting alignments among problem recognition, feasible policy solutions, and political will. It concludes with evidence‑based recommendations to improve equity and access, including streamlined enrollment, regionally adjusted benefits, strengthened outreach, and reduced stigma to …