Digital Commons Network^™

Development, Implementation And Evaluation Of A Digital Health Best Practice Guideline, Christine Buchanan, Lyndsay Howitt, Giulia Zucal, Jennifer Yoon, Maureen Charlebois, Michelle Rey, Doris Grinspun

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: A best practice guideline (BPG) including four recommendations for health providers, organizations and health systems in the context of a digital health environment was developed by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) (1). The scope includes many digital health technologies, including virtual care technologies and predictive analytics (1). This presentation will discuss the recommendations in the BPG, and implementation and evaluation considerations noted by a Canadian hospital partnered with RNAO through its Best Practice Spotlight Organization® program.

Methods: The RNAO team worked with an expert panel to develop the BPG (2). Five research questions and corresponding outcomes were …

Digital Pressure Sensing Technology For Dysphagia Rehabilitation: A Nursing-Led Pilot Study, Nai Ching Chen, Yu-Ru Lin, Yi Chou, Huei-Yu Chen, Chia-Shu Lin, Jui-Yu Weng, Jinn-Rung Kuo

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Advances in artificial intelligence and sensor-based health monitoring are transforming dysphagia care from early screening to personalized rehabilitation (Wong et al., 2025; Alter et al., 2025). This study evaluated the feasibility of the Digital Swallowing Pressure Ball (DSPB), a nursing-led innovation integrating real-time pressure sensing, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) transmission, and cloud analytics to enhance individualized swallowing rehabilitation. The DSPB addresses limitations of conventional Chin Tuck Against Resistance (CTAR) exercises, which lack quantifiable feedback and remote monitoring (Archer et al., 2020).

Methods: A four-week pilot study was conducted with 11 participants with dysphagia after stroke or traumatic brain injury. …

The Future Of Nursing Education: Discovering Al Avatars For Interactive Online Asynchronous Classe, Christina Baker, Dawon Baik, Sharon Giarrizzo-Wilson

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

This project introduces an innovative telehealth simulation using artificial intelligence avatars in a graduate-level online informatics course to enhance student engagement and develop digital health competencies aligned with national nursing education standards. Nursing education has historically lagged in integrating interactive, competency-based digital health training, particularly in online environments, despite the growing role of technology in healthcare delivery (Kleib et al., 2024; El Arab et al., 2025). Traditional simulation approaches often fail to incorporate emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), leaving a gap in preparing nurses for technology-driven practice (Chan et al., 2025; Buchanan et al., 2021). The project intervention …

Tackling Nurse Faculty Preparedness And Retention: A Fami-Md Quality Improvement Initiative, Lisa A. Seldomridge, Tina Brown Reid, Nicole J. Hall, Bradley P. Hauck, Beverly P. Payne

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

The ability of nursing programs to graduate more students is constrained by a shortage of qualified faculty, limiting program capacity and narrowing the pipeline of new registered nurses (AACN, 2024; Lubhy, 2023). Addressing this gap requires targeted solutions. One proven approach is the Faculty Academy and Mentorship Initiative of Maryland (FAMI-MD), a program launched in 2011 to help registered nurses transition into clinical faculty roles. To date, 684 nurses have completed the Academy, with 70% serving in teaching positions across Maryland—demonstrating its effectiveness as a faculty pipeline.

This presentation highlights outcomes of a quality improvement project to update FAMI-MD’s Introductory …

A Path Forward: Improving Care For Victims Of Violence Across Romania, Janice Ceccucci, Nancy Harris

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: In 2016, the Country entered the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty addressing violence against women. This treaty is monitored and assessed by GREVIO (2022). During the initial assessment, a lack of reporting, education, and access to healthcare services was noted, as well as limited services for child violence and forced marriage. The purpose of this project was to aid in the improvement of education on sexual violence and improve healthcare services for victims of sexual violence across the Country.

Method: Medical-Legal centers were visited in both rural and urban areas across the Country (N = 14). Centers were evaluated …

Depressive Symptoms As A Mediator Of Self-Stigma And Recovery In Patients With Schizophrenia, Po Chun Fu, Chiu-Yueh Yang

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Self-stigma has consistently been identified as a significant factor that hinders recovery in people with schizophrenia. When feel internalize stigma, it can intensify depressive symptoms, which may reduce sense of recovery. The mechanism that connects self-stigma, depression, and perceived recovery is not yet well understood.

Aims: investigate the mediating effects of depressive symptoms on self-stigma and perceived recovery among people with schizophrenia.

Methods: Involved 200 participants , recruited from community of a medical center. Examined demographic data, self-stigma (measured using the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale), which served as the independent variable, and depressive symptoms (assessed using the …

Leading Through The Tempest: A Framework For Climate Equity, Preparedness, And Global Resilience, Candace Dumas

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: The TEMPEST Framework- Transdisciplinary Equity & Medicine for Preparedness, Environment, Systems and Transformation was developed in response to gaps identified in 10 international frameworks assessing health consequences of severe weather events. Prior models demonstrate strong integration of direct, indirect, mental, and equity-related health impacts (Boyal et al., 2018; Birnbaum et al., 2015) but remain limited by contextual specificity, data gaps, and lack of empirical validation (Hunter et al., 2016; Smith et al., 2022; Gonah et al., 2025). TEMPEST is an innovative and evidence-informed model advancing the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Operational Framework for Climate-Resilient Health Systems (CRHS) (World Health …

Mastery Learning Using Past Exam Questions To Enhance Achievement And Self-Directed Learning, Chin-Ting Lee

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: This quasi-experimental study aimed to evaluate the effects of a mastery learning strategy based on past examination questions on nursing students’ self-directed learning ability and academic achievement in fundamental nursing.

Methods: A total of 106 second-year nursing students from a nursing junior college in Taipei participated in the study. The experimental group (n = 54) received mastery learning interventions, which included practice with past examination questions, error correction, and individualized feedback, while the control group (n = 52) received traditional instruction. The intervention lasted 18 weeks, and data on the Self-Directed Learning Instrument (SDLI) and academic achievement were collected …

Ipep Partnerships That Remove Barriers To Student Enrollment By Providing Free Health Assessments, Jean Ann Davison

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

The health and well-being of children are critical factors in their academic success and overall development. In our state, a significant percentage of families face barriers to accessing essential healthcare services, particularly among uninsured families, low-income populations, and migrants. North Carolina law mandates that children receive a health assessment, including hearing and vision screening, along with required immunizations, within twelve months before entering public school, or they may face expulsion. Many children, especially those from underserved communities, struggle to meet this requirement, jeopardizing their education and health. Recognizing these challenges, our School of Nursing Mobile Health Clinic worked with community …

Icu Nurses Knowledge, Attitudes, And Involvement In Clinical Research In Australia–A National Survey, Joanne Mcintyre, Frances Fengzhi Lin, Anne Mette Nørby Adams

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: Clinical research is vital in critical care settings to support evidence-based care for patients. Studies have shown that hospitals involved in research have better outcomes, but the quality of the study is dependent on the multi-disciplinary team involvement, often including the engagement of nurses in clinical research protocol development and delivery. A recent literature review highlighted variable levels of nurses’ clinical research engagement with the need for targeted education, improved communication, and institutional backing, to ensure nurses better engage. However, despite international recognition of the issue, little is known about how Australian ICU nurses engage with clinical research.

Aim: …

The Need To Please: People-Pleasing Tendencies In Prelicensure Nursing Students, Alexa Grace Carnahan, Mary Kathryn Gaffney, Christian Blötner

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: People-pleasing (PP) is a behavioral tendency characterized by an excessive desire to be liked, avoid conflict, or meet others' needs, often at the expense of one's own well-being. PP is linked with societal expectations of female-dominated professions like nursing, leading to normalization of self-sacrifice (Kaylor et al., 2025). PP is under-explored in prelicensure nursing students despite evidence linking similar behavioral patterns to negative outcomes including diminished resilience and burnout (Zhou et al., 2022); and emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and low self-worth (Georgescu & Bodislav, 2025). High performance expectations in prelicensure education likely reinforce PP behaviors (Li et al., 2025). The …

Factors Influencing Pediatric Palliative Care Utilization: A 12-Year Retrospective Study In Taiwan, Tzu-Ying Yang, Wei-Wen Wu, Frank Leigh Lu, Shao-Yi Cheng, Tsung-Hsien Yu, Kristin Berg

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background and objective: Pediatric palliative care (PPC) improves the quality of life for children with life-limiting conditions and their families by addressing physical, psychological, and spiritual needs. Despite increasing recognition of its benefits, PPC remains underutilized, particularly in Asian contexts where early integration and service accessibility are still limited. This study aimed to examine trends and factors influencing PPC utilization among deceased children in a tertiary children’s hospital in Taiwan from 2012 to 2023, to provide evidence on predictors for more equitable access to PPC.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using medical records of children aged 1–18 years who …

Sleep Quality And Depressive Symptoms Among Fathers In Early Parenthood, Marianne Lin-Lewry, Shu-Yu Kuo

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Fathers often experience sleep disturbance during the first year of parenting, which is closely linked to adverse physical and psychological well-being. While maternal sleep and mood disturbances have been widely studied, fathers remain an understudied population. This study aimed to investigate the association between sleep quality and depressive symptoms among fathers within one year after childbirth.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 120 fathers whose partners had given birth within the previous 12 months. The Taiwanese version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) assessed sleep quality, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) measured depressive symptoms. Demographic …

Factors Influencing Geriatric Nursing Performance Among Korean Hospital Nurses, Yeon-Ju Kang, Eunji Seo, Jiyeon Ha, Minkyung Kang

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: The global aging population has increased the demand for competent geriatric nursing care in acute hospital settings (Espinel-Jara et al., 2025, OCED, 2025). This study aimed to identify factors influencing geriatric nursing performance among Korean hospital nurses, focusing on nursing professionalism and work intensity, which would inform strategies for improving care quality.

Methods: A descriptive correlational study was conducted with 144 nurses from medical and surgical wards, intensive care units, and emergency units in three general hospitals in South Korea. Participants had at least six months of clinical experience and provided direct care to patients aged 65 years or …

Depressive Symptoms By The Quality Of Life Among Korean American Midlife Women, Yeeun Kim, Jiwon Baek, Dongmi Kim, Seulgi Ryu, Wonshik Chee, Eun-Ok Im

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Midlife women experience a major developmental transition involving multidimensional changes (physical, psychological, and social changes), before, during, and after their menopause (1-4). During this transition, the women’s depressive symptoms could be linked to their quality of life (5). However, few studies have been conducted on the women’s depressive symptoms by their quality of life. The aim of this study was to identify patterns of depressive symptoms by the QoL among Korean American midlife women and provide directions for future interventions for this specific population.

Methods: This is a part of an ongoing randomized controlled trial of Korean American midlife …

Effects Of Family-Based Frailty Self-Management Program On Caregivers Of Patients With Heart Failure, Yung-Ching Yang, Ai-Fu Chiou

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Family caregivers of patients with heart failure often experience decreased confidence in caregiving due to limited heart failure knowledge, the complexity of patient's condition and treatment, and insufficient social or professional support. These challenges can adversely affect caregivers' quality of life.

Objective: The study examined the effects of a family-based frailty self-management program (FRAIL-SM) on knowledge, self-care confidence, strain, and quality of life among family caregivers of patients with heart failure.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 116 pairs of frail patients with heart failure and their family caregivers recruited from two medical centers in Taiwan. Participants …

Lived Experiences Of Noise Exposure And Hearing Loss Among Native Americans, Melessa N. Kelley, Rose Wimbish-Tompkins, John Lowe, Camila Solorzano-Barrera, Oi Saeng Hong

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is an irreversible chronic condition resulting from prolonged exposure to loud noise and represents a major global public health concern. Native American (NA) populations are particularly vulnerable due to social and occupational determinants that increase exposure to high-noise environments, including construction, manufacturing factory, farming, and forestry. Hearing health has deep cultural importance for NAs, as oral communication is central to transmitting traditional knowledge and cultural teachings. Despite this, limited research has examined noise exposure, hearing protection practices, and the lived experiences of hearing loss within NA communities.

This study explores NA tribal members’ experiences with noise …

Engaging Nurses In Early Ai Implementation: Usability, Trust, Acceptability, And Training Evaluation, Quyen Ly, Kyung Mi Kim, Olivia Cunha, Michele Diaz Nelson

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Nurses, the largest healthcare workforce, are often overlooked in AI design and implementation (Ronquillo et al., 2021). Excluding them can hinder adoption, as tools may disrupt rather than enhance workflows. Early engagement fosters trust, usability, and alignment with practice (van Steenis et al., 2025). ChatEHR is an institution-developed large language model integrated with the electronic medical record to help clinicians retrieve information efficiently. It entered beta testing in January 2025 and was introduced in October 2025 to 50 nurses from the Research and Innovation Council (RIC), part of nursing shared governance. Fifty nurses completed a “Prompt-a-Thon” training three weeks …

Effectiveness Of A Microdebriefing Intervention In A Rural Hospital: A Quality Improvement Project, Adrienne Nicole Nelson, Judith Walloch, Sheila Huggins, Teresa Mcconkey, Kathy Williams

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Nurses, who experience a critical incident as a sudden unexpected event, can be devastated as second victims (Buhlmann et al., 2021; Edrees & Wu, 2021). The associated psychological stress negatively impacts coping, resulting in an increased risk of fixating on or reliving the critical incident for many years (Buhlmann et al., 2021; Cantu, 2020; Harvey & Tapp, 2020). The consequential impact on coping increases the likelihood for second victims to experience secondary traumatic stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, or other mental health issues. A lack of organizational support can lead to organizational consequences such as higher nursing attrition, poor patient safety …

Implementation Science Intervention Adaptation To Address Maternal And Neonatal Health In Cameroon, Hanne Sybil Harbison, Henna Budhwani, Comfort Enah, Alan Tita, Eric Wallace, Waldemar Carlo, Mary Glory Ngong, Pius M. Tih, Rahel Mbah Kyeng

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: The World Health Organization aims to reduce the global maternal mortality rate (MMR) to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. Mobile health interventions, particularly those adapted from high income settings, are increasingly recognized for their potential usefulness in addressing gaps to quality maternal and neonatal care in low-income countries. However, few studies protocolize the adaptation process, including stakeholder feedback and side-by-side adjustments required to ensure contextualize relevance.

Design: We used the 8 sequential phases of the ADAPT-ITT framework to iteratively transform the medical intervention service via Telephone (MIST) to mobile phone-based solution (mMIST) intervention, incorporating qualitative …

Trajectories Of Compassion Competence Among Clinical Nurses: A Longitudinal Study, Eunkyo Lee, Sunghee Park, Youngjin Lee

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: This study aimed to identify distinct trajectories of compassion competence among clinical nurses and to examine demographic and psychosocial characteristics associated with each trajectory.

Background: Compassion competence is a vital attribute in nursing practice, encompassing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacities that enable empathetic, patient-centered care. Although compassion competence is recognized as essential to both care quality and nurse well-being, limited longitudinal evidence exists on how it develops over time. Identifying its trajectories and influencing factors is crucial for designing interventions that sustain compassionate care and workforce resilience.

Methods: A longitudinal cohort study was conducted with clinical nurses in South …

Determinants Of Patient Health Engagement In Post-Surgery Oral Cancer Patients, Tao-Wen Hsiao, Yu-Chi Chen, Shiow-Ching Shun, Hui-Ying Yang

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: Patients with oral cancer often face persistent physical and psychological challenges after surgery, which may hinder their engagement in care. Identifying the determinants of patient health engagement (PHE) is essential for guiding targeted, supportive care interventions throughout the treatment trajectory. This study aimed to examine key determinants of PHE among post-surgery oral cancer patients.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a medical center in northern Taiwan. Postoperative patients were recruited using purposive sampling. Data were collected from medical records and structured questionnaires, including demographics, disease and treatment characteristics, communication ability, psychological distress, and PHE. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses …

Marginalized Youths Pathways Into Healthcare: Hands-On Workshops As A Catalyst For Empowerment, James Ehiagwina

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: There is a disparity in the representation of individuals from marginalized and racialized backgrounds across healthcare professions (Keisha et. al, 2022). These disparities reflect ongoing barriers to access and a lack of relatable representation. Engaging workshops in healthcare professions have the ability to foster identification and inspiration for marginalized youths (Kendrick et. al, 2020).

Objective: To address these gaps, the CBNA-YorkU, a student-led organization, developed a summer workshop for marginalized youth to introduce nursing as an achievable career, promote a sense of possibility, and spark interest in post-secondary education.

Description: Building on the success of the 2024 inaugural workshop, …

More Than A Voice: Interpreters As Cultural Brokers In Serious Illness Conversations, Katherine Doyon, Sadia Abdulkadir, Sarah Darney, Sunny Smart, Hannya Ornelas, Alice Mwamba, Adebusola Oluwatoba-Adeyemi

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: In serious illness and end-of-life care, effective communication is critical to honoring patients’ values and goals. For patients with refugee backgrounds, healthcare encounters may also evoke distress or (re)traumatization due to past experiences of displacement, persecution, or medical mistrust. Interpreters are essential in facilitating understanding and emotional safety. Yet, their role often extends beyond that of neutral language conduits, they act as cultural brokers, bridging cultural and religious divides, buffering emotions, and fostering trust between refugees and the healthcare team.

Objective: To explore how medical interpreters experience their role as cultural brokers in serious illness conversations.

Methods: A 126-minute …

Exploring Adherence Barriers To Nutrition Intervention: A Qualitative Study Of The Pro-Heart Trial, Andrew Thomas Reyes, Angelina Nguyen, Alona D. Angosta, Rebecca Meraz, Kelly L. Wierenga, Jennifer Kawi, Lorraine S. Evangelista

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Altering the dietary habits of individuals with obesity, heart failure, and cardiometabolic comorbidities can enhance their health outcomes (Gjermeni et al., 2025). Adhering to these interventions remains challenging, leading to higher dropout and lower retention rates in clinical nutrition trials (Chao et al., 2021). To develop enduring, patient-focused interventions, it is essential to understand participants' experiences. Therefore, this qualitative sub-study explored participant-reported barriers to dietary adherence within the Pro-HEART randomized controlled trial, which evaluated the effects of high-protein versus standard-protein diets in individuals with heart failure and metabolic syndrome or Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The intervention in the Pro-HEART trial …

Preparing Patients Without Caregivers: Nursing Strategies For Safe Discharge To Home, Christine Rae Platt, Alycia Bristol, Hannah Wilkerson, Susy Vega, Deedee Long, Catherine Elmore, Andrea Wallace

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Hospital discharge represents a critical transition in care, particularly for individuals without caregiving support. Patients who identify as having “no one to help” face heightened vulnerability to complications and rehospitalization. Understanding how nurses can identify and address these gaps is essential to reducing post-discharge complications and readmissions.

Purpose: To explore from the patient perspective how nurses can effectively prepare patients, who have no identified caregivers, for discharge home.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 adults recently discharged from a large metropolitan hospital in the western United States who reported having no one …

From Didactic To Digital: Using Animated Videos To Transform Health Education In Nursing Informatics, Fiona Wing Ki Tang, Ricky Ahmat, Winnie Kwok Wei So, George Pak Kin Yau, Sally Wai Sze Lo

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: The integration of multimedia in clinical settings is rapidly expanding. Animated videos are effective in enhancing clients understanding across diverse health topics (Feeley et al., 2023). The post-COVID-19 era has accelerated the demand for remote health education. It is vital to equip nursing students with the competency to develop engaging animated health education resources (Brown et al., 2020; Risling, 2017). In a postgraduate nursing programme, a blended learning approach featuring micro-modules with animated content and video production workshops was implemented to enhance students’ competency and self-efficacy in nursing informatics.

Methods: A quasi-experimental with pretest-posttest design was employed. Four animated …

Evaluating An Innovative Frugal Nurse-Led Diabetes Self-Management Educational Programme In Uganda, Melanie Stephens, Louise Ackers, Rincy Sajiith, Daniel Parker, Rachel Namirro

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Diabetes is a global health care problem, with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) projected to increase by 2045 (WHO, 2023). Diabetes health related complications such as foot ulcers (DFU) constitute the largest proportion of admissions, amputations, and mortality and have significant impact on healthcare resources, patients and communities in low to middle income countries (Rigato et al., 2018). Using Burdett Trust for Nursing funding the research team (two nurse researchers, a social scientist, and a biomechanic scientist) wanted to address this issue by introducing 'nurse-led frugal innovations' to demonstrably improve morbidity, reduce mortality, in-patient stays …

Normal Isn’T Neutral: How Health Education Shapes Body Bias In Future Nurses, Megan Spurlock

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Pre-health and health students’ understanding of the human body is shaped by the curriculum used in anatomy and health education courses. These materials often present a narrow, idealized depiction of health and normalcy that does not reflect the diversity of real patient populations. Such portrayals can influence students’ perceptions of health, illness, and professional expectations in healthcare. Examining how educational materials construct the concept of a “normal” body is critical for fostering inclusive, equitable education and preparing providers to serve diverse populations effectively.

This study explores how pre-health and health education shape students’ perceptions of a healthy, normal body, focusing …

Curriculum Integration Of High-Consequence Infectious Disease Preparedness In Nursing Education, Shinu Joy, Corri Levine, Kimberly Rumsey

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Infectious threats with pandemic potential are occurring more frequently, emphasizing the need to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals for safe, effective management of complex cases. The health system serves as one of 13 federally funded Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers (RESPTCs) and the only one in the Health and Human Services (HHS) Region 6. The on-site Biocontainment Care Unit (BCU) is designed to care for patients with high-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs). The Special Pathogens Excellence in Clinical Treatment, Readiness, and Education (SPECTRE) Program supports this mission by providing comprehensive training for professionals and students in the recognition, …