Digital Commons Network^™

Rompiendo Fronteras: Addressing Language Barriers In Hispanic Palliative Cancer Care, Carla Mcnulty, Catherine Finlayson

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Cancer is the leading cause of death among Hispanic people, accounting for 20% of deaths (American Cancer Society, 2023). In 2024, the American Cancer Society predicted that 195,300 Hispanics would be diagnosed with cancer in the United States, and 50,400 (25%) would die from their disease, leaving approximately 144,900 (75%) living with cancer. As the Hispanic population rises in the United States, one can predict that cancer diagnoses will also increase. This is likely to result in a higher number of cancer-related deaths, as well as more individuals living with cancer. Consequently, there will be an increased demand for …

Supporting Socialization & Expression In Ltc: A Scoping Review Of Language Barriers & Older Adults, Christina Oleynikov, Amanda Mcintyre

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Communication is central to socialization and the expression of cultural identity [7]. In multilingual societies such as Canada, language barriers can hinder full integration, affecting social participation and overall quality of life [6,7,9]. The proposed study focuses on language barriers faced by minority older adults in long-term care settings. Non-English speaking residents who face barriers in communication and lack the adequate support necessary to overcome them, become vulnerable to impaired meaningful interactions and social isolation [3,11]. This study plans to gather and review existing scientific literature on how these barriers affect older adults and impact their socialization needs. A scoping …

Musculoskeletal Disorders, Care Burden, And Sarcopenia: A Preliminary Study On Family Caregivers, Shu-Yuan Lin

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Family caregivers bear a high risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), which may precipitate sarcopenia and care burden. This study hypothesizes that the occurrence of MSDs may be related to caregiver burden and sarcopenia among middle-aged and older family caregivers.

Study Purposes: (1) To investigate the incidence of MSDs, sarcopenia, and the level of care burden among middle-aged and older family caregivers; (2) To identify the correlations between MSDs, sarcopenia, and care burden.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted. Family caregivers who received services from the Caregivers Association or home care services and met the inclusion criteria, including …

Older Population-Based Resilience: An Evolutionary Analysis Via Complex Adaptive Systems, Po-Chung Feng

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: To clarify the concept of older population-base resilience to support nursing research, public health planning, and healthy aging strategies.

Background: Older population-based resilience is an important concept for facilitating the adaptation of aging populations to multifaceted adversity networks. While extensive studies has examined resilience among older adults across diverse systems, hierarchical levels, and dimensional perspectives, the conceptual discourse has focused mainly on the individual level. A comprehensive articulation of population-level resilience attributes has been notably absent from the literature. Consequently, establishing a precise conceptualization of Older Population-Based Resilience constitutes an imperative scholarly endeavor.

Methods: A systematic literature search was …

Being Present: Elevating Patient And Nursing Satisfaction Through Leadership Presence, Miranda Marie Schmidt

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: Predominant and notable themes currently being actively monitored in healthcare are nursing satisfaction, retention, and job performance. These variables have been identified as important areas to evaluate as to how they directly impact patient care outcomes. Use of the evidence-based Casey Fink Graduate Nurse Survey and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality- Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) leadership rounding guide highlights that combining structured tools along with leadership presence, style, and interactions is associated with positive changes in patient care, nursing satisfaction, retention, and the overall quality metrics will improve in a specified unit.

Methodology: 26 articles were reviewed …

Examining Social Support Among Black Dementia Caregivers In The Greater Toronto Area, Deanna Marie Black

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Dementia affects more than 55 million people globally and disproportionately impacts Black populations due to inequities in healthcare access. In Canada, Black communities face higher dementia risk and greater barriers to timely, culturally aligned care. In the Greater Toronto Area, Black caregivers carry major responsibilities while navigating fragmented services shaped by race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Although social support reduces caregiver burden, little is known about how Black caregivers access and use support within intersecting social and structural constraints.

Purpose: This study will examine how Black adult caregivers in the Greater Toronto Area construct, access, and mobilize social support …

Social Frailty In Asia: A Scoping Review Of Interventions, Gaps, And Priorities, Julienne Ivan Dagondon Soberano, Jed Montayre

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Aim: Social frailty (SF) is a multidimensional state of social vulnerability linked to adverse outcomes in older adults. Asia’s rapidly aging population poses challenges for health systems, particularly in addressing SF-related conditions. This scoping review aimed to describe existing SF interventions in Asian countries, assess evidence volume and characteristics, and identify research gaps.

Methods: A systematic search of eight databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar) identified English-language studies published from January 2020 to September 2025. The review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Interventions were synthesized across the care continuum (prevention, …

Assessing Nursing Students' Knowledge And Attitudes Toward Older Adults, Desiree L. Fernandes, Jennifer A. Fearon-Lynch

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: The population of older adults in the United States is increasing and will require an increase in the number of nurses to care for this population. Evidence suggests that there are many biases, stereotypes, and myths associated with the older adult population, which influence nursing students’ attitudes toward working with this population.

Aim: Our aim was to assess the effect of an aging adult educational intervention on second-semester sophomore nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes toward older adults.

Method: This one-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design with qualitative questions was conducted at a college within the northeastern United States. Undergraduate second-semester sophomore …

Enhancing Community Health Volunteers In Screening Indonesian Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Riksa Wibawa Resna, Ching-Min Chen, Tram Thi Bich Nguyen

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Indonesia faces a shortage of healthcare professionals (3.84 per 1,000 population, compared with the WHO standard of 4.45). Additionally, Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) play a crucial role in community-based geriatric care in Indonesia. However, their competencies in conducting Intrinsic Capacity (IC) screening remain limited.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured training program in improving CHV knowledge and skills related to intrinsic capacity screening.
A pre–post quasi-experimental design was employed with a total of 120 eligible CHVs recruited from three PHCs through purposive judgmental sampling. The two-day training program and a month of personal guidance were implemented …

Developing Ethical Reasoning And Teamwork In Nursing Students Via Organ Donation Simulation, Miranda M. Smith, Melissa Miasek, Laura Dunaway, Joseph Chamness, Mary Deason, Shikha Modi

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Organ donation is a critical healthcare priority, with 140,964 transplants performed worldwide in 2018 (Lewis et al., 2021). Nursing students often report limited exposure to donor referral processes, brain death determination, and communication with organ procurement organizations. Low baseline knowledge and confidence highlight the need for structured educational interventions (Alwesmi et al., 2023; Bertocchi et al., 2025). Evidence shows teaching and simulation-based learning enhance knowledge, attitudes, and competence in end-of-life donation care (Lewis, 2023). Simulation provides psychological safety, supporting teamwork, communication, clinical judgment, and emotional readiness for ethically complex situations (Masgaard & Svellingen, 2025).

Purpose/Methods: This study examined senior …

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 …

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 …

Reduced Executive Function In Older Adults With Chronic Diseases And Subjective Cognitive Decline, Cheng-Chen Chou, Yuan-Mei Liao, Jong-Ni Lin

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Chronic diseases are common worldwide and are closely associated with cognitive decline. Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) refers to self-perceived worsening of memory or cognitive ability. Individuals with SCD have a two-fold higher risk of developing dementia and often experience reduced physical function, emotional problems, lower quality of life, and an increased risk of falls. However, research on cognitive function and related factors among older adults with chronic diseases who report SCD remains limited.

Purpose: To compare cognitive and executive function in older adults with chronic diseases with and without SCD, and to identify factors associated with cognitive and executive …

Factors Influencing Canadian Nursing Students' Confidence, Perceptions, And Interest In Primary Care, Deanne Curnew, Julia Lukewich, Maria Mathews, Marie-Eve Poitras, Kathleen Stevens, Toni Leamon, Kennedy Deveau, Sheila Epp, Anaëlle Morin, Keirsten Smith

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: As team-based primary care expands in Canada, efforts to prepare Registered Nurses for primary care practice are growing. Learning experiences influence students' career-related confidence, perceptions, and interest. No studies have examined Canadian nursing students' academic exposure to primary care (i.e., in undergraduate programs) or the contribution of exposure to their confidence, perceptions, and interest in practicing in primary care.

Purpose: To examine the influence of Canadian nursing education on final-year baccalaureate nursing students’ confidence, perceptions, and interest related to practicing in primary care.

Methods: We conducted an online cross-sectional study of final-year baccalaureate students from accredited nursing programs across …

Family Support As A Correlate Of Self-Care In Older Adults With Diabetes In The Us, Solomon Tagbor, Diane E. Berish

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Family support and the maintenance of functional ability are crucial for managing diabetes among older adults (OA). In the United States, diabetes affects 29.2% of OA, and its management is complicated by frailty, polypharmacy, and hospitalizations (Bellary et al., 2021). Supporting individuals’ self-care ability and activities of daily living (ADL) independence can help to support diabetes management. Family support may influence the self-care ability needed for independent diabetes management, but it is less studied. The social-ecological model guided this study (Tudge et al., 2022).

Purpose: To examine the association between family support and self-care ability among OA with diabetes …

Strategies For Early Diagnosis And Treatment Of Patients With Ovarian Cancer, Petrina Nicole Harrison

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background/Purpose: Ovarian cancer remains the leading cause of death among gynecologic malignancies, largely due to delayed diagnosis. Rural clinics face unique challenges, including limited access to specialists and diagnostic tools. This DNP quality assurance project aimed to evaluate and improve providers’ strategies for the timely diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer within a rural gynecology clinic serving women at increased risk for delayed detection and mortality.

Methods/Design: Using Avedis Donabedian’s structure-process-outcome framework, a retrospective chart review assessed adherence to evidence-based diagnostic and treatment practices. Findings informed the implementation of a Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) integrated into provider workflows. Educational …

Reliability And Validity Of A Spiritual Health Scale For Older Adults In Long-Term Care Facilities, Kuan-Pei Lee, Ya-Lie Ku

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a Spiritual Health Scale designed for elderly residents in LTC facilities and to establish the reliability and validity of the instrument.

Methods: This study adopted a scale development approach. Based on the Elderly Spiritual Health Scale by Li and Shih (2021), the researchers integrated additional components derived from the conceptual framework to create a revised scale consisting of 16 items distributed across four dimensions—personal, community, environmental, and transcendental—with four items per dimension. A dichotomous scoring system was employed with responses coded as 1 (presence) or 0 (absence) of a spiritual issue scores ranged from …

Effects Of Tongue Resistance And Strengthening Exercises In Elderly With Mci: A Double-Blind Rct, Kuei-Ru Chou

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Frail older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) often experience reduced tongue function, resulting in inefficient bolus transport and swallowing difficulties. Tongue resistance exercises (TRE) use isometric or isotonic movements against resistance to enhance tongue strength, while tongue strengthening exercises (TSE) involve repetitive, high-intensity movements to improve tongue pressure and swallowing coordination. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a combined TRE + TSE program on tongue function, swallowing pressure, swallowing performance, and quality of life (QoL) in frail older adults with MCI.

Methods: A prospective, double-blind, three-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted. Participants (n = 89; mean …

Landlords' Attitudes Towards Age-Friendly Adaptations: Implications For The Well-Being Of Older Private Renters, Eva Severens, Ruth Stevens, An-Sofie Smetcoren, Ann Petermans

DRS Biennial Conference Series

A large share of private rental housing in Flanders, Belgium, is unsuitable for older people who want to age in place, which can negatively affect their well-being. Since it is often unclear what changes tenants are allowed to make, this study examines landlords’ attitudes toward age-friendly housing adaptations and their impact on the tenant’s well-being through the self-determination theory. Using student-designed adaptations, exploratory interviews were conducted with five landlords. Our findings reveal landlords' negative attitudes frequently stem from the desire to protect their own well-being by avoiding potential hassle and property damage. However, this can negatively impact tenants’ feeling of …

Design For Well-Being: A Preliminary Investigation On Design Interventions In The Context Of Loneliness Economy, Jinxia Liu, Angela Giambattista, Loredana Di Lucchio

DRS Biennial Conference Series

Loneliness has become a prominent public health issue that causes negative consequences at both individual and social levels. Concurrently, the market is actively responding and gradually forms the loneliness economy, addressing human emotional needs by offering related products and services. However, the largely implemented digital solutions remain problematic. This paper aims at investigating how design research has addressed the loneliness issue and what roles design plays in addressing loneliness. A mixed methodological approach was adopted, combining analysis of keyword co-occurrence and a meta-narrative review. The results identify the threefold design contributions: building and enhancing social connectedness, creating artificial companions and …

Design For Healthy Ageing: Developing And Applying A Resource Model, Yumei Dong, Hua Dong, Tingting Wang, Richard H. M. Goossens

DRS Biennial Conference Series

The sustainable development of an ageing society necessitates active participation of older people, requiring effective integration of their individual and collective resources into design. However, designers’ understanding of older people’s resources is rather limited. This study aims to develop a conceptual model of older people’s resources to support design for healthy ageing. Through literature review and interviews with 19 recently retired Dutch seniors, twelve resource types were identified, categorised into six dimensions: practical, emotional, intellectual, social, cultural, and time. These categories were synthesised into a Diamond Model of Resources. The framework, encompassing both resource categories and the Diamond Model, was …

Digital Platform To Foster Social Engagement For The Visually Impaired, Mônica Moura, Cristina Portugal, Márcio Guimarães

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This paper details the development and impact of the "Lembrei de Você" (I Remembered You) project, an inclusive design initiative that created a digital platform to combat loneliness and promote autonomy among the visually impaired, especially the elderly, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using participatory methods, the research led to the creation of a platform that manages and distributes audio messages through a solidarity network of readers and listeners. The study describes the design process, from accessibility requirements to implementation using WordPress. Results show the platform successfully optimized project logistics and fostered an inclusive digital environment, enhancing social interaction …

Longing For: Designing Activities To Break The Taboo Of Female Sexuality In Care Homes, Yoni Lefévre, Niels Hendriks, Heather Wilkinson, Andrea Wilkinson, Arno G. Verhoeven

DRS Biennial Conference Series

An effort to co-explore later life sexuality with older adults, this study critically reflects on a series of intentionally designed activities to discuss intimacy and sexual pleasure in a care context. Five activities were organised in a Belgian care home, involving four to six female residents, that gradually introduced a more explicit language about sexual health. The results highlight that: 1) taboos are difficult to discuss, therefore storytelling is crucial, 2) feeling vulnerable is confronting, but also enables genuine connections, and 3) co-exploring taboos through playfulness, while enabling self-expression. This paper provides a more in-depth understanding of designing collective dialogues …

Exploring Relationality For Future Care Technology Design, Kamila Anna Dzierzak, Erik Grönvall

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This paper explores and unpacks aspects of relationality by examining design engagements in a Swedish municipal care setting. Our exploration of relational perspectives on homecare is grounded in home care workers’ (HCWs) use of a workday scheduling and planning app. This paper presents empirical data generated through interviews and participatory observations, and identifies three themes: Manifesting relationality, Affectionating relationality and Tensioning relationality. Based on our understanding of relationality as it is developed in social care and design research, we discuss how relationality develops in everyday care, by juxtaposing this with real-life accounts of relational care. Then, we deliberate on the …

Making The Invisible Visible: Supporting Older Adults’ Expression Of Emotional Needs For Companion Robots Through Visual Co-Design Tools, Chuxuan Xu, Hua Dong, Mohammed Elsouri, Mingfeng Wang

DRS Biennial Conference Series

As populations age, companion robots are increasingly explored to support emotional well-being in later life. However, older adults often find it difficult to express abstract emotions or imagine interactions with unfamiliar technologies, limiting their participation in early-stage design. This study develops and validates a structured toolkit designed to support emotional articulation and co-design participation. The toolkit, consisting of companionship cards, robot role cards, and recording canvases, was refined through expert evaluation and user testing, and validated through comparative interviews with older adults (n=10). Results show that the toolkit supported richer emotional expression, smoother dialogue, and more sustained engagement, helping participants …

Understanding Digital Health Engagement Among Older Adults In India: A Cultural Probe Based Study, Radhika Sharma, Aakash Johry

DRS Biennial Conference Series

India is moving towards a health crisis, with a rapidly increasing population of older adults who have to deal with chronic health issues and declining family support. Remote health monitoring technologies offer opportunities for improved healthcare management; however, existing design guidelines often fail to address the cultural realities of Indian senior citizens. In this study, we identified six critical interaction areas for remote cardiac health monitoring, including self-monitoring, emergency response, and assistance-seeking patterns. Targeted cultural probes were designed for each area to evoke natural behaviours from 27 participants, aged 59-86, across diverse living situations. This participatory approach revealed that elderly …

Supporting Mental Health And Wellbeing Through A Staff Home Food-Growing Project, Laura Maclean, Andrew Wodehouse, Frederike Garbe, Mia Shepherd, Sarah Bowyer

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This paper presents a co-designed, nature-based intervention supporting NHS staff wellbeing through food growing. The NHS Home Growing Group (HGG) was collaboratively developed by DesignHOPES, NHS24, and a community garden. Home growing was identified as a feasible and meaningful activity compatible with shift work, with the potential of improving mental wellbeing in line with the NHS’s Five Steps to mental wellbeing model: connect, be active, keep learning, give, and take notice. Following a feasibility study, the 12-week intervention (April–July 2025) engaged 60 NHS staff using windowsill-growing kits designed for flexibility, autonomy, and asynchronous participation. Kits were sustainably sourced through recycled …

Designing Emotionally Resonant Thermal Interactions For Public Speaking Support, Guanhua Sun, Wei Wang, Ruixiao Zheng

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This study explores how thermal interaction can support emotional expression and regulation in socially anxious contexts. Using participatory and body-mapping methods, participants recalled and visualized temperature-related experiences of comfort, which were translated into six emotionally resonant thermal patterns. These insights informed the design of TempReso, a sleeve-type wearable that delivers dynamic thermal cues on the forearm. A series of design experiments examined how warmth and coolness evoke affective memories, redirect attention, and foster emotional comfort during public speaking. The study highlights temperature as an expressive and emotional material, revealing how embodied experiences can inform the design of affective haptic interfaces …

Designing Inclusive Virtual Reality Experiences For Older Adults: Enhancing Digital Engagement And Challenging Digital Ageism, Lian Pan, Xiao Wei, Yuanyuan Yin

DRS Biennial Conference Series

As global population ageing accelerates, virtual reality (VR) offers new opportunities to enhance older adults’ wellbeing, cultural participation, and social connection. Existing VR research concerning older adults has predominantly concentrated on medical or clinical applications. In contrast, this study investigates the potential affordances of VR for this population within cultural and entertainment domains. Through Participatory Design workshops with ten adults aged 60+ in UK, this study explores older adults’ user experience with VR and proposes recommendations for age-inclusive VR design. Results show that complex multi-step operations, dual-hand coordination, and complex menu structures create high cognitive load and reduce user confidence. …

Telling Stories, Making Hanzi: Ai-Assisted Co-Creation With Elderly Migrants In Urban China, Yunfei Chen, Wen Zhan, Peiyue Lin, Ziqun Hua, Ying Hu

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This paper explores how older migrants in urban China can record stories that everyday language and design often miss. We ran two co-creation workshops with 10 elders. Activities combined oral storytelling, facilitator-mediated AI assistance, and hand making. Large language models proposed candidate glyphs through a facilitator. Participants crafted new Hanzi to hold their stories. The resulting characters served as memory anchors for later sharing and retelling. Our interpretive analysis shows heterogeneity and adaptive capacity among participants. Participants experienced AI as a creative initiator that lowered barriers to expression and making, especially for those with lower digital literacy. The work challenges …