Digital Commons Network^™

Racial Concordance And The Assumption Of Trust: Why Engagement Is Often Mistaken For Partnership In The Care Of Black Men, Samantha Faith Calhoun, Lacretia Carroll, Y'Esha Williams-Click, Kola Brown

Patient Experience Journal

Race concordance between patients and clinicians is frequently promoted as a strategy to improve trust and engagement for Black men in healthcare. Evidence suggests that encounters with Black male clinicians often increase patient comfort and observable engagement; however, engagement alone does not necessarily reflect trust. Drawing on professional experience as a nurse and researcher working with Black men, and on prior research examining shared decision-making preferences among Black men with hypertension in the U.S. Mid-South, this Personal Narrative examines how race-concordant encounters may rely on presumed trust, leading clinicians to advance diagnosis and treatment planning without adequate co-construction of care. …

Co-Designing Trust: Patient Experience, Relationships, And The Design Of Care, Toni Land

Patient Experience Journal

Trust can have a positive or negative impact on patients, families, and community healthcare experience. Although important, it is often treated as something soft and intangible rather than something intentionally measured and designed. Currently, healthcare organizations collect and report patient experience data related to communication, courtesy, respect, and responsiveness. But these measures do not capture the specific behaviors that influence whether trust builds or whether it stalls. This commentary explores trust as a foundational behavioral and environmental element in healthcare and challenges that improving trust requires more than good intentions; it requires bringing voices to the table through co-design. Starting …

Enhancing Nutrition Communication Skills Through Community-Based Learning To Create Cooperative Extension Resources, Elizabeth Lucas Combs, Anna Cason, Courtney Luecking, Heather Norman-Burgdolf

Journal of Dietetic Education

Strong communication and transferable skills are essential for future dietitians. This Best Evidence Teaching Strategy describes a community-based approach within an upper-level community nutrition course that partnered with the Cooperative Extension Service. Over six weeks, scaffolded assignments emphasized written, oral, and digital media skills, aligning with current trends in scientific communication. Students created information releases, podcasts, and short videos to translate evidence-based nutrition content into accessible formats for public audiences. Collaboration with Extension provided authentic context and motivation, as high-quality projects could be disseminated statewide.

Rebranding Architecture: Understanding Perception To Reinforce Professional Jurisdiction, Amber L. Whitaker

Theses

What is the current perception of the architecture profession, and what is the perception that architects want others to have? In the marketing and communications profession, one might ask, what is the profession’s current brand, and how does that differ from the desired brand? From inconsistent state laws regarding architectural titles, to the potential federal reclassification of the profession, to non-architects’ common misconception that architects merely draw floorplans, the architecture profession is misunderstood, causing an image problem. Although architecture is one of the world’s oldest professions, this image problem often translates into deep misunderstanding of what architects do, ultimately affecting …

A Systematized Review Of Parent Experiences With Special Education Placement In Rural Communities, Madeline Bishop

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Parents of children enrolled in special education programs often face unique challenges, particularly in rural settings where access to resources and communication with school personnel can be limited. This systematized review explores how rural school systems can best support parents during the special education process. A systematized review of articles published between 2005 and 2025 was conducted. A thematic analysis of 20 articles revealed 3 themes following the review: benefits and barriers to rural special education, professional relationships, and parents’ strain and appreciation. Overall findings highlight the importance of the experiences between parents and school personnel regarding special education. Limited …

Staff Matters: Is Our Dental Practice's Culture As Strong As We Think It Is?, Jodi Schafer Sphr, Shrm-Scp

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article explores how workplace culture influences employee retention, team morale, and patient experience in dental practices. The author discusses indicators of healthy and unhealthy workplace cultures, leadership behaviors that shape organizational climate, and practical strategies for gathering employee feedback, improving communication, and reinforcing accountability. Small, consistent actions are presented as effective tools for building a positive work environment.

The Invisible Work: On Expertise, Showmanship, And The Trust That Makes Surgery Work, Anish Gupta D.D.S.

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This commentary examines how clinicians can make their expertise more visible to patients through communication, education, and clinical narration. Drawing parallels to surgical checklists and professional mastery, the author argues that trust is built not only through excellent outcomes but also through helping patients understand the complexity and judgment behind treatment. The article emphasizes communication, transparency, education, and mentorship as important elements of patient-centered care.

Enhancing Sbar Documentation And Telecommunication Between Nursing And Anesthesia Teams In The Obstetric And Labor And Delivery Unit, Apollonia C. Anderson, Celeste Meda

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Manuscripts

Effective communication during obstetric handoffs is essential for promoting maternal and neonatal safety, yet communication failures remain a significant contributor to adverse events due to inconsistent and unstructured handoff practices. This Doctor of Nursing Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) quality improvement project was developed following the recommendations of the 2025 DNAP project, which implemented the OB/L&D-specific SBAR tool. This project evaluated the use of this communication tool in areas of OB interdisciplinary team communication accuracy, efficiency, and collaboration, particularly during obstetric epidural requests within a community-based labor and delivery unit. Guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework (Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 2020). Utilized …

Reducing Falls In The Cardiac Care Unit: An Improvement Project, Andrea Otero, Aryanna Campa, Nia Butac

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

Abstract

Background: Patient falls persist as a leading cause of preventable harm in hospitals, particularly among cardiac care patients who are at increased risk because of medication effects and mobility limitations. Despite existing fall `prevention measures in the Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, 43 falls occurred, highlighting the need for improved patient education and consistent staff communication.

Purpose: This quality improvement project evaluated the effectiveness of implementing a standardized fall prevention communication script to reduce the average monthly fall rate in the CCU from 3.583 to fewer than 2 falls per month.

Methods: Using the Plan-Do-Study-Act …

Perceptions Of Family Involvement And Its Influence On High School Attendance: Voices Of Families And Mathematics Teachers, Amber Phillips

Dissertations

Chronic absenteeism continues to be a growing concern in high schools, particularly in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic. Although family involvement has been widely studied in elementary and middle schools, less is known about how families and mathematics teachers experience school-based family involvement at the high school level. This qualitative case study explored those perspectives at a rural high school in Northwest Georgia. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with five families and five upper-level mathematics teachers, and a focus group was conducted with eight mathematics teachers. Interview and focus group transcripts were analyzed using structural and focused coding to …

The Role Of Media And The Digital World In The Formation Of Digital Identity And First Impressions, Author Information Removed

JMLE Submissions Open for Review

This study investigates the relationship between media literacy, identity structures, and social perception among Georgian higher education students and explores how Media Literacy affects the Formation of First Impressions through the mediating roles of Social Identity and Digital Identity. The results demonstrate a strong positive correlation between Media Literacy and both Social Identity and Digital Identity. While the direct link between literacy and impression formation was non-significant. The mediation model revealed a psychological mechanism: Media Literacy significantly reduces superficial reliance on digital profiles only by strengthening a conscious and reflective Digital Identity. In the Georgian context, these findings suggest that …

Integration Of Media Pedagogy In Teacher Education Classrooms, Author Information Removed

JMLE Submissions Open for Review

In an era where classrooms are increasingly influenced by media and socio-cultural dynamics, teacher education must evolve to incorporate critical dimensions like gender sensitization and media literacy. This study explores the role of media pedagogy in developing gender awareness among pre-service teachers in India. The study focuses on conceptualization of media pedagogy, intersectionality and teacher education classrooms and adopts an interdisciplinary approach for media and gender. A module was developed and then implemented with 30 preservice teachers, followed by focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with 10 teacher educators. The research study is guided by Methodology for Interdisciplinary Research (MIR) …

Technology Platform (Peer Plus) Supporting The Work Of Peer Recovery Coaches And The Communication Needs Of Individuals In Recovery From Substance Use Disorder: Protocol For An R21 Development And Usability Trial., Amanda Coupe, Jessica Pater, Rachel Pfafman, Victor P Cornet, Elisabeth Andrews, Mindy Flanagan, Dana Albright, Abhinay Balasani, Christopher Becker, Brian Parise, Erik Hess, Tammy Toscos

Health Services and Informatics Research

BACKGROUND: Substance use disorder (SUD) represents a significant public health concern in the United States. SUD recovery is complex and individualized, and support provided by peer recovery coaches (PRCs) can improve outcomes. The PRC-client relationship requires bidirectional mediated communication that is often informal but should be trackable, efficient, and aligned with health care privacy and security regulations. Current workflows and available apps do not meet these needs, illustrating the opportunity for client-centered technology tools. We have developed Peer PLUS (People Leveraging Urgent Support; Parkview Health System, Inc), a HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)-compliant mobile app and client management …

Communication Innovation: Developing A Bilingual Communication Board Validated By Lawshe’S Cvr, Natalie Palau, Amy Valenta

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Hospitalized families with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) can encounter communication barriers during routine interactions due to limited interpreter access, increasing the risk for adverse events and reducing satisfaction. At a freestanding pediatric hospital neurology unit, 67.3% of nurses reported difficulty communicating basic needs and 60% felt dissatisfaction with current LEP communication methods. To address these challenges and enhance communication, a bilingual communication board, featuring English and Spanish captions alongside illustrative icons, was developed and validated.

Experts, identified as nursing staff and Spanish and English-speaking caregivers, evaluated each icon and caption for clarity and accuracy using a four-point scale. Analysis using …

Virtual Reality Simulation For End-Of-Life Communication: Case Development And Pilot Implementation, Kathryn M. Ledwin, Kylene Abraham, Karen Parker

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Registered nurses have reported feeling unprepared and lacking proper skills for critical end-of-life discussions with patients and their families (Kerr et al., 2020). Virtual reality (VR) simulation presents a novel approach to providing immersive opportunities to support learning and skill development (Liu et al, 2023; Sinurat et al.,2025). VR has been successfully integrated into nursing education to support clinical skill development (Foronda et al. 20220; Liu et al, 2023), however less research has focused on specific applications for complex medical discussions.

Purpose: This project aimed to develop and examine the feasibility of using VR simulation as an educational intervention …

Enhancing Nurse–Patient Communication Through The Aidet Model: Evidence From A Vietnamese Hospital, Minh Thu Bui, Huong Giang Nguyen, Anh Nguyen, Tuong Vi Ho, Nghe Nguyen

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Effective nurse–patient communication is vital to patient-centered care and can be strengthened through simple, behavior-anchored routines. The AIDET model (Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explanation, Thank You) was implemented using a standardized checklist that operationalizes greeting, self-introduction, informing about timing, clear explanations, and an explicit expression of thank you to improve communication and patient’s satisfaction.

Objective: To evaluate hospital-wide AIDET model implementation and its association with patient-reported communication quality and satisfaction, and to identify components which will need improvement.

Method: A prospective, 6 months hospital-wide quality-improvement evaluation of nurse–patient communication at Bach Mai Hospital was conducted. Communication behaviors were standardized using …

Developing The “Cicare Rainbow Communication” Microlearning System For Lgbtq+ Nursing Education, Mei-Chen Su, Pei-Yun Tseng

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: A critical gap persists in global nursing education concerning practical training for communication with gender-diverse individuals. Insufficient preparation contributes to discomfort and miscommunication in clinical interactions, compromising culturally safe and equitable patient care. Addressing this gap requires innovative, evidence-based, and inclusive educational solutions.

Objectives: This study describes the systematic development and initial validation of the CICARE Rainbow Communication system—a digital microlearning intervention designed to enhance nursing students’ competence in communicating with gender-diverse patients.

Design: A multi-phase developmental research design was adopted, encompassing a qualitative needs analysis, system design and development, and expert content validation.

Methods: An initial qualitative study …

Information Law, Ahmed Hidass

Revue Marocaine de Droit, d'Economie et de Gestion (Moroccan Journal of Law, Economics and Management)

This paper examines the evolving scope of information law in response to the proliferation of media over the past three decades. The author, Ahmed Hidass, explores how the term "information" has expanded from its ordinary meaning—the act of gathering and disseminating knowledge—to encompass judicial procedures, scientific applications (including cybernetics and computing), and the broader field of communication. The paper highlights the conceptual confusion arising from the overlap between "information" and "communication," particularly influenced by the Anglo-Saxon school of media studies. The author defines information as the publication of knowledge or judgments through words, sounds, images, or any intelligible signs accessible …

What The 10-K Won’T Tell You: Earnings Calls And Corporate Crisis Response, Lumarie Guth

Midwest Business Librarian Summit (MBLS)

A marketing class assigns student groups to crisis management cases involving companies where something went wrong. How did those companies respond to the crisis? How did they communicate with stakeholders? Where were mistakes made? While quarterly financial statements can show the financial impact of a crisis, earnings calls offer something different: insight into how companies explain, frame, and respond to those events in real time. Because earnings calls happen quarterly, they can be used to track a crisis from its initial impact to its immediate fallout and longer-term repercussions. They also often include strategic insight and analyst questions not available …

Leading Through Difference: Core Values, Neuroscience, And The Habits Of Transformative Leaders, Jaime E. Welborn

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

Educational leaders are increasingly called to meet the demands of K-12 schools by managing diversity, navigating conflict, and leading change. One's core values, neuroscience, and cultural proficiency of educational practices play a very important role in how they lead organizations and interact with others. This conceptual paper explores the intersection of neuroscience, core values, and associated habits that support effective cross-cultural interactions. Drawing upon frequency count data from documents collected during professional learning activities in school organizations in New York, Missouri, and California from 2018 to 2025, empathy, open-mindedness, and communication emerged as the most frequently reported important core values …

Agricultural Extension Agents’ Perceptions Regarding The Use Of Social Media In Extension Work, Howard M. Wallace Ii, K. S. U. Jayaratne, Wendy Warner, Dara Bloom, Julia Mckeown

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Social media enables Extension agents to reach a large group of clients efficiently. However, research on agricultural Extension agents’ perceptions about social media use in Extension work is limited. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of agricultural Extension agents regarding the use of social media in Extension work. This was a descriptive research study conducted online. Findings confirmed that agricultural Extension agents in North Carolina State find social media helpful in Extension work, such as for the distribution of information to their clients and extending its reach to a larger audience. Extension agents perceive that using …

Man, Cut The Crop: Effects Of Cropectomies On Survival And Behavior In Drosophila Melanogaster, Emily Peraza

Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal

The gut-brain axis mediates communication between the digestive and nervous systems to regulate physiology and behavior. Its dysfunction profoundly impacts human health and causes disease. Region-specific hormones and neurotransmitters in the digestive system respond to several processes to signal the brain, but the mechanisms of gut-brain signaling are not fully defined. Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful model for studying gut biology by showing remarkable similarity to mammalian digestive systems, as both regulate energy by distributing nutrients. We refined a minimally invasive surgical protocol to remove the crop from adult flies. We then utilized the Activity Recording CAFE (ARC) and Drosophila …

Fostering Inclusion: Supporting Children With Hearing Loss In Social Interactions, Danielle Kaletta, Mary Jan Greer

Summer 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This project provided an open-access online program for caregivers of children with hearing loss to facilitate social engagement. Qualitative methods were used to conduct a needs assessment and identify areas of concern, barriers, and limited resources that affect participation in social activities. Based on the needs assessment, a 6-module website was created and published. Occupational therapy-based evidence, research, interventions, and best practices were compiled and adapted to target identified areas. Participants reported overall favorable feedback, stating an increase in knowledge, confidence, and participation.

Advocacy For Inclusive Play In South Dallas: Expanding Access For Children In Underserved Areas, Aryanna Fellows, Mary Jan Greer

Summer 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project aimed to advocate for more inclusive and accessible playgrounds for children of all abilities in underserved communities in South Dallas. Guided by the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) Model, the project evaluated playground accessibility and identified environmental barriers that limit participation for children with disabilities. Methods included a community needs assessment, playground observations using a standardized accessibility assessment tool, surveys, and stakeholder collaboration. Participants included community members, caregivers, organizational stakeholders, and children who utilize local playgrounds. Findings were synthesized to develop evidence-based recommendations and educational resources to support future playground improvements. The expected outcomes included increased awareness of inclusive playground …

Integrated Sensing And Communication For Uavs With Oddm Waveforms, Mohammad Abdul Mobin

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A new delay-Doppler (DD) integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) framework is proposed for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems. In the DD-ISAC framework, both sensing and communications are performed by using the orthogonal delay Doppler division multiplexing (ODDM) waveforms, which unify sensing and communication designs through their unique properties, such as local bi-orthogonality and dual-resolution in the DD domain. Specifically, the dual-resolution property enables the generation of delay-Doppler map for accurate and low complexity sensing, and the bi-orthogonality minimizes interference for both sensing and communications. The ODDM waveforms are used in combination with the phase comparison monopulse technique and a scaled …

Visibility By Design: Communication Infrastructures, Mediation, And Knowledge Transfer On Neurodivergence In Institutional Contexts En [Ponencia] Iamcr 2026, Bárbara Mercedes Castillo Abdul Hadi, María Beltrán-Rodríguez, Luis M. Romero-Rodriguez

Congresos y Conferencias

The social visibility of neurodivergence has become an increasingly salient object of inquiry within communication studies, particularly in relation to public communication, institutional communication, and processes of educational and social inclusion. Previous research has addressed this phenomenon primarily from the perspectives of health communication and awareness-raising campaigns, with a strong focus on stigma reduction and the improvement of public knowledge about neurodevelopmental conditions. However, these approaches have paid comparatively less attention to how communication intervenes in the transfer of scientific knowledge into applied contexts—such as the design of inclusive educational environments—and to its role in articulating the relationship between institutional …

Redesigning An Intercultural Communication Course To Build Power Skills For An Ai-Augmented Global Economy, Nitin Deckha

International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

This case study reports a full redesign of an undergraduate Intercultural Communication seminar in Toronto, repositioning the course to foreground power skills as durable differentiators in an AI-mediated economy. The redesign shifts an asynchronous distance format into a seminar-based model with weekly applied learning, scaffolded assessments, and a four-week COIL partnership with a Turkish university to create authentic intercultural collaboration under real constraints. Students practice creativity, curiosity, critical thinking, ethical reasoning, decision-making, verbal and nonverbal communication, cross-cultural competence, and self-reflexivity, while also learning to use AI tools in ways that remain accountable to disciplinary standards. Assignments include debates, peer assessment, …

Chronicling Oral History In The Classroom: Preserving Campus Memories And Fostering Connectivity, Madison A. Krall, Kate Sierra

Feminist Pedagogy

In our ever-changing world, projects involving undergraduates, faculty, and staff serve a dual purpose. This oral history assignment aids students in developing the real-world skills of project management, interpersonal communication, interviewing, and digital literacy. We outline how student-created oral histories reflect the underpinnings of feminist pedagogy and contribute to campus connectivity as students learn how people from different intersectional backgrounds can collaborate to benefit their university communities. Using communication research methods and new-age technology, students capture memories of long-standing campus representatives and develop video products for their university archives that bridge past university life, today’s classroom skills, and tomorrow’s potential.

The Role Of Social Media Influencers In Brand Communication Strategies, Elvis Madondo, Eunice Akindeji

ASEAN Marketing Journal

Manuscript type: Review Paper.

Research Aims: This study aims to examine the role of social media influencers in shaping contemporary brand communication strategies and to identify the opportunities and challenges associated with influencer marketing practices. Design/methodology/approach: This study employs a semi-systematic literature review approach by analyzing previous studies related to influencer marketing, brand communication, customer engagement, and consumer behavior across digital platforms. Research Findings: The findings indicate that brands strategically select influencers whose personal branding aligns with the company’s values and identity to enhance customer engagement and brand perception. Long-term collaborations between brands and influencers are also found to strengthen …

Rethinking Communication And Power Relations In A Collaboration Between Designers And Welfare Communites/Organisations, Zhixin Zhang, Sarah Kettley, Agnese Sile

DRS Biennial Conference Series

This paper presents a disabled researcher’s reflection on communication and power relations experienced through direct participation in an Inclusive Design Workshop in Tokyo. It explores how designers collaborated with welfare facility communities to develop inclusive ideas and practices. The study conceptualises inclusion as a relational process that extends beyond accessibility compliance, shaped through communication, emotion, and care. Through a reflexive ethnography that combined participant observation and multimodal analysis, four key themes emerged: Communication Barriers, Effective Communication, Effective Operation of Design Decisions, and Responding to Communication Strategies. Insights suggest that institutional hierarchies and emotional asymmetries often acted to hinder participation but …