Digital Commons Network^™

Communicating Effectively When Engaging People With Lived Experience In Mental Health And Substance Use Health Research: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Lisa D. Hawke, Wuraola Dada-Phillips, Charlotte Munro, Shoshana Hauer, Claudia Sendanyoye, Yona Lunsky, Gillian Strudwick, Tanya Halsall, Natasha Y. Sheikhan

Patient Experience Journal

Background. People with lived experience of mental health and/or substance use challenges and families (PWLE/F) are increasingly engaged in research, providing positive impacts. However, effective engagement can be challenging, including ensuring effective communication. This qualitative study sought to understand the communication preferences of PWLE/F who are engaged in mental health and substance use health research. Method. A total of 18 participants (aged 19 to 79) took part in one of four focus group discussions. A semi-structured interview guide was used to facilitate the discussions. Focus group transcripts were analyzed using codebook thematic analysis. PWLE/F were engaged in all stages of …

Correlation Between Resident Physician And Patient Perceptions Of Empathy In The Emergency Department, Austin Porter, James Christian, Meryll E. Bouldin, Erin Willard, Stefan Graw, Sarah House, Sofie Morgan, Kristin Parker, Carly Eastin

Patient Experience Journal

Background: Empathy is essential for emergency medicine physicians, impacting patient outcomes and experiences, especially in the fast-paced emergency department (ED). However, empathy often declines during medical training, negatively affecting care. Little is known about how emergency medicine trainees perceive their empathy compared to their patients. Objective: This study aimed to explore the correlation between patient perceptions of resident physician empathy and residents’ self-perceptions during ED visits. Methods: This was a prospective observational study was conducted at a Level 1 Trauma and Tertiary Care Center in the south-central U.S., using the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) Measure. At patient disposition, ED …

Anonymity And Social Pressure: A Sociological Analysis Of Lolcows On Kiwifarms, Mary R. Smith

Honors Theses

This research assesses the website KiwiFarms using a mixed-methods approach, including content analysis and descriptive statistics, to determine whether demographic factors, such as weight, disability, and sexuality, influence an individual’s susceptibility to online trolling for others' entertainment.

The study found that most disproportionately targeted group was found to be overweight females. Meanwhile, Kiwi Farms users were found to be predominantly male, aged 18-24, and reside in the United States. The study's results indicate that the expressions of anomie on KiwiFarms are predominantly disciplinary, suggesting that KiwiFarms users mainly focus their criticism on rule violations rather than targeting individuals based on …

‘In Texas, Everybody Wants Antibiotics’: Reducing Inappropriate Antibiotic Expectations And Use With A Provider-Patient Communication Tool In Primary Care, Ashley Collazo, Paige Wermuth, Johanan Luna Rodriguez, Kiara Olmeda, Azalia Mancera, Fabrizia Faustinella, Michael K Paasche-Orlow, Roger Zoorob, Barbara Wells Trautner, Larissa Grigoryan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/objective: Patients often expect antibiotics for self-limiting diseases, pressuring providers to prescribe antibiotics unnecessarily. These expectations also contribute to the unsafe practice of taking antibiotics without a prescription (non-prescription use), such as pills retained from prior prescriptions or antibiotics from non-medical sources. Previous work shows that non-prescription use is due to strong, widely held misconceptions regarding the curative power of antibiotics. To reduce unnecessary use of antibiotics, we developed and pilot-tested a patient-focused, bilingual (English and Spanish) educational tool with patient and provider stakeholder input. The tool, a trifold brochure, included information on safe antibiotic use, potential antibiotic harms and …

Differences In Patient And Parent Preferences For Prognostic Communication Across Disease Milestones In Advanced Childhood Cancer, Rachel A Kentor, Shoshana Mehler, Caroline Christianson, Harmony Farner, Tara M Brinkman, Justin N Baker, Pamela S Hinds, Jennifer W Mack, Erica C Kaye

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Navigating prognostic communication is challenging for clinicians caring for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with poor-prognosis cancer. Presently, little is known about how AYA and parent preferences for prognostic disclosure evolve over time. This study explored communication preferences at key illness milestones of disease progression to inform individualized, person-centered approaches to optimize prognostic disclosure.

Procedure: Sixty-five participants, including 25 AYAs aged 12-25 years and 40 parents, were recruited at distinct illness timepoints-diagnosis, relapse/progression, Phase I/II trial enrollment, and bereavement-to participate in semi-structured interviews about their preferences for timing, style, and content of prognostic communication. Rapid analysis was conducted to …

Leadership In The Era Of Remote Work: Challenges And Strategies For Effective Management, Aferina Skeja

UBT International Conference

The rapid shift to remote work has transformed leadership practices across organizations. While remote work offers flexibility and global collaboration, it also introduces a range of management challenges. This paper examines the key challenges faced by leaders in remote settings, including communication barriers, employee isolation, accountability, and technological readiness. It synthesizes strategies recommended in the literature on remote leadership. Drawing on recent academic and practitioner sources, the paper emphasizes the importance of cultivating a robust digital communication culture, establishing clear expectations, promoting employee well-being, and maintaining a secure technological infrastructure. As organizations continue to navigate hybrid and fully remote work …

The Current - Volume 36 Issue 4, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Creating A Healthy Work Environment In Nursing: An Interdisciplinary Approach At The Point-Of-Care, Melinda Rodriguez

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Research has demonstrated that a consistent practice of interprofessional collaboration among interdisciplinary health care teams helps to promote a healthy work environment by fostering skillful communication, interprofessional teamwork, shared decision-making, thus contributing to a reduction in medical errors, decrease in poor patient outcome and increase in job satisfaction among nurses.

Detailed abstract attached.

Feeling At Home In The Basic Communication Course: A Qualitative Case Study Of Faculty And Student Perceptions Of A Connected Classroom Climate At One Midwestern University, Cynthia Grobmeier

Basic Communication Course Annual

The concept of a connected classroom climate considers that peer-to-peer interaction, not just instructor-student interaction, contributes to a sense of community in the classroom that can impact student outcomes. This qualitative case study considers both student and instructor perceptions of what contributes to that sense of connection in the classroom at a mid-size, four-year, Hispanic-serving university. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and member checks with students and instructors who engaged in the first-year basic communication course during the Spring 2022 semester. Four themes emerged in this study: a) the communication classroom is uniquely positioned to create a sense of …

The Current - Volume 36 Issue 3, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

It Just Means More: The Cultural Bond Between The South And Sec Football, Ryan Stinson

Senior Theses

With the success of programs like Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech in the early 1900s, college football quickly became means of establishing Southern superiority over the northern U.S. Their success continued into the 20th and 21st centuries with the creation and rise of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). During and prior to the existence of the SEC, rivalries, traditions, and pageantry developed and thrived in communities across the southeast. These aspects created a unique environment that drew in fans of college football across the region. This resulted in a unique bond between fan, university, team, and community that has thrived within all …

Fundamentals Of Business Communication Eco 21660 - Unit 2, Assignment 3: Key Concept Report, Catherine M. Young

Open Educational Resources

The Business Communications Key Concept Report assignment prompts students to "compose a business report using the analytical, indirect strategy business writing style." Students select a concept based on their interests and define it. They then select a company and discuss their concept within the context of the company. Students must access three outside resources for their report. A holistic rubric describes A-range, B-range, and C-range work. The assignment provides the foundation of Unit 2's oral presentation curriculum.

In-Patients Views Regarding Communication Skills Among Medical Students, Luma Mohammed, Nibras Hussain, Zeena Mahdi

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Background :The competence of the physician is determined not only by scientific and clinical knowledge, but also by excellent communication skills to ensure optimal doctor –patient interactions. Study objectives: To investigate patient views and satisfaction regarding communication skills of medical students and to find out the association of patients satisfaction with some sociodemographic features of them.Methodology: cross sectional study with analytic component was carried out at "Al-Imamain Al-Kadhmain Medical City" during March-May 2022 on admitted patients from different wards.Results: The study involved 314 patients from different wards in the hospital, 52% of patients was in the age group 30-60 years, …

Scholarly Writing Conventions, Dawn Atkinson

Writing

No abstract provided.

Supporting Discharge Preparation For Children With Medical Complexity: A Scoping Review, Emily Moore, Mia Waldron, Darlene Acorda, Cara Gallegos, Barbie Giambra, Stacee M. Lerret, Christine R. Platt, Danielle A. Sarik, Zara Sajwani-Merchant, Nesibe Sumeyye Kutahyalioglu, Pamela Gampetro, Susan Groshong, Marianne Weiss, Teri L. Hernandez, Sandra Staveski

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background

The transition from hospital to home is a critical period for children with medical complexity (CMC) and their caregivers, often associated with increased risks and stress. Both registered nurses and advanced practice nurses play a pivotal role in facilitating this transition through discharge preparation, including planning, coordination, and teaching. However, best practices for optimizing discharge processes for CMC remain unclear. The need for a comprehensive understanding of hospital discharge during this crucial time is apparent as adverse events following discharge are common and are often attributed to insufficient preparation and communication. This scoping review aims to identify key nursing …

Quality Improvement Project Implementing Teamstepps 3.0: Impact On Perception Of Teamwork, Angela Allen

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The clinical practice site is a rural health clinic that has experienced 28% staffing turnover in the last year, and opportunities for improvement in communication and teamwork were identified. The principal investigator (PI) used the Iowa Model Revised (IMR) as a theoretical framework and Lippitt’s change theory to promote change for the identified priority issue. TeamSTEPPS is an evidence-based program designed to improve communication and teamwork in healthcare teams with the goal of improving patient outcomes and safety. The quality improvement project utilized a quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-intervention surveys to answer the question: among staff at a rural …

Com 312-101: Effective Communication, Michael Edmondson

Humanities Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Carry On: A Multi-Campus Faculty Perspective On The Barriers And Facilitators To Implementing Service Learning Curriculum During A Global Pandemic, Adrianne Widaman, Kirsten Leisses Tuck

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Service learning (SL) faculty faced substantial and unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to explore SL faculty perspectives during the crisis. Higher education faculty who taught SL designated courses during 2020/2021 identified and prioritized challenges and strategies to teaching SL courses without direct person contact. A total of 144 unique responses were collected from 16 faculty from 5 universities using the nominal group technique, a qualitative and quantitative method. Highly ranked themes included the emotional burden felt by the faculty, decreased student learning, a lack of faculty time, the need for alternative assignments, and …

Before “Once Upon A Time”: Creative Class Exercises That May Foster Law Student Proficiency In Gathering Information During A Client Interview, Laura A. Frase

St. Mary's Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Cowl - V. 89 N. 1 - September 18, 2025

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 89 No. 1 - September 18, 2025. 20 pages.

Emphasizing A Student-Centered Process: Open Pedagogy Course Assessments Across Disciplines, Angela M. Mcgowan-Kirsch, Kelly Soczka Steidinger, Christina R. Hilburger, Heather J. Hether, Jean Hertzberg, Amanda Lohiser

Milne Open Textbooks

Emphasizing a Student-Centered Process: Open Pedagogy Course Assessments Across Disciplines showcases how Open Educational Practices (OEP) empower students as active contributors to knowledge creation. Grounded in constructivist principles, this collection highlights student-centered assessments—from collaborative course design and renewable assignments to generative artificial intelligence—that foster critical thinking, active learning, and inclusivity. Through practical examples and reflective discussions, the book provides educators with actionable strategies to integrate open pedagogical practices across disciplines while addressing challenges such as institutional support, professional development, and resource accessibility.

Patient-Provider Communication In Ckd Care: Patient Experiences And Nursing Implications, Christin Iroegbu, Sheridan Leak, Sam Bartolone, Celsea Tibbitt

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a complex condition that requires extensive knowledge for adequate patient self-management. Many individuals with CKD lack sufficient understanding of their diagnosis, leading to poorer health outcomes. Effective patient-provider communication is crucial in closing this knowledge gap, particularly given the intricacies of managing CKD, other comorbidities, and complex medication regimens. This communication is essential in primary care settings, where most patients with CKD are managed. Yet, little is known, from the patient’s perspective, about how these critical conversations unfold during the clinical encounter. Understanding patients' experiences communicating with primary care providers about CKD can offer …

The Current - Volume 36 Issue 2, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

The Art Of Compassion: How Viewing Art Affects Prosocial Intentions, Melissa Dolese

Faculty, Staff, and Students

Art functions as a communicative medium that evokes emotion and fosters social connection potentially motivating prosocial behavior. Grounded in theories of elevation and social cognition, this research investigated whether viewing art, regardless of its thematic content, would influence compassionate intentions toward individuals across varying relational distances (self, friend, stranger). The studies also examined if the types of imagined compassionate actions, categorized by expressive modalities (Chapman’s Love Languages, Gestures of Kindness, and Hedonic Pleasures), varied with relational closeness. Study 1 found that compassion-themed art influenced compassionate intentions toward strangers, with artistic communication predicting these intentions more strongly than explicit compassion messaging. …

Towards Accessibility In Healthcare For Individuals With And Without Hearing Loss: Evaluation Of Usability, Fit, And Communicative Effectiveness Of A Transparent N95 Mask Prototype, Samuel R. Atcherson, Brooklyn Schultes, Jeanne Hahne, Barbara Debaun, Chris Showell

JADARA

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the necessity of effective face masks in both public and healthcare settings for mitigating the spread of disease. However, traditional face masks impede communication, posing significant challenges for approximately 13% of the general population and 10% of healthcare and social assistance workers who have hearing loss and who rely on lipreading and other non-verbal cues. Traditional surgical masks and N95 respirator masks serve important roles in healthcare, but they differ in levels of protection. Currently, a transparent surgical mask is available, but not an N95 version. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the usability, fit, …

"My Child Needs A Chance And A Choice To Talk About Their Pain": Parents' Experiences And Perspectives Of Pain Communication In Paediatric Rheumatology., Rebecca R. Lee, Jade Edwards, Danielle C. Mountain, Janet E. Mcdonagh, Mark Connelly, Tonya Palermo, Sarah Peters

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: To investigate parents' experiences and perspectives about pain communication with healthcare professionals in paediatric rheumatology.

METHODS: Data were collected using semi-structured telephone interviews with parents of children/adolescents recruited from three UK tertiary paediatric rheumatology centres. A framework analysis was used to characterise parents' experiences and perspectives.

RESULTS: Eighteen parents participated. Their children had a median age of 13 years (SD= 3.16 years, Range= 6-16 years, 55 % male), with diagnoses of chronic primary pain (e.g. Ehlers Danlos syndrome/Hypermobility) and chronic secondary pain (e.g. Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis). Data were organised into four themes: 1) Parents' active role in pain communication, …

Behavior Change Communication Strategies On Human Immunodeficiency Virus /Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Risk Reduction For Long-Distance Truckers In Kenya, Cyrus Mutie, John Gachohi, Kawira Kithuci, Grace Mbuthia

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background Long-distance truckers (LDTs) not only experience heightened risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections due to risky sexual networks, but are also hard to reach with consistent risk reduction messages due to their often disruptive work schedules. Besides, evidence of the existing behavior change communication (BCC) strategies to enhance HIV/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) risk reduction is limited. Thus, the study sought to explore the most effective and preferred BCC strategies for adoption among LDTs in Kenya.

Methods and Methodology Nine key informants and 18 in-depth interviews were used to gather qualitative data from purposively sampled participants at Kenya's …

From Chatbots To Thought Bots: Teaching And Learning In The Age Of Ai, Stephen J. Mcconnell

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

Dr. Stephen McConnell’s keynote address took place on Friday, October 18, 2025, at the 82^nd Annual NYSCA Conference. In this personal but scholarly discussion, Dr. McConnell explores how various AI technologies do more than “assist” us – they also socialize us. He describes and explains several case studies that were part of his course at New York University entitled “Communications and AI,” and provides us with ten principles for teachers and students to become active participants with the tools of AI.

Dr. McConnell is a media scholar whose research focuses on the intersection of AI, digital communication platforms and …

Message In A Bottle, Saptarshi Biswas

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

The title of the image is inspired by a famous old song by the British rock band The Police. The song featured Sting’s evocative lyrics and captures a profound sense of isolation and longing. The song tells the story of a castaway who sends out a distress signal, only to discover that he is not alone in his feelings of loneliness. Through its haunting melody and rhythmic pulse, the track conveys themes of connection and the human experience, illustrating how, despite physical separation, people share similar struggles and emotions. The metaphor of the bottle serves as a poignant reminder of …

Understanding The Why: Patient, Parent, And Oncologist Perspectives On Prognostic Communication Preferences In Advanced Childhood Cancer, Erin Batchelor, Rachel A Kentor, Calliope Reeves, Harmony Farner, Shoshana Mehler, Caroline Christianson, Erica C Kaye

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/objectives: High-quality prognostic communication in pediatric oncology is essential to support informed decision making, foster trust, and honor goals of care. While families differ in their preferences for how prognosis is discussed, clinicians often rely on assumptions rather than directly eliciting these preferences, risking misalignment and distress. To address this gap, we aimed to characterize patient, parent, and oncologist perspectives on key variables, experiences, and circumstances that influence their preferences for prognostic communication.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 85 participants (25 patients aged 12-25, 40 parents, and 20 oncologists) to elicit their preferences for prognostic communication and the reasons …