Patient-Centered Care To Improve Recruitment And Retention In Clinical Trials: Insights From A Real-Time Interview-Based Satisfaction Study, Christina Zhuang, Aishwarya Prasad, Anshu Arora, Arun Arora, Jeena Vaid, Wisam Aljumaili, Arif Khan

Patient Experience Journal

Patient-centered care is increasingly recognized as essential for understanding participant expectations and generating more accurate and reliable clinical trial results. This study aimed to evaluate an interview-based feedback tool designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of patient experience at a free standing high-enrolling clinical site in the Pacific Northwest. The primary objectives were to identify strengths and weaknesses in current procedures, enhance recruitment and retention, and develop a model adaptable to other sites. A structured interview tool was independently developed based on literature supporting the integration of qualitative and quantitative feedback to capture a multidimensional view of patient experience. The …

Cartoon-Printed Uniforms: A Strategy To Ease Pediatric Hospital Anxiety, Karnellya R. Ohol, Janaki P. Shinde

Patient Experience Journal

This quasi-experimental study evaluated the effectiveness of cartoon-printed nurse uniforms in reducing anxiety among hospitalized children aged 3–12 years. Conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Maharashtra, India, the study included 100 participants (50 intervention, 50 control) who received care from nurses wearing either cartoon-printed uniforms or traditional clinical attire. Anxiety was assessed at baseline and on hospital days 2, 3, and 4 using validated age-appropriate scales: the modified Faces Anxiety Scale (ages 3–6) and the STAI-C short form (ages 7–12). Mixed-effects repeated-measures ANOVA demonstrated a significant group × time interaction (F(3,294) = 42.67, p < .001, partial η² = .304). Children cared for by nurses in cartoon uniforms showed a 48.8% reduction in anxiety compared to 14.7% in controls. Between-group effect sizes increased progressively across days (d = 0.87 to 2.13), indicating cumulative benefit rather than transient novelty. Clinically meaningful improvement (≥30% reduction) was achieved by 76% of intervention participants versus 24% of controls (NNT = 1.92). Staff acceptability was high (95%). Findings indicate that cartoon-printed uniforms are a simple, low-cost, high-impact environmental intervention that significantly enhances pediatric patient experience. Their strong clinical utility, ease of implementation, and alignment with child-centered care principles support adoption across pediatric healthcare settings.

Veteran Emergency Waiting Areas And Turned-Off Televisions: An Overlooked Variable, Randall Vanadisson

Patient Experience Journal

The significance of environmental design in emergency department (ED) waiting areas is increasingly acknowledged as a vital element affecting patient experience and stress levels, especially among veterans who may already encounter heightened psychological susceptibility. Aim: To investigate the impact of a non-operational television (TV) at a veteran's medical center emergency department waiting area on patient behavior, perceived stress, and environmental involvement. Methods: This naturalistic observation study employed non-participatory observation of 19 patients in the waiting area of a Veterans Affairs hospital. Field notes captured behavioral responses, seating patterns, and nonverbal stress cues. Observable engagement with the physical environment, …

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

Patient Experience Journal

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

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

Patient Experience Journal

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

The Patient's Lived Experience: A Phenomenological Study On Factors Influencing Tuberculosis Treatment Outcomes In Medan, Indonesia, Erida Novriani, Urip Harahap, Khairunnisa Khairunnisa, Wiryanto Wiryanto

Patient Experience Journal

This qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to analyze the factors influencing tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes from the patient's perspective in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The objective was to uncover the nuanced human factors shaping the patient's treatment journey, moving beyond a sole reliance on statistics and quantitative methods. The research was conducted across all 41 Primary Health Centers (PHCs) in Medan. Through a purposive sampling strategy, data was collected from 22 TB patients via in-depth interviews until data saturation was achieved. The collected data was analyzed using thematic, narrative, and phenomenological approaches to interpret the detailed lived experiences of the …

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

Patient Experience Journal

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

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

Patient Experience Journal

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

Expanding Family Participation In Inpatient Rounds Through Remote Access: A Feasibility Study Using Automated Messaging, Praveen Meka, Susan Ayers, Jayme Wilder

Patient Experience Journal

Patient representatives (PR) often wish to be part of the care of their loved ones when hospitalized. However patients are frequently alone during morning bedside rounds. A feasibility study was conducted at a large New England Academic Center to evaluate whether short messaging service (SMS) notifications of morning round times with ability to conference-in could improve remote PR participation in inpatient rounds and assess its impact on communication, acceptability, and care experience. After IRB approval, 17 patients were recruited, resulting in 61 bedside encounters. PRs received daily SMS reminders with scheduled round times and joining instructions; care teams received daily …

The Implementation Of Family-Centered Care And Family Satisfaction In Caring For Children With Cancer, Lenny Gannika, Mulyadi Mulyadi, Jeanette Irene Christie Manoppo

Patient Experience Journal

Background: Family-Centered Care (FCC) is an approach that involves families actively in their children's care by emphasizing respect, collaboration, and support. The goal is to increase family satisfaction with the care of children with cancer. FCC covers six subscales: general satisfaction, information, family inclusion, communication, technical skills, and emotional needs. Objective: This study aims to analyze the relationship between implementing FCC and family satisfaction when caring for children with cancer. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted at the Estella Children's Cancer Center in Manado, Indonesia, from June to October 2024. Parents of hospitalized children with cancer were selected for …

Using Artificial Intelligence To Enhance Patient Comprehension And Risk Perception Of Pathology Reports: Findings From A Survey Of Patients And Pathologists, Jordyn Franco, Osee Koulong Leussa, Amer K. Abu Alfa, Mark K. Fung

Patient Experience Journal

Context: Electronic health records (EHRs) provide patients with direct access to their pathology reports, often before physician consultation. However, the complexity of medical terminology can lead to misinterpretation and anxiety. Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large language models such as ChatGPT, may improve patient comprehension by simplifying medical language. Objective: This study evaluates ChatGPT's ability to enhance patient understanding and risk perception of pathology reports by generating patient-friendly explanations and assigning a numerical concern level. Pathologists assessed the accuracy of AI-generated summaries. Design: A publicly available colonoscopy pathology report was analyzed using ChatGPT, which produced a simplified summary and concern score. …

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

Patient Experience Journal

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

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

Patient Experience Journal

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

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

Patient Experience Journal

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

Beliefs Regarding Patient Experience In The Emergency Department Among Individuals With Sickle Cell Disease, Elizabeth A. Ibiloye, Gloria N. Odonkor, Ayobami A. Aiyeolemi, Jamie C. Barner, Carolyn M. Brown, Hyeun Ah Kang, Benita A. Bamgbade

Patient Experience Journal

Individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) frequently experience intense, unanticipated pain episodes known as vaso-occlusive events (VOEs), which often require emergency department (ED) treatment. However, they often report suboptimal experiences in the ED. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study aimed to elicit salient beliefs regarding SCD patient experience in the ED. Three virtual focus group sessions were conducted with individuals with SCD recruited through a Texas SCD Association and Rare Patient Voice. Nine open-ended questions were used to elicit participants' behavioral, normative, and control beliefs regarding ED use when experiencing VOEs. Qualitative analysis was performed using a …

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

Patient Experience Journal

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

The Quiet End Of The Visit, Avinav Biswas

Patient Experience Journal

Reassuring language is a common and often well-intentioned feature of clinical encounters, frequently used to convey clinical confidence and bring visits to a close. This personal narrative reflects on an observed outpatient encounter during a physician shadowing experience in which reassurance appeared to function not only as comfort, but also as an implicit signal of conversational closure. From the perspective of a student observer, the piece describes a moment of patient hesitation that arose after reassurance was offered, then quietly disappeared as the visit concluded. Although the encounter was clinically appropriate and efficient, the unspoken pause highlighted how uncertainty can …

Navigating Medical Ambiguity: A Patient's Perspective On Communication, Timing, And Risk, J. Hansen

Patient Experience Journal

This essay recounts the experience of navigating re-vaccination decisions after an initial diagnosis of vaccine-associated myocarditis. A diagnosis later contested by other specialists. It is not a tale of medical error, but of diagnostic ambiguity and divergent clinical reasoning. My intent is to show how, in the absence of consensus, a patient was compelled to assume a central role in adjudicating between competing medical narratives. Recommendations are offered to make medical advice more available to patients and bridge a growing gap between medicine and the public.

Human Experience, The Boarding Crisis, And Moral Injury-A Call To Action, Thom Mayer, Wendy Dean

Patient Experience Journal

Patient experience has evolved to a broader definition of human experience, including workforce experience, and community experience. Hospital boarding is a common, pervasive problem facing healthcare, which threatens all levels of human experience, from patient experience, to workforce experience (moral injury and burnout in healthcare professionals), and community experience (delayed and denied access to care for patients, Emergency Medical Services, and even interhospital transfers. Effective system leadership across the systems and processes of healthcare, as well as stakeholder and boundary management, will be essential to deliver acceptable human experience, in addition to solutions to smooth surgical flow, improve discharge systems, …

Human Experience: A Catalyst For Global Connection, Jason A. Wolf

Patient Experience Journal

As I think about the state of play in our world today, I find we have two choices in how we react. One is with a sense of despair driven by the intentional efforts to disconnect humanity being perpetuated by some. The other, with a sense of hope, that even in the face of these forces, there are those that strive relentlessly to foster connection and opportunity. I find the path forward in holding the tension of pragmatic idealism – that we can dream, with big and noble goals, while recognizing our path forward must be grounded in practical and …

Improving Identification And Referral Of Xylazine‑Associated Wounds In Homeless Healthcare, Ramon A. Gambino

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Background: Xylazine-adulterated fentanyl is linked to distinctive necrotic wounds and complex care needs in unsheltered populations. This quality improvement (QI) project implemented a brief survey and referral log at Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless (AHCH) to track suspected xylazine-associated wounds and referrals to advanced care. Methods: Final data were exported from Qualtrics, cleaned to retain finished responses, standardized categories, and de-identified. The analytic sample included 18 encounters. Results: Results showed that 55.6% (n = 10) documented suspected xylazine-associated wounds; 5.6% (n = 1) reported no suspicion; 38.9% (n = 7) were uncertain. Referrals were rarely documented overall at AHCH …

Haynes County Ems Outreach Quality Improvement, Anna Parker, Linda Haddox

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

A Quality Approach To Pneumococcal Vaccination, Nimmy Joy, Michaela Mckissack

Central & West Texas and San Antonio GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Digital Touchpoints: Investigating Contact Page Accessibility And Visual Authenticity Within Medical Tourism Health Websites, Alicia Mason, Elizabeth Spencer, Kristen Livingston, Treyton Meyers, Sakshi Bhati, Himika Akram

Faculty Submissions

This study examines two critical digital touchpoints on medical tourism provider (MTP) websites: (1) the accessibility of contact pages which often function as entry points for inquiries, scheduling, and pre-travel coordination, and (2) the authenticity of visual imagery used to shape expectations about care environments, personnel, and technological capacity. A sample of 105 MTPs across all six World Health Organization regions were analyzed using quantitative web accessibility testing and qualitative visual analysis. Results indicate pervasive accessibility errors on contact-page touchpoints and extensive reliance on inauthentic imagery to depict patients, providers, and medical technologies. Together, these practices may distort user expectations …

Healthcare Systems & Policy Implications For The Impact Of State Medicaid Reimbursement Rates On Access To Primary Care Services In Rural Communities: Turning Knowledge Into Action, Miriam Martinez

Posters - 2026

• Where a child lives can determine whether they receive care or go without it. • Access to primary care is essential for prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment, but rural areas face persistent challenges such as provider shortages and geographic isolation. • Medicaid serves as the primary source of health coverage for low-income children; however, reimbursement rates vary by state and are often lower than other forms of insurance. • This study examines how Medicaid reimbursement policy contributes to disparities in access to care for rural children and reflects broader structural inequalities within the healthcare system.

The Cost Of Affordable Healthcare: How Brazil's Sus And Generic Drug Strtegy Produce Structural Inequality And Challenge Global Pharmaceutical Rules, Elena Kössler

Posters - 2026

Affordable healthcare is often seen as a major social achievement, but maintaining low costs involves important trade-offs. Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS) provides universal healthcare and relies heavily on generic medicines to expand access. This raises a central question: how can a system reduce the cost of healthcare while simultaneously generating new forms of inequality and tension within global pharmaceutical markets? This paper argues that Brazil’s cost-reduction strategy, particularly its reliance on generic medicines, improves affordability but also produces structural trade-offs between equitable access, quality of care, and incentives for pharmaceutical innovation.

Eating Disorder Prevention And Early Intervention In U.S. Higher Education – A Comparative Benchmarking Study, Jake R. Arcement

Senior Theses

Eating disorders (EDs), including anorexia nervosa, have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness, yet remain underrecognized relative to their severity and treatment burden. Because the period of peak onset aligns with the college years, institutions of higher education are uniquely positioned to play an important role in prevention, early identification, and referral to specialized care. However, limited research has examined how colleges and universities structure ED prevention and treatment resources. This thesis applies a comparative benchmarking framework to assess current institutional practices across U.S. colleges and universities. A national survey of student health and counseling centers examined staffing, …

Evaluating U.S. Health Policy Levers Using Difference-In-Differences: Hospital Acquisitions, Global Budgets, And Income Policies, Kola Adegoke

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Background: U.S. health policy relies on multiple levers to influence system performance, financial stability, and population health. This dissertation uses a three-paper portfolio to evaluate organizational change (hospital acquisitions), payment reform (Maryland all-payer global budgets), and income-related state policies, applying difference-in-differences (DiD) designs with prespecified diagnostics to support causal interpretation.

Methods: Study 1 examined hospital change-of-ownership (CHOW) acquisitions using a national hospital-year panel from RAND HCRIS (2014–2023), linked to CHOW timing data from 2016–2023. Effects on revenue outcomes were estimated using a staggered difference-in-differences design implemented with the Callaway and Sant’Anna estimator, using doubly robust inverse probability weighting, hospital-level …

Development And Validation Of The Emergency Department Transitions Measure, Sara Beachy, Danielle M. Mccarthy, Julianna Lenoir, Alexzandra Gentsch, Richard W. Hass, Marissa Witmer, Paula Ostroff, Melissa Tupas, Lindsey Shughart, Hailey Shughart, Kristin L. Rising

Jefferson Center for Connected Care Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Transitions of care are high-risk periods for patient safety in the emergency department (ED), particularly for patients who are still in the diagnostic process and are discharged with diagnostic uncertainty. Care transitions must be improved for these patients, as one third of discharged ED patients have diagnostic uncertainty. Yet there are no validated measures that assess the quality of care transitions from the ED, limiting the ability to assess the impact of interventions. Thus, we developed and validated the ED Transitions (EDT) measure.

METHODS: This mixed methods study was conducted across a large healthcare system in three phases: item …

Pedaling Through Discomfort: A Feasibility Study Of Faculty-Led Spin Classes And Their Impact On Student Engagement, Resilience, And Faculty-Student Relationships, Gabriela Baza, Elizabeth Hathaway

Pursuit - The Journal of Undergraduate Research at The University of Tennessee

This study explored the feasibility and impact of faculty-led Spin classes on college students’ engagement, well-being, and connection with faculty. Offered twice weekly at 7 AM during Fall 2024, the classes aimed to promote physical activity, resilience, and faculty-student relationships. Twenty-six students attended at least one class, with a median attendance of 4.5 sessions. Post-semester surveys (88% response rate) assessed perceived exertion, interest, enjoyment, challenge, improvement, and instructor encouragement. Students reported high levels of engagement and positive challenge (RPE = 15.3; challenge = 6.4/7). Those attending 7 or more sessions reported significantly greater perceived improvement than those attending fewer sessions …