Health Communication Commons^™

Shelving Stigma: A Grocery Store Client Choice Pantry Model - A Solution To Food Insecurity In Young Adults Of Marginalized Communities While Eradicating The Stigmatization Of Food Pantry Services, Anna C. Buckley

Honors Theses

An increasing number of young adults, age 18 to 35, are becoming food insecure across America, but disproportionately in urban and people of color communities. However, food pantries have remained a social stigma causing food insecure persons to avoid using a food pantry for hunger relief. Research has shown that the grocery store model for food pantries is most beneficial for staff, while also minimizing the stigma and increasing accessibility for pantry clientele. The purpose of this program proposal is to highlight the feasibility of implementation of a client choice grocery store pantry model at the NY Common Pantry (NYCP) …

Family-Centered Care In Pediatric Oncology, Olivia B. Hope, Jazminne Orozco Arteaga Otd, Otr/L

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Pediatric cancer is a medical condition defined by the development of cancerous cells in children and adolescents. Play is a child’s job; it creates a sense of belonging, fills their internal desire to participate in various environments, and allows them to develop sensory, motor, and cognitive skills. The PEOP model further structured this study by providing a comprehensive framework that considers the interactions between the child, their environment, and their occupational participation. This research project used a qualitative, exploratory design to understand how play-based interventions may enhance FCC in the pediatric oncology setting. Thematic analysis was utilized to create five …

What You See Is Not What You Get: Food Advertising Amidst The Global Overweight And Obesity Pandemic, Marija Ocokoljic

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

The tandem issue of obesity and overweight is a serious global issue that has attained pandemic scale. Media, particularly advertising, plays an active role in shaping perceptions and behavioural patterns, influencing both how and what people eat. This paper analyses food advertising in Serbia in 2023 in the context of promoting dietary habits. Content analysis of commercials aired on a selection of television stations during the year showed the overwhelming prevalence of ads for food high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS), with confectionary products in lead positions. Commercial narratives centre on framing them as sources or catalysts for joyful, …

Facilitating The Use Of Sbar By Nursing Staff For Handoff Communication, Amarillis L. Tompkins

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Clear communication during shift handoffs is crucial to minimize errors and ensure patient safety in intensive care. The current SBAR framework used in the MICU is constrained by limited documentation space, which led to communication inefficiencies and heightened risks for patient care.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: In the NFSG VA MICU, will staff nurses (P) using a revised SBAR communication tool with a checklist (I), compared to the current outdated SBAR tool without a checklist (C), improve the accuracy and completeness of patient handoff communication (O) over eight weeks (T)?

Evidence: The project …

Evolving Dynamics In The Physician-Patient Relationship Shape Our Experiences In Healthcare, Megumi Ludlow

Student Research Symposium

The physician-patient relationship is crucial for quality healthcare, but it's influenced by key elements that can lead to healthcare disparities. This research focuses on:

• Trust: the foundation for patient engagement and treatment adherence.
• Power Dynamics: The balance (or imbalance) of authority between physician and patient.
• Biases: how unconscious assumptions about patients impact care decisions.

Findings From A Qualitative Analysis: Social Media Influencers Of Color As Trusted Messengers Of Hpv Vaccination Messages, Amelia Burke-Garcia, Erin Cutroneo, Dasha Afanaseva, Kayla Madden, Angela Sustaita-Ruiz, Preethi Selvan, Estefany Rivera Sanchez, Amy Leader

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Despite HPV vaccination reducing the prevalence of cervical cancer by 90%, vaccination rates remain lower among communities of color due to vaccine hesitancy and mistrust in traditional public health messengers. The emergence of social media influencers, a newer kind of messenger, presents a unique opportunity to share immunization messages in new ways with a variety of communities. This paper reviews the qualitative findings from a study aimed at assessing influencers' perceptions of and approaches to sharing messaging about the HPV vaccine.

METHODS: Guided by several theories (Theory of Planned Behavior, Narrative Theory, and Opinion Leader Theory), the study team …

Ocd Online: Strategies To Build Engagement For Mental Health Content On Social Media, Casey Matthews

Senior Theses

Social media is a tool with the potential to shape health communication. This study seeks to apply models of social media engagement from brand communication studies to explore how social media practitioners can effectively build engagement for mental health messaging. The study takes root in the concepts of social media engagement behavior (SMEB) and active vs. passive engagement outlined in the work of Dolan et al. (2019) and Shahbaznezhad et al. (2022). The application of these concepts to health communication provides new insight into the effectiveness of various messaging strategies—with a focus on OCD, a disorder that faces high levels …

Information Literacy: How Students Search For & Verfiy Health-Related Information On Social Media, Isabel Sousa

Honors Projects in Communication and Language Studies

Today, younger generations utilize social media to access what they perceive to be reliable and accurate information, yet there are some concerns regarding validity and the ease of which students share information. This thesis evaluates how undergraduate students search for and verify information seen on popular social media platforms and analyzes the proficiency of their information literacy skills. The data collected will be used in determining which social media platforms are most frequently used and trusted by students, which types of sources are used in verification of this information if verified at all, and their perception of information literacy. The …

Exploring The Web And Language Accessibility Of Medical Tourism Providers’ Websites: Implications For Online Marketing And Patient Recruitment Practices, Alicia Mason, Elizabeth Spencer, Kristen Livingston, Treyton Meyers

Faculty Submissions

Background: Web accessibility as an attribute of the digital presence of organizations has been studied across domains and contexts. Our study aims to add to existing lines of research inquiry by examining the web and language accessibility of medical tourism provider (MTP) websites commonly used to market and promote international medical tourism treatments and services globally.

Objective: This study aims to (1) systematically analyze the web and language accessibility of MTP online health messages and (2) discuss challenges and implications for medical tourists’ user experiences when seeking health information online.

Method: We conducted an exploratory quantitative content analysis of web …

Giving Voice To Student Grief: Using Community-Based Participatory Research To Develop And Pilot A Translational Storytelling Intervention For Bereaved College Students, Cassidy Rae Taladay-Carter

Department of Communication Studies: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this dissertation was to employ community-based participatory research (CBPR, Wallerstein et al., 2018) methods to attend to a pressing issue in the community. In partnership with one local grief center, we identified the need for enhanced grief support for current emerging adult undergraduate students in our area. Nearly 50% of U.S. emerging adults enrolled in four-year residential universities experience the death of an important figure (Cox et al., 2015; Cupit et al., 2021), at a time when they are developing important facets of their narrative identity. Without the coherence and meaning structures provided by narrative identity, students …

Estimation Of Therapeutic Threshold For Tuberculosis Using Adapted Nominal Group Technique And Clinical Vignettes In Clinical And Community Settings In Southern Africa, Alfred Kipyegon Keter, Alastair Van Heerden, Tom Decroo, Tom Boyles, Shannon Bosman, Thandanani Madonsela, Lindani Innocent Msimango, Lenika Naiken, Carlos Kiyan, Mashaete Kamele

Population Health, East Africa

Background: When confronted with diagnostic uncertainty and a decision on whether to start treatment or not, clinicians consider the potential harm and benefit of offering versus withholding treatment. Treatment can be offered if the probability of tuberculosis (TB) in the patient is above the “therapeutic threshold” (ThT): the probability of disease at which the expected utility of treating and not treating is the same. We estimated ThT for TB in clinical and community settings in Southern Africa using two methods: an adapted nominal group technique (aNGT), and decisions made based on clinical vignettes (CVs).

Methods: We enrolled health …

Understanding How Family Dynamics Affect Mental Health Communication In Inside Out: A Content Analysis, Kataryna Morton

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This study examines the impact of open communication between family members on mental health and a child’s sense of belonging in the film Inside Out. Previous research has shown the impact of media on children’s socialization, which can influence stigma and make it less likely for vulnerable communication to occur. It is crucial for children to learn to communicate their emotions, and the media can play a key role in shaping these beliefs. Inside Out provides a positive example of mental health communication, which is specifically explored through Riley’s communication with her parents throughout the film. Using a content analysis, …

How Effective Are Fact-Checks In Pakistan And Who Engages With Them?, Waqas Ejaz, Sacha Altay, Muhammad Ittefaq

School of Communication Studies - Faculty Scholarship

For fact-checks to be effective, they must first and foremost reach their intended audience. Yet, little is known about what determines engagement with fact-checks and how to enhance their reach. We conducted a pre-registered online survey experiment in Pakistan (N participants = 302, N observations = 1208) investigating the effectiveness of fact-checking, and the determinants of engagement with fact-checks and misinformation. We found that fact-checking reduced misperceptions, especially among the most misinformed. Trust was an important moderator of the effectiveness of fact-checking and of engagement with both the fact-checks and misinformation. For instance, fact-checks were more effective among participants who …

Building Blocks For New Kinship Partnerships And Coalitions, Kathy L. Dial, Daniel J. Koltz, Janet Salo, Erin Beasley

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

Building successful kinship partnerships and coalitions requires intentional effort to establish trust, align goals, and foster inclusivity. These collaborations are essential for addressing the unique and evolving needs of kinship families, who often face limited access to resources due to the informal nature of many caregiving arrangements. Effective partnerships prioritize clear missions, open communication, and active engagement with stakeholders, particularly those with lived experiences such as kinship caregivers. Research demonstrates that coordinated efforts among organizations enhance resource availability, improve advocacy capabilities, and strengthen service delivery. By integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion principles, coalitions can ensure that diverse perspectives shape solutions …

Podcasting Towards Togetherness: Utilizing Podcasts To Improve Departmental Camaraderie And Well-Being, Michael Petrauskis, Colleen Gutman, Rosemarie Fernandez

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Physician burnout is on the rise, and this is of particular concern in emergency medicine. Burnout is associated with medical errors, adverse events, poor professionalism, and litigation. A sense of community can build engagement and mitigate workplace stressors on well-being. Emergency physicians may have trouble connecting due to the nature of shift-work and various practice settings. Communication technology, and particularly podcasting, has the potential to help overcome these barriers and positively impact relatedness and well-being.

Approach: We developed an inward-facing podcast, “The ER Break Room” within the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Florida. Through the …

Children's Views On Outdoor Advertising Of Unhealthy Food And Beverages Near Schools, Jacinta Francis, Elizabeth Ross, Claire Pulker, Sally Brinkman, Joelie Mandzufas, Karen Martin, Justine Howard, Gina Trapp

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Children are often exposed to unhealthy outdoor food advertisements during the school commute. This exposure can have negative public health consequences given childhood weight gain has been linked to the marketing of energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods. This study aimed to explore schoolchildren's lived experiences and attitudes towards outdoor advertising surrounding their schools. Seven focus groups with children aged 10–16 years (n = 47) attending schools located in areas with high densities of unhealthy outdoor advertising were conducted in Perth, Western Australia, between July and October 2023. Study participants were aware of outdoor advertising of unhealthy food and beverages near their …

Modern Digital Query Analytics Of Patient Education Materials On Acanthosis Nigricans: Systematic Search And Content Analysis, Kevin Johny Varghese, Som Singh, Emily Kamali, Fahad Qureshi, Aleena Jamal, Fawad Qureshi

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

BACKGROUND: Online digital materials are integral to patient education and health care outcomes in dermatology. Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a common condition, often associated with underlying diseases such as insulin resistance. Patients frequently search the internet for information related to this cutaneous finding. To our knowledge, the quality of online educational materials for AN has not been systematically examined.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to profile the readability and quality of the content of publicly available digital educational materials on AN and identify questions frequently asked by patients.

METHODS: This study analyzed publicly available internet sources to …

Resilience And Reality: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of People Living With Hiv In Texas During The Covid-19 Pandemic – A Qualitative Study., Ahmed F. Alanazi

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This study investigated the lived experiences of individuals living with HIV (PLWH) in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area of Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic, using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) framework. The research examined the intersection of health, social dynamics, and psychological resilience among PLWH, who faced compounded vulnerabilities due to systemic inequities and the dual public health crises of HIV and COVID-19. Through semi-structured interviews with ten participants from diverse backgrounds, the study captured the profound impacts of disrupted healthcare systems, heightened stigma, and social isolation on this marginalized population. The findings reveal that the pandemic exacerbated existing inequities …

Examining Use Of Data Journalism In Newspaper Coverage Of Health In Kenya: A Case Of Nationwide Cervical Cancer Vaccination., Robert Breen Laban

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

Kenyan newsrooms increasingly employ visuals to break down complex numbers and stories into lasting mental images to elicit action for impact. The objectives of this study were: to assess how newspaper journalists in Kenya applied data journalism in coverage of cervical cancer vaccination; to determine factors driving application of data in coverage of health in Kenya, focusing on cervical cancer (human papilloma virus -HPV) vaccination and to determine the gaps, challenges and opportunities in using visuals in complementing multimedia reporting in the digital era. The study was based on agenda setting and framing theories. The approaches were qualitative and quantitative, …

A Comparative Content Analysis Of The Standard, Nation And People Daily Newspapers In The Coverage Of Covid-19 Pandemic In Kenya, Sarah Kamande

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

When the first cases of coronavirus infection emerged in Kenya, the focus of print media moved to cover COVID-19 pandemic stories. This study aimed to analyze how the print media framed the stories for the first 30 days since the discovery of patient zero. The study analyzed 3 dailies; The Standard, Nation and The People Daily. The study adopted the framing, priming and the agenda setting theories. This study employed a descriptive survey design using a quantitative research method. The population of the study was the 3 newspapers. Target population was The Standard ,The Nation and The People Daily newspapers. …

The Effects Of Family Communication Patterns On Young Adults’ Healthcare Encounters, Victoria Esquivel

Communication Theses - Archive

Family communication through childhood is shown to affect young adults’ health decision-making over time. This study examined young adults’ (18-28 years) perceptions of family communication patterns and their effects on avoidance of healthcare encounters, communication self-efficacy, ratings of healthcare quality and trust with healthcare providers, through the lens of Family Communication Patterns Theory. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at a large southern university (n=127). Results showed that young adults from families high in conversation orientation rating their healthcare encounters more positively. Implications are discussed with healthcare providers, educators, and family members in mind. Future research should examine these relationships qualitatively.

Critical Environmental Communication Framework, Shumaila J. Bhatti, Srivi Ramasubramanian, Andrea Feldpausch-Parker, Bruno Takahashi, Silje Kristiansen

Media Studies - All Scholarship

This study develops a Critical Environmental Communication (CEC) framework to assess the landscape of Environmental Communication research and to what extent and in which ways critical and justice-oriented perspectives are included. The CEC framework consists of four interconnected themes: (a) Marginalized Ecocultural Identities, (b) Context and Scale, (c) Power and Agency, and (d) Justice, Equity, Diversity, Access, and Inclusion (JEDAI). Using this framework in a bibliometric analysis examining 1,297 Environmental Communication publications, we assess the occurrence of these themes in the scholarship. Our analysis found that Marginalized Ecocultural Identities, and Context and Scale were most frequently occurring, while Power and …

Evaluation Of The Sources Of Sexual Knowledge And Information Among Men In Kenya, Darlene Mwende Ndasi, Kwadwo Adusei-Asante, Anh Vo Van Ha, Madalena Grobbelaar, Victor Fannam Nunfam

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Sources of sexual knowledge and information among men have impact on quality of their sexual literacy and decision making. Sexual knowledge impacts on sexual attitudes, which underpin sexual behaviours and in turn impacts the sexual health outcomes of men. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was used to assess the sources of sexual knowledge and information among 484 Kenyan adult men aged 18–54. Data analysis was performed with STATA-16. Results showed that 79% of men learned about sex from school-based sex education, 75% and 72% from peers and mass media respectively while healthcare professionals (35%) and parents (28%) had the lowest influence …

Reducing Methamphetamine Use In Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Communities With The “We Can Do This” Web App: Qualitative Evaluation Of Acceptability And Feasibility, Leda Sivak, Rachel Reilly, Shani Crumpen, Carla Treloar, Rebecca Mcketin, Julia Butt, Yvette Roe, Nadine Ezard, Brendan Quinn, Jack Nagle, Wade Longbottom, Clifford Warrior, James Ward

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Preventing and treating methamphetamine-related harm in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations is a significant challenge for health care services. Digital health care may offer opportunities to support individuals and families in ways that complement existing methamphetamine treatment options. This study responds to a community-identified priority as Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services identified methamphetamine use as a key concern and sought support to respond to the needs of people who use methamphetamine and their families. Objective: This paper reports on a process evaluation of the web application’s acceptability and feasibility when used by clients and clinicians in residential rehabilitation …

Small Town Voices And Stories: Rural Older Populations And Health Narratives, Wyatt K. Zumbahlen

Masters Theses

Stories play a vital role in our humanity; they help us understand the world around us. As we age, our experiences, along with those of the people around us, shape our perceptions of health and influence our healthcare choices. For older adults, narratives become an essential resource in making healthcare decisions. In rural communities like Coles County, Illinois, these stories are especially important for older adults who are navigating the limited care and services available in the area. This reliance on narratives impacts their willingness to seek care, highlighting the need to recognize the power of stories in empowering older …

Cybersecurity Training As Risk Communication: A Theory-Informed Model Of Employee Learning And Behavior Change, Daniel Chaney

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Cybersecurity threats like phishing remain a persistent and costly challenge for organizations. Despite widespread corporate cybersecurity training (CCT) programs, many fail to produce lasting behavior change. This dissertation introduces the Training Knowledge Flow (TKF) Model to assess why such efforts often fall short. Grounded in communication theory, risk messaging, and adult learning principles, the TKF Model conceptualizes cybersecurity training as a staged process of learning, application, and behavioral adaptation. The model includes three phases: (1) Employee as Learner, focusing on message clarity and cognitive engagement; (2) Employee as Practitioner, assessing workplace transfer and training relevance; and (3) Employee …

Exploring The Mental Impact Of End-Of-Life Care Exposure On Neonatal Nurses: Perspectives And Insights, Kaith Monterroso

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Purpose: This research investigates education interventions aimed to improve neonatal nurses’ knowledge in End-of-Life Care (EoLC), with a goal in improving their mental health using coping strategies. This study seeks to, in the end, deliver effective sensitive and comprehensive care during EoLC. Improved education in this area is expected to enhance higher quality of care while fostering better mental health outcomes for nurses themselves. Methods: The proposed research utilizes a pre- and post-test design to evaluate the effectiveness of education and training in nurses who have a minimum of 3 to 4 years of experience in the Neonatal Intensive Care …

Understanding Women’S Attitudes Toward Midwifery Practices For Maternal Care In Middle Georgia, Kristen M. Simpson

Theses and Dissertations

Compared to other high-income countries, women in the United States are more likely to die from problems related to pregnancy and childbirth. In Georgia, maternal mortality is particularly acute. Midwifery models of maternal care have been shown to produce positive pregnancy and childbirth outcomes for patients, but these services are underutilized in Georgia. This study sought to identify women’s attitudes toward midwifery, what contributed to those attitudes, and what influenced women in Middle Georgia to seek midwifery services using a qualitative, Grounded Theory approach. Three participants who self-identified as having used a midwife before were interviewed using a semi-structured protocol. …

An Anti-Junk Food Ad From A Sports Commercial Break Reduced Junk Food Consumption Inclinations, Yet Junk Food Ads Had Minimal To No Impact, Ross C. Hollett, Julia Butt, Brennen Mills, Stephanie L. Godrich, Gina S.A. Trapp, Amanda Devine

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: In Australia, there are concerns that unrestricted junk food advertising during sports broadcasts increases short-term junk food consumption among viewers. Therefore, the present study aimed to estimate the impact of junk food and anti-junk food advertising on consumption inclinations. Methods: We conducted a content analysis across a sample (N = 16) of Australian Football League (AFL) and National Rugby League (NRL) matches to determine the prevalence of junk food and anti-junk food advertising video clips. We also exposed participants (N = 428) to a single randomly selected junk food advertisement or a single anti-junk food advertisement and measured the …

Balancing Digital Presents And Futures: Understanding First-Time Parents’ Practices, Plans And Perceptions Of ‘Quality’ And Risk In Young Children's Digital Engagements, Katrin Langton, Emma Jayakumar, Harrison W. See, Catherine Archer, Giselle Woodley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Parents in Australia today have to make decisions about what counts as appropriate digital media use for their young children in a cultural context characterised by conflicting advice, impractical screen use recommendations and risk-focussed media messaging. These conditions make it challenging for parents to purposefully approach and plan not only their children's current digital engagements but also their futures as digital citizens. How parents negotiate these tensions in managing their young children's digital presents, and how they approach planning for their digital futures, remains underexplored. This paper presents the findings of two rounds of qualitative interviews and three focus groups …