Health Communication Commons^™

The Failure Of News Media Agenda-Setting On Cannabis, Amanda Cranston

Journalism

This study uses the agenda-setting theory (McCombs & Shaw, 1972, p. 176) to examine the various aspects of cannabis coverage in the news media and how news media have presented cannabis and the numerous debates over cannabis uses. Cannabis has been a focus of U.S. news media since the 19th century and has been historically misrepresented in national and local news media. More recently, the U.S. has seen a great shift in the public’s attitude towards cannabis. With more and more states legalizing medical and even recreational use, news media are surging to meet the demands of its publics, even …

Pilot Test Of Communication With A ‘Rapid Fire’ Technique, Desiree A. Díaz, Candace Pettigrew, Christine Dileone, Meredith Dodge, Deborah Shelton

Journal for Evidence-based Practice in Correctional Health

Abstract

An innovative communication training technique, ‘Rapid Fire’, was created to enhance communication and was incorporated into the debrief component of a simulation designed for correctional nurses to promote learning and engagement. The term ‘Rapid Fire’ was used to expose the critical time element that appears in the first five minutes of many crisis situations, where a quick relay of information and problem solving is essential; such as in a cardiac arrest or other rapidly deteriorating patient situations. This technique consists of a five-minute session prior to the structured debrief. During the ‘Rapid Fire’ portion of the debrief, all learners …

Digital Mindfulness: An Emerging Field Of Inquiry And Practice, Sherri Henderson

Mindfulness Studies Theses

This two-part paper explores digital mindfulness as an emerging field of inquiry and practice into the integration of technology and contemplative practices. The first part surveys the growing research on the effects of technology on health and well-being. Investigating Buddhist teachings leads to a more balanced and aware approach towards integrating mindfulness with the digital world. Digital mindfulness encourages meaningful engagement while online. It also encourages thoughtfulness, awareness and intention. Digital mindfulness also reshapes and encourages conversations in our homes, schools, and proposes digital responsibility and digital citizenship. The second part of the paper proposes a framework for a workshop …

Communication Accommodation In Maternity Care: A Qualitative Analysis On How Patient-Provider Communication Affects Labor And Delivery Decisions, Gabriele Cafone

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Background. Over 4.3 million mothers and newborns receive maternity care in the United States each year (Sakala & Corry, 2008). Childbirth is the leading reason for hospitalization yearly in the United States, with 23% of all individuals discharged from hospitals being either a mother or a newborn. The most common operating room procedure is cesarean section, and six of the fifteen most commonly performed hospital procedures are associated with childbirth (Sakala & Corry, 2008). Women may be led to believe that these medical interventions during labor and delivery are necessary without ever being properly educated, resulting in an intervention filled …

Do Marketing Strategies Impact Condom Sales In Uganda?, Meyhar Mohammed

Master's Theses

What attracts people to buy condoms? HIV/AIDS remain one of the biggest health dangers of the world, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. A lot of efforts have been pursued in the past two decades to drastically reduce prevalence of HIV and increase awareness about preventive mechanisms. In order to prevent relapse of success achieved so far, it is important to recognize transformation of consumer behavior due to growth in social networks, education and awareness over time. There are a lot of behavioral triggers captured by social marketing interventions in the field of public health. In an attempt to investigate the role …

Zika 2016: A 3-Phase Longitudinal Study Of The Media Impact On Public Attitudes And Behavioral Response Characteristics, Karly Kownslar

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Using the Extended Parallel Processing Model (EPPM) as a theoretical framework, the present 3-phase longitudinal study examines the impact of media exposure to Zika information on public perception of the threat severity, personal susceptibility, and behavioral intentions toward the threat of Zika virus between May and November of 2016. A total of 826 participants took an online survey throughout three phases, roughly one month apart. Participants were recruited using Amazon Mechanical Turk and TurkPrime. Measured EPPM concepts include: perceived severity, susceptibility, self- efficacy, response-efficacy, third-person effects, combined with behavioral intentions. Participants also selected the sources from which they …

The Relationship Between Just Culture, Trust And Patient Safety, Linda Ann Paradiso, Nancy Sweeney

Publications and Research

PROBLEM: Medical errors are now considered to be the third leading cause of death in the United States, estimated at more than 250,000 deaths per year. The Institute of Medicine’s landmark report, To Err is Human, identified that errors are not the fault of individuals, but systems, processes, and various conditions. In healthcare, the cornerstone of the process by which we learn from errors has been voluntary reporting. The primary barrier to reporting errors is the negative response from administrators, and the potential risk of disciplinary action. An environment of trust and fairness is known as “Just Culture” and …

#Zika #Olympics: The Use Of Dialogue In Tweets Regarding The Zika Virus And The 2016 Rio Olympics, Daniel W. Vieth

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Previous research has observed the use of social media by health organizations; however, few studies have addressed how health organizations use these media to build relationships with publics. This thesis addresses this gap by applying Kent and Taylor’s (2002) dialogic tenets to Twitter messages regarding the 2015-2016 Zika virus epidemic and the 2016 Rio Olympics. First a pilot study used a quantitative survey to find that individuals were using online media to seek information about Zika, and that the public generally had high threat salience toward the virus. Next, social network analyzer Netlytic was used to collect Tweets that mentioned …

No Stigma, No Shame: Reducing The Stigma Of Mental Illness In College Freshmen Dorms, Ashley R. Reynolds

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

With a rise in college students who report symptoms of mental illness and the high number of college students who do not seek professional help because of the stigma of mental illness, it is evident that the stigma of mental illness on college campuses needs to be addressed. A health campaign that seeks to reduce the stigma of mental illness on campus was designed, implemented, evaluated. The Model of Stigma Communication, which explains how stigma is developed and reinforced, is a sound framework for exploring the stigma of mental illness and was used to guide the campaign. First, a survey …

Sometimes Laughter Is The Best Medicine: Stand-Up Comedy, Humor, And Healthcare, Haran Mennillo

Senior Honors Projects

While for many healthcare is no laughing matter, humor can be a valuable tool for physicians. Hospitals and other healthcare environments can be very stressful places for patients, many of whom are having the worst day of their lives. Humor is an excellent medium through which doctors can connect with their patients, improving the doctor-patient relationship. Patients will often use humor as a way to cope with their stress, and doctors with a sense of humor are able to better connect with their patients. This use of humor has many applications across different fields of medicine, including pediatrics, oncology, palliative …

Sexual Assault Prevention On College Campuses, Using Community Based Participatory Research Strategies To Craft A Creative Response, Adrianne Beer

Honors Projects

Sexual assault prevention and education programs have been working to develop successful ways to decrease sexual assault for almost to decades. Research has shown that despite efforts there has yet to be a program that effects statistics regarding campus sexual assault. This essay addresses several issues that explain why prevention programs have fallen short. It includes the study of victim blaming, the college party narrative, stranger rape, and bystander intervention. Examples from first hand reports of sexual assault and the study of BGSU prevention programs are used. The essay also addresses how our culture plays a role in sexual assault, …

Attitudes, Perceptions, And Usage Of Electronic Cigarettes : An Exploratory Investigation., Elizabeth P Hart

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) are increasing in popularity. Originally, e-cigs were marketed and sold primarily online, but now they are easily accessible in a variety of locations, such as specialty and convenience stores, retail outlets, as well as online. Despite the increasing popularity of these devices, little is known about the overall health effects of using e-cigs. Additionally, relatively few studies have explored users’ and non-users’ perceptions of and attitudes about the devices and their use. The primary objective of this study was to address that gap by examining perceptions of and attitudes about e-cigs from users and non-users. A questionnaire …

Transgenerational Patterns Of Communication Orientations And Depression Among Mothers And Adult Children, Timothy Curran, Jennifer A. Samp, Anastacia Janovec

Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Faculty Publications

This study investigated intergenerational transmissions of conversation orientations, conformity orientations, and depressive symptoms among 235 (N = 470) mother–child dyads. The analysis revealed that mothers’ reports of conformity orientation in her family of origin positively predicted her child’s report of conformity orientation and conversation orientation. Moreover, maternal depressive symptoms predicted child reports of family communication climates, which in turn predicted child depressive symptoms. A mediation analysis showed a significant indirect effect from maternal depressive symptoms to child depressive symptoms through child reports of conformity orientation. Implications for transgenerational patterns of family communication climates and depressive symptoms are discussed.

Deaf Access To Healthcare, Jennifer L. Yates

Senior Honors Theses

Modern medical professionals strive to provide culturally competent care; however, Deaf[1] culture remains overlooked. Common language and experience draw deaf individuals together as a cultural group. Ignorance about Deaf culture perpetuates barriers to holistic care in the medical setting. Deaf patients receive misdiagnoses, delayed treatment, and privacy breaches. Deaf culture understandably avoids healthcare and is characterized by numerous health disparities as a result. Obstacles hindering Deaf access to healthcare are directly opposed to the intended therapeutic relationship and holistic care. Increased awareness of Deaf culture is required to improve the Deaf’s access to healthcare.

[1] The word deaf should …

When One Is Sick And Two Need Help: Caregivers’ Perspectives On The Negative Consequences Of Caring, Ilja Ormel, Susan Law, Courtney Abbott, Mark Yaffe, Marc Saint-Cyr, Kerry Kuluski, Debbie Josephson, Ann C. Macaulay

Patient Experience Journal

Informal or family caregivers contribute significantly to individual care, and to the Canadian healthcare system, yet receive limited support from governments, institutions, and healthcare professionals in recognition of their role, or in response to their health and social care needs – often due to the negative consequences of caregiving. Learning about the diversity of others’ experiences can positively influence personal decision-making, reduce feelings of isolation, as well as promote adjustment to a personal situation. For caregivers, however, few resources exist that provide reliable information on others’ experiences. We collected the narratives of caregivers’ experiences of caring for someone with a …

Culturally Competent Health Education In African-Americans’ Faith-Based Communities For Better Health Outcomes: A Literature Review, Kougang Anne Mbe

McNair Research Journal SJSU

Obesity is a compelling health issue among African-Americans, who have the highest prevalence of excess weight among all ethnic and racial groups in the United States. This soaring obesity rate contributes to poor health outcomes and significantly inflates the risks for many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and certain forms of cancer. The literature provides evidence for the success of health programs aimed at promoting healthy behavior and lifestyles in African-American faith-based organizations, as the influential role of churches in African-American communities is well documented. However, few studies have investigated the criteria essential for improved efficiency of health interventions …

A Bottom-Up Approach To Effectively Implementing A Good Samaritan Policy At Bryant University, Jessica Fleet

Honors Projects in History and Social Sciences

The rising numbers of substance consumption on college campuses are becoming a public concern for higher educational institutions across the United States. The thesis studies the relationship between state laws and private higher education institution laws in regards to substance abuse. Examining state laws and private universities Medical Amnesty and Good Samaritan laws were used to determine what would effectively replace Bryant University’s current Substance Abuse Policy. The current policy lacks an educational element along with stressing the word of mouth ideology that students are protected when in need of drug or alcohol assistance in a medical situation. This is …

When Video Meets Health: Vaccine Awareness For Millennials, Alexandra Dickie

Honors Projects in Communication

The unique intersection of communication/video and science/health will be demonstrated through this honors project. The goal of the vaccine video is to inform Millennials about how vaccines work and the significance of vaccines to the community. The storyboard for a video was especially designed to communicate this information to those not in the science field, as well as those who are vaccine hesitant. The extensive process of information gathering required for the pre-production of the vaccine video will be discussed in depth – including the secondary research from the literature and the results from the formative survey and focus group …

Chronic Disease Management & Fitness Trackers Through The Lens Of The Health Belief Model & Diffusion Of Innovations Theory, Amanda Folk

Masters Essays

Chronic disease has become one of the leading causes of death in the United States. The purpose of this project is to understand the motivation behind health behaviors that individuals engage in to prevent, manage, or treat chronic diseases. By simultaneously examining chronic disease and fitness trackers through the Health Belief Model and The Diffusion of Innovations Theory, external factors are exposed that influence perceptions and lead to purchase decisions. Incorporating the cost-benefit analysis of the devices confirms that associated risks and questions of accuracy do not prevent product purchases or the belief that it can improve health. Moreover, the …

A Review Of 57 Zone: A Social Media Network For Tb Consultation And Communication In Kunming, China, India Medaris

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Yunnan, a predominantly agricultural province in southwest China, is a province with a high rate of both tuberculosis (TB) and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB), with nearly 25,000 cases of pulmonary TB reported each year. Former TB/MDR TB patients in Yunnan, with the support of Family Health International 360 NGO (FHI) are trying to combat this problem. They have created a social media network for TB consultation and communication, 57 Zone, where TB patients can talk about their medication, adverse drug effects, and nutrition and psychosocial concerns. The goal of this study was the look at what aspects of the …