Active Participation Research Articles

«Πόλις», «civitas» та «res publica»? Problem of interpretation the nature of the Ancient Roman state in scientific works

«Πόλις», «civitas» та «res publica»? Problem of interpretation the nature of the Ancient Roman state in scientific works

Examining the Impact of Trust-Based Active Participation: An Empirical Study in Creative Industry That Adopt Digital Platform

The main challenge in building a creative industry that acquires a digital platform is the limited ideas used to encourage the presence of booming products and the limited understanding of employees of creative industry players in dealing with technological changes; this is in line with the phenomenon where 31.40% of digital business actors in Indonesia are still experiencing a decline in revenue in 2022. In connection with the main obstacles, this research aims to find constructs capable of mediating the role of technology in the form of Social Media Use to Work (SMUW) in its impact on Creative Performance (CP). Where SMUW, in many studies, has no significant effect on building CP. This study offers the role of Trust-Based Active Participation (TBAP) and Innovative Culture (IC) in mediating SMUW against CP. The object of this research is the creative industry that uses digital platforms, with a total sample of 188 businesses. This study empirically proves that SMUW does not significantly affect CP, but TBAP and IC can boost SMUW on CP with a a total effect of 0.384. From this achievement, it is proven empirically that TBAP and IC can fully mediate the role of SMUW on CP. In implementing the strategy, it was found that in order to optimize the role of SMUW for CP. This contributes to the domain of learning organization theory and middle ring dynamic capability.

"A Feeling of Safeness and Freedom": The Promotion of Mental Health Recovery Through Co-Production in an Italian Community Organization.

In mental health promotion, recovery is a process that leads to personal strengthening, control over crucial life decisions, and participation in communities through relevant professional, educational, or family social roles. Co-production, a key aspect of the recovery-oriented approach, emphasizes collaboration and active participation of people with mental health first-hand experience, family members, and citizens. Even though studies on co-production are limited and fragmented, there is evidence that co-production leads to positive outcomes, including improved well-being, empowerment, social connectedness, inclusion, and personal competencies. This study aimed to contribute to the limited literature on co-production in mental health by evaluating the co-production process in a non-profit mental health organization and its impact on empowerment processes and personal recovery outcomes. The research team adopted a collaborative approach and conducted qualitative research, including 13 individual semi-structured interviews and four focus groups. Results showed how the different dimensions of empowerment are promoted in and by the organization: (a) co-production processes supported empowered outcomes on an individual level, such as self-awareness; (b) the organization was perceived to promote empowering processes, such as a sense of safeness and protection; (c) co-production was a mean to build and maintain a network with mental health services that acknowledges the dignity and value of each subjectivity and promotes participation and recovery. Peer support workers were seen as facilitators of mental illness management, and the organization as a place for sharing mental health experiences and fostering individual recovery journeys.

The role of local communities in the conservation of cultural heritage sites: A case study of Vietnam

This study examines the significant impact of local community engagement on conserving cultural heritage sites, focusing on active participation, cultural preservation, decision-making, and oversight. Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) for analysis, it evaluates how community involvement aids in the maintenance and protection of tangible and intangible heritage aspects. Findings reveal substantial improvements in conservation outcomes due to active community participation, highlighting the critical role of local communities in preserving heritage integrity and cultural values. This emphasizes the necessity of grassroots involvement for lasting cultural legacy preservation. Furthermore, the study stresses the importance of incorporating indigenous knowledge and traditions into conservation strategies to ensure culturally relevant and sustainable outcomes. Although based in Vietnam, the implications of this research are global, advocating for inclusive, community-centric conservation practices that emphasize environmental sustainability and cultural significance. This approach signifies a transformative shift towards heritage conservation models that align with local community ethos, offering valuable insights and recommendations for a more integrative and culturally attuned preservation strategy.

Enhancing Competency-Based Education in Instrumental Analysis: A Novel Approach Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography for Real-World Problem Solving

Curricula related to instrumental analysis aim for competency-based education to promote the development of teaching strategies that encourage students to successfully tackle the problem-solving and tasks inherent to their profession. However, this endeavor is constrained by the complexity of equipment and the lack of time in laboratory classes. The objective of this work is to present an alternative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) practice that adapts the desired competencies to a shorter and more effective timeframe. It seeks more active participation from the student and contextualizes chromatographic analysis within a real-world problem that encompasses the entire analytical process, from sample to final result. In this scenario, the student receives a solid sample of spicy paprika from a supermarket and must report the level of spiciness in terms of the total amount of capsaicinoids. To achieve this, they must first apply different experimental conditions for extracting the analytes of interest (varying temperatures and solvents) and selecting the most optimal condition. This practice is designed for short sessions, specifically conducted in two 2.5 h laboratory sessions, and has been implemented in the subject “Advanced Techniques in Instrumental Analysis (ATIA)” in the fourth year of the Degree in Biotechnology at the University of Cadiz. The results obtained demonstrated a significant increase in student motivation and an improvement in the acquisition of skills; 100% of the students achieved a grade higher than seven in the final evaluation of their learning process.

The Role of Trust as a Driver of Private-Provider Participation in Disease Surveillance: Cross-Sectional Survey From Nigeria.

Recognition of the importance of valid, real-time knowledge of infectious disease risk has renewed scrutiny into private providers' intentions, motives, and obstacles to comply with an Integrated Disease Surveillance Response (IDSR) framework. Appreciation of how private providers' attitudes shape their tuberculosis (TB) notification behaviors can yield lessons for the surveillance of emerging pathogens, antibiotic stewardship, and other crucial public health functions. Reciprocal trust among actors and institutions is an understudied part of the "software" of surveillance. We aimed to assess the self-reported knowledge, motivation, barriers, and TB case notification behavior of private health care providers to public health authorities in Lagos, Nigeria. We measured the concordance between self-reported notification, TB cases found in facility records, and actual notifications received. A representative, stratified sample of 278 private health care workers was surveyed on TB notification attitudes, behavior, and perceptions of public health authorities using validated scales. Record reviews were conducted to identify the TB treatment provided and facility case counts were abstracted from the records. Self-reports were triangulated against actual notification behavior for 2016. The complex health system framework was used to identify potential predictors of notification behavior. Noncompliance with the legal obligations to notify infectious diseases was not attributable to a lack of knowledge. Private providers who were uncomfortable notifying TB cases via the IDSR system scored lower on the perceived benevolence subscale of trust. Health care workers who affirmed "always" notifying via IDSR monthly reported higher median trust in the state's public disease control capacity. Although self-reported notification behavior was predicted by age, gender, and positive interaction with public health bodies, the self-report numbers did not tally with actual TB notifications. Providers perceived both risks and benefits to recording and reporting TB cases. To improve private providers' public health behaviors, policy makers need to transcend instrumental and transactional approaches to surveillance to include building trust in public health, simplifying the task, and enhancing the link to improved health. Renewed attention to the "software" of health systems (eg, norms, values, and relationships) is vital to address pandemic threats. Surveys with private providers may overestimate their actual participation in public health surveillance.

OPTIMASI OPTIMASI PROSES PEMBERSIHAN BERAS: STRATEGI TERAPAN UNTUK PENINGKATAN KUALITAS HASIL PERTANIAN

This community service activity (PKM) aims to introduce and train the community to process their rice harvests using appropriate technology, in the form of a grain peeling machine. The main target of this PKM activity is the people of the Jaya Mandiri Farmers Group in Batu Layang Village RT.04/RW.15, North Pontianak District, who still have limited means for their agricultural activities. The methods applied in this PKM activity are science and technology diffusion, socialization, and active community participation. So that with this PKM activity, the community has gained knowledge and skills in processing their post-harvest rice products, and it is hoped that this can help overcome their productivity problems due to limited agricultural facilities. Cleaning rice not only aims to remove empty grains, dirt and other foreign objects, but also increases the selling value per unit weight, increases the efficiency of drying and processing post-harvest products and extends shelf life. The working principle of the automatic rice cleaning tool is that when the rice is in the main reservoir, it then goes down through a small gap so that when it comes down it is cleaned with a fan so that the dirt stuck to the rice is blown away and the clean rice enters the reservoir section. The construction of this rice cleaning machine is divided into a hoper as a place to input rice, a crankshaft system, while the drive system consists of an electric motor, pulley, belt, pegs, bearings. With this device, the process of cleaning rice can be carried out simply and easily, and the process time, namely cleaning time, is shorter. With a shorter processing time, the production rate per unit time becomes greater. Improving the quality of agricultural products is very important in supporting food security and farmer welfare. One of the key aspects in ensuring the quality of agricultural products is the post-harvest processing process, especially the rice cleaning process. In this context, this research aims to optimize the rice refining process through the implementation of effective applied strategies. This study was conducted through a comprehensive series of laboratory experiments and field tests. Refining methods involving a combination of traditional and innovative technologies were evaluated to find the most efficient strategy for improving rice quality. The research results show that the use of a combination of certain technologies can increase the efficiency of rice cleaning, as well as reduce yield losses and increase the selling value of the product. This research makes a significant contribution to the development of agricultural practices that are sustainable and oriented towards quality results. These findings have direct implications for farmers in increasing the competitiveness of their products in local and global markets, as well as in supporting government efforts to achieve national food security goals.

Sustainable Indigenous Governance: Catalysts for Economic Development in India

In India we have too many different communities with vast tradition and culture. In order to enhance their own way of life we have to protect the indigenous nature of governance. The idea of indigenous governance for economic development in India combines traditional knowledge and governance structures with modern development strategies. This model of indigenous governance is based on the central role of community-led initiatives, practices and management to promote sustainable economic growth. This research paper aims to make a correlation between indigenous governance and economic development. This paper also advocates a top-down approach to prioritizes the aspirations, needs and values of indigenous communities, to ensure their active participation in decision-making processes. This indigenous governance model is important to rethink development paradigms and make them more inclusive and equitable. By following this indigenous governance and leadership models, our country can find the way for a development strategy that is not only economically valuable but also socially and environmentally sustainable. India can harness the potential of its diverse cultures for inclusive and sustainable economic development by creating an enabling political environment that respects and takes into account indigenous governance systems. The principle of self-determination is a key to this indigenous model, which can allow different communities to follow their own development paths in accordance with their cultural heritage and environmental protection. To improve the economic well-being of indigenous peoples and to preserve their natural resources, cultural identity and traditional knowledge for future generations, the government should follow the indigenous approach of governance.

Analyzing the Impact of Innovative Features in New Social Networks on User Engagement and Content Sharing Dynamics

This study investigates the effects of novel functionalities on user behavior across emerging social media platforms. Employing a mixed-methods research design, the study integrates quantitative analysis of engagement metrics with qualitative feedback from user interviews and surveys to assess how augmented reality (AR) filters, ephemeral content, and algorithmic curation influence engagement and content sharing. Results indicate these features significantly enhance user interaction, suggesting that innovation is key to user retention and active participation. Additionally, the study examines the double-edged nature of algorithmic curation, balancing user experience personalization against the risks of creating informational echo chambers. The implications of these findings extend to various stakeholders in the digital ecosystem, including content creators, marketers, technology developers, and policymakers, emphasizing the importance of user-centric innovation and ethical considerations in platform development. This research contributes to the broader understanding of social media evolution and its impact on digital communication practices.

E045 Adherence to physiotherapy among patients with knee osteoarthritis in a rheumatology specialized care unit in Sri Lanka

Abstract Background/Aims Knee osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disorder that has a significant impact on global health and healthcare resources. Non-pharmacological interventions play a vital role in the management of osteoarthritis, and their effectiveness relies on the patient’s active participation and adherence. But non-adherence to these interventions including physiotherapy has become a recognized problem across the globe. The extent of adherence to physiotherapy specifically in the Sri Lankan population with osteoarthritis has not been assessed to date. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka recruiting 100 patients diagnosed with knee joint osteoarthritis according to the EULAR 2011 Recommendations. General Rehabilitation Adherence Scale (GRAS) was used to score the adherence level to center-based physiotherapy. Home-based physiotherapy adherence was measured using a 5-point scale. Demographic data also were assessed to determine the associations with adherence levels. Data were analysed by using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS). Results The study population consisted of 93% females and 7% males. Center-based physiotherapy adherence according to the GRAS score revealed 53% had a high adherence rate while 8% found poorly adhered to. Of the highly compliant patients, the majority, 35.8% patients were within the 60-69 years age group and 35.8% were housewives. 37.7% were not having co-morbidities. 41.7% have reported a disease duration of 1-5 years. The majority complained that they had poor adherence due to other commitments (36%) followed by and lack of time (34%). The third common cause for the default was transport expenses (26%). 91% of patients had knowledge of home-based physiotherapy activities. Of them, 32% followed the exercise regime as advised and 13% continued it as far as possible. 17% were unable to engage in those at all. As reasons for noncompliance to home therapy, 35% of patients reported having a lack of time and 31% had poor motivation. None of the sociodemographic factors significantly correlated with center-based or home-based physiotherapy adherence. Conclusion The findings indicate that a significant proportion of patients demonstrated high adherence to center-based physiotherapy. Although a majority of patients had knowledge of home-based physiotherapy activities, only a portion followed the prescribed exercise regime. Addressing barriers such as time constraints, commitments, and transportation expenses is crucial. Future research should explore personalized approaches and innovative strategies to enhance engagement and overcome challenges to optimize physiotherapy adherence. Disclosure S.K. Ubhayasiri: None. D. Abeysinghe: None.

Game on for learning: a holistic exploration of Gamification’s impact on student engagement and academic performance in educational environments

PurposeThe research paper examines the complex relationship between gamification, student engagement and academic performance in educational environments. The study employed a structural equation model that highlights important connections among key constructs within the educational setting.Design/methodology/approachThis research aims to explore the connection between gamification, student engagement and academic performance in educational settings. The study employs various statistical techniques such as factor analysis, Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO), Bartlett’s test, component transformation matrix, correlation and regression analysis, descriptive statistics, ANOVA, coefficients and coefficient correlations, residual statistics and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to analyze the data.FindingsIt was found that active participation by the instructor and good time management skills have a positive impact on student engagement levels (β = 0.380, p < 0.001; β = 0.433 and p < 0.001). However, peer interaction does not significantly predict student engagement (β = −0.068 and p = 0.352). Additionally, there is a positive correlation between student engagement and performance (β = 0.280 and p < 0.001).Research limitations/implicationsThe study highlights the importance of innovative design to fully utilize gamification. Future research should consider design, user characteristics and educational context. The findings can guide informed decisions about gamification in education, fostering motivation and learning objectives.Practical implicationsThe study presents a reliable tool for assessing student engagement and performance in educational settings, demonstrating high Cronbach’s alpha and robust reliability. It identifies student engagement and time management as significant predictors of Global Learning Outcome. The findings can inform decisions on implementing gamification in educational settings, promoting intrinsic motivation and aligning with learning objectives.Social implicationsThe research highlights the transformative impact of gamification on educational practices, highlighting its potential to enhance student experiences, motivate, promote diversity and improve long-term academic performance, highlighting the trend of integrating technology into education.Originality/valueIn today’s ever-changing education landscape, it is essential to incorporate innovative techniques to keep students engaged and enthusiastic about learning. Gamification is one such approach that has become increasingly popular. It is a concept that takes inspiration from the immersive world of games to enhance the overall learning experience.

Participatory Exhibition-Viewing Using Augmented Reality and Analysis of Visitor Behavior

Augmented reality (AR) is rapidly becoming a popular technology for exhibitions. The extended content provided through virtual elements offers a higher level of interactivity and can increase the appeal of the exhibition for younger viewers, in particular. However, AR technology in exhibition settings is typically utilized to extend the effects of exhibits, focusing solely on individual experiences and lacking in shared social interactions. In order to address this limitation, in this study, we used AR technology to construct a participatory exhibition-viewing system in the form of an AR mobile application (app), “Wander Into Our Sea”. This system was developed as a component of the 2022 Greater Taipei Biennial of Contemporary Art exhibition titled “Log Into Our Sea”. The app features two modes: exhibition-viewing mode and message mode. The first embodies passive exhibition-viewing while the second offers channels for active participation. The app has three functions: (1) in exhibition mode, visitors passively view the exhibition content through the AR lens, (2) in message mode, visitors can use the AR lens to leave messages in the 3D space of the exhibition to become part of the exhibit, and (3) during the use of either mode, the app collects data on visitor behavior and uploads it to a cloud to create a research database. The third function allowed us to compare the behaviors of exhibition visitors while they used the two modes. Results revealed that without restricting the ways and sequences in which AR content was viewed, there were no significant differences in the duration of viewing, or the distance covered by visitors between the two modes. However, the paths they took were more concentrated in the exhibition-viewing mode, which indicates that this mode encouraged visitors to view the exhibit in accordance with the AR content. In contrast, in message mode, visitors were encouraged to leave text messages and read those left by others, which created disorganized unpredictable paths. Our study demonstrates an innovative application of AR positioning within an interactive exhibition-viewing system, showcasing a novel way to engage visitors and enrich their experience.

Fostering effective and sustainable scientific collaboration and knowledge exchange: a workshop-based approach to establish a national ecological observatory network (NEON) domain-specific user group.

The decision to establish a network of researchers centers on identifying shared research goals. Ecologically specific regions, such as the USA's National Ecological Observatory Network's (NEON's) eco-climatic domains, are ideal locations by which to assemble researchers with a diverse range of expertise but focused on the same set of ecological challenges. The recently established Great Lakes User Group (GLUG) is NEON's first domain specific ensemble of researchers, whose goal is to address scientific and technical issues specific to the Great Lakes Domain 5 (D05) by using NEON data to enable advancement of ecosystem science. Here, we report on GLUG's kick off workshop, which comprised lightning talks, keynote presentations, breakout brainstorming sessions and field site visits. Together, these activities created an environment to foster and strengthen GLUG and NEON user engagement. The tangible outcomes of the workshop exceeded initial expectations and include plans for (i) two journal articles (in addition to this one), (ii) two potential funding proposals, (iii) an assignable assets request and (iv) development of classroom activities using NEON datasets. The success of this 2.5-day event was due to a combination of factors, including establishment of clear objectives, adopting engaging activities and providing opportunities for active participation and inclusive collaboration with diverse participants. Given the success of this approach we encourage others, wanting to organize similar groups of researchers, to adopt the workshop framework presented here which will strengthen existing collaborations and foster new ones, together with raising greater awareness and promotion of use of NEON datasets. Establishing domain specific user groups will help bridge the scale gap between site level data collection and addressing regional and larger ecological challenges.

Advancing the understanding of children's digital engagement: responsive methodologies and ethical considerations in psychological research.

Children's perspectives and experiences with digital media (digital engagement for short) are becoming difficult to observe and measure in today's highly multi-faceted, personalized and dynamic media ecosystem. In response, psychologists are developing a host of innovative methods. These may be broadly divided into those which prioritize children's active participation in research and those which develop techniques for passive observation. This article presents a state-of-the-art review of emerging methodologies to highlight the ethical issues that arise, by drawing on the Belmont principles for ethical research. We identify strengths and weaknesses of both participatory and non-participatory methods and recommend ways for future research to harness the potential of child-centered, responsive, and ethical methods.

Negative and positive freedom of a client as social work values

The article aims to present the freedom of the social work client as a constitutive value of this profession and to analyse its two fundamental aspects: negative and positive freedom. Negative freedom, understood here as the client's self-determination, is the dimension of freedom which, on the one hand, must be respected but simultaneously restricted, and its restriction by a social worker is ethically permissible in certain situations. Positive freedom conceptualised here as liberation, is that dimension of freedom that is the ultimate goal of the social worker’s activities and, therefore, essential to define this profession. Due to the importance of the client's self-determination for social work, the article pays special attention to two aspects of the client's self-determination: voluntary use of support and active participation in the assistance process, as well as paternalism as an attitude limiting the client's freedom. The conclusion draws attention to the proper education of future social workers as part of their preparation to respect and promote the freedom of clients.

The comparison of the effect of non-pharmacological pain relief and pharmacological analgesia with remifentanil on fear of childbirth and postpartum depression: a randomized controlled clinical trial

IntroductionChildbirth may be associated with psychological, social, and emotional effects and provide the background for women’s health or illness throughout their life. This research aimed at comparing the impact of non-pharmacological pain relief and pharmacological analgesia with remifentanil on childbirth fear and postpartum depression.Materials and methodThis randomized clinical trial with two parallel arms was conducted on 66 women with term pregnancy referred to Taleghani Hospital in Tabriz for vaginal delivery during September 2022 to September 2023. First, all of the eligible participants were selected through Convenience Sampling. Then, they were randomly assigned into two groups of pharmacological analgesia with remifentanil and non-pharmacological analgesia with a ratio of 1:1 using stratified block randomization based on the number of births. Before the intervention, fear of childbirth (FOC) was measured using Delivery Fear Scale (DFS) between 4 and 6 cm cervical dilatation. Pain and fear during labor in dilatation of 8 cm were measured in both groups using VAS and DFS. After delivery, FOC was assessed using Delivery Fear Scale (W DEQ Version B) and postpartum depression using the Edinburgh’s postpartum depression scale (EPDS). Significance level was considered 0.05. Mean difference (MD) was compared with Independent T-test and ANCOVA pre and post intervention.ResultsThe mean score of FOC in the non-pharmacological analgesia group was significantly lower than that in the pharmacological analgesia group after the intervention by controlling the effect of the baseline score (MD: -6.33, 95%, Confidence Interval (CI): -12.79 to -0.12, p = 0.04). In the postpartum period, the mean score of FOC in the non-pharmacological analgesia group was significantly lower than that in the pharmacological analgesia group after controlling the effect of the baseline score (MD: -21.89; 95% CI: -35.12 to -8.66; p = 0.002). The mean score of postpartum depression in the non-pharmacological analgesia group was significantly lower than that in the pharmacological analgesia group (MD: -1.93, 95% CI: -3.48 to -0.37, p = 0.01). Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT): IRCT20170506033834N10. Date of registration: 05/07/2022 Date of first registration: 05/07/2022. URL: https://www.irct.ir/trial/61030; Date of recruitment start date05/07/2022.ConclusionThe study results indicated a reduction in FOC and postpartum depression among parturient women receiving non-pharmacological strategies with active participation in childbirth compared to women receiving pharmacological analgesia. Owing to the possible side effects of pharmacological methods for mother and fetus, non-pharmacological strategies with active participation of the mother in childbirth are recommended to reduce the FOC and postpartum depression.

The need for practice enhancements and parental empowerment during their child’s day surgery process: A pilot study

Background: Perioperative experiences leave a lasting psychosocial impact on the parents of children undergoing surgery. Methods: A phenomenological study design recruited parents of children undergoing day surgery using purposive sampling. Semi-structured face to face interviews were conducted two weeks postoperatively. Results: Thematic analysis revealed 6 main themes with 12 sub-themes. Although the parents acknowledged the emotional support and tangible assistance from the healthcare team, mostly the themes revealed negative perceptions of the unique processes within paediatric day surgery. Conclusions: Parents’ feelings of anxiety, stress, helplessness and the pressure to be seen as a resource of physical and emotional support during their child’s perioperative period were expressed by them as their needs for additional information and counselling, remote access to the primary healthcare team postoperatively and advice on coping strategies. Practice enhancements using technology and innovative playtherapy in combination with active parental participation may make day surgery a positive experience for both parents and children. Journal of Paediatric Surgeons of Bangladesh (2019) Vol. 10 (1 & 2): 5-14

Factors Impacting on Patient-Centered Communication Skills and Their Opportunities to Be Involved in Decision-making From the Perspective of Patients With Cancer, Informal Caregivers, and/or Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review.

Active participation of cancer patients and their caregivers in decision-making, along with high-quality communication, is crucial in patient-centered cancer management. Although numerous factors affecting patients' communication and decision-making involvement have been identified, it is still unclear which ones are the most prevalent and critical. To identify factors that contribute to high-quality patient-centered communication and decision-making participation from the perspectives of cancer patients, informal caregivers, and/or healthcare professionals. A systematic review was conducted, using 9 databases to retrieve primary research articles published from 2010 to February 17, 2023, updated on December 13, 2023. Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (version 18). The socioecological model of communication was utilized as analytical framework for summarizing the results. Fifty-two studies were included. The most frequently reported factors were predominantly articulated at the individual, interpersonal, and societal levels. Although the patients' lack of knowledge and limited language proficiency were the frequent patient-level barriers, the perceived lack of knowledge and lack of training of professionals were the crucial and current professional-level barriers, as reported in studies published in 2016 onward. To circumvent these factors, it is critical to enhance professionals' knowledge, communication skills, and patient relationships. Recognizing barriers and facilitators could help in the development of strategies to overcome these barriers and enhance patient participation in clinical communication. The findings could guide the development of programs to enhance patient-professional communication skills. Further cross-cultural studies are needed to understand culture's impact on communication effectiveness and decision-making participation.

Immersive Storytelling in Social Virtual Reality for Human-Centered Learning about Sensitive Historical Events

History is a subject that students often find uninspiring in school education. This paper explores the application of social VR metaverse platforms in combination with interactive, nonlinear web platforms designed for immersive storytelling to support learning about a sensitive historical event, namely the Asia Minor Catastrophe. The goal was to design an alternative method of learning history and investigate if it would engage students and foster their independence. A mixed-methods research design was applied. Thirty-four (n = 34) adult participants engaged in the interactive book and VR space over the course of three weeks. After an online workshop, feedback was collected from participants through a custom questionnaire. The quantitative data from the questionnaire were analyzed statistically utilizing IBM SPSS, while the qualitative responses were coded thematically. This study reveals that these two tools can enhance historical education by increasing student engagement, interaction, and understanding. Participants appreciated the immersive and participatory nature of the material. This study concludes that these technologies have the potential to enhance history education by promoting active participation and engagement.

Model of Formation of Communicative Competences of Students-Programmers in the Process of Joint Activity

Effective professional activity in the digital era is based on the ability to make decisions, willingness to cooperate and skills to manage emotional intelligence. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the training of IT-specialists and create conditions for the formation of their communicative competences. The purpose of the article is to discuss the results of the development of the model of the process of forming communicative competences of software engineering students in collaborative activities. The research methodology includes competence-based, constructivist, network approach, personality-oriented approach and activity-based approaches. The method of pedagogical modeling was used, which allowed to correlate the existing and ideal characteristics of the educational process under study, to identify and outline ways to improve it in the context of professional activity in the IT-sphere. The development of the model was carried out taking into account the technology of “blended learning”. Research results. The model of the process of formation of communicative competence of students-programmers includes the target block, in which the personal goals of education, the standard of specialty 09.02.07 “Information Systems and Programming”, the requirements of employers to the professional activity of programmers are indicated; the organizational-activity block, including diagnostic and activity-forming activities; the result-criterial block, including criteria and indicators of assessment of communicative competence. Conclusion. Communicative competences of students-programmers include knowledge of psychological bases of communication and possession of virtual communication skills, active participation in teamwork, skills of constructive interaction, organizational skills, readiness for interaction, orientation to self-improvement in interaction, self-motivation skills, self-regulation skills, self-control, conflict resolution. The process of formation of communicative competences of students-programmers is carried out in the educational activity on the basis of learning in cooperation as a type of joint activity, providing students’ motivation for constructive interaction, increasing the performance of academic tasks, individual responsibility, eliminating the barriers of interaction through the use of flexible planning strategy and organization of virtual teamwork based on the principles of Agile-methodology and Scrum-method.