Healthcare Communication Research Articles

Leveraging Consistent Communication Tools and Organizational Values to Promote Accountability Among Health Care Providers.

Teamwork and effective communication between all health care staff members are essential to providing safe, high-quality patient care. High-reliability organizations align behavioral expectations with organizational values and prioritize safety over other performance metrics and pressures. Communication breakdowns, such as inadequate or incomplete information shared between caregivers, continues to be an issue that is linked to errors and staff member dissatisfaction. Initiatives to improve health care communication and improve patient outcomes are well documented, yet communication issues in the health care setting continue. An organization's credo defines its values and behavioral expectations. Educating team members on an organization's credo creates accountability among those teams to align their behavior with the organization's values, policies, and professional commitment. A Coworker Observation Reporting System offers a communication method for providing meaningful feedback on behaviors inconsistent with an organization's credo.

Sociotechnical Cross-Country Analysis of Contextual Factors That Impact Patients' Access to Electronic Health Records in 4 European Countries: Framework Evaluation Study.

The NORDeHEALTH project studies patient-accessible electronic health records (PAEHRs) in Estonia, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Such country comparisons require an analysis of the sociotechnical context of these services. Although sociotechnical analyses of PAEHR services have been carried out in the past, a framework specifically tailored to in-depth cross-country analysis has not been developed. This study aims to develop and evaluate a method for a sociotechnical analysis of PAEHRs that advances a framework for sociotechnical analysis of eHealth solutions first presented by Sittig and Singh. This first article in a series presents the development of the method and a cross-country comparison of the contextual factors that enable PAEHR access and use. The dimensions of the framework for sociotechnical analysis were thoroughly discussed and extended in a series of workshops with international stakeholders, all being eHealth researchers focusing on PAEHRs. All countries were represented in the working group to make sure that important national perspectives were covered. A spreadsheet with relevant questions related to the studied services and the various dimensions of the sociotechnical framework was constructed and distributed to the 4 participating countries, and the project participants researched various national sources to provide the relevant data for the comparisons in the 10 sociotechnical dimensions. In total, 3 dimensions were added to the methodology of Sittig and Singh to separate clinical content from features and functions of PAEHRs and demonstrate basic characteristics of the different countries regarding national and regional steering of health care and information and communications technology developments. The final framework contained the following dimensions: metadata; hardware and software computing infrastructure; features and functions; clinical content shared with patients; human-computer interface; people; workflow and communication; the health care organization's internal policies, procedures, and culture; national rules, regulations, and incentives; system measurement and monitoring; and health care system context. The dimensions added during the study mostly concerned background information needed for cross-country comparisons in particular. Several similarities were identified among the compared countries, especially regarding hardware and software computing infrastructure. All countries had, for example, one national access point, and patients are provided a PAEHR automatically. Most of the differences could be identified in the health care system context dimension. One important difference concerned the governing of information and communications technology development, where different levels (state, region, and municipality) were responsible in different countries. This is the first large-scale international sociotechnical analysis of services for patients to access their electronic health records; this study compared services in Estonia, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. A methodology for such an analysis was developed and is presented to enable comparison studies in other national contexts to enable future implementations and evaluations of PAEHRs.

STRATEGY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DIGITAL TOOLS IN THE PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

The purpose of thе study is to analyze and reveal the features of implementing digital tools in the human resource management system of medical institutions. Digitalization in this area is a relatively new phenomenon that enhances staff efficiency, optimizes management processes, and improves the quality of medical services. The results of the study indicate a significant potential for using digital tools in medical institutions. The implementation of the electronic medical records, telemedicine systems, analytical systems and artificial intelligence, patient relationship management systems, as well as Big Data and analytics systems significantly enhance the efficiency of personnel management. Electronic medical records improve the quality of medical services and optimize workflows. Telemedicine systems facilitate access to medical services, while analytical systems and artificial intelligence assist in identifying trends, predicting outcomes, and making managerial decisions. Additionally, digital tools enhance communication in healthcare, ensuring more effective interaction between doctors and patients through various online platforms and social networks. The implementation of digital tools in the human resource management system of medical institutions is a necessary and promising direction for the development. This allows for improved management efficiency, reduced staff turnover, increased professional level of employees, and ensures feedback and analytics. However, the realization of such innovations requires significant financial investments, which may be a limiting factor for many medical institutions. Further research should focus on identifying specific stages and models for the implementation of digital tools, as well as analyzing the economic feasibility of such innovations.

Healthcare Outcomes of Patients and Antecedents via Teleophthalmology in Eastern Taiwan during COVID-19.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant transformations in healthcare. Many countries began the rapid development and adoption of telemedicine to avoid the spread of the pandemic and created an innovative model for healthcare delivery. This study identified the critical antecedents that affected the considered healthcare outcomes via teleophthalmology in Eastern Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study's participants included residents of five towns in Taitung County who had experience with teleophthalmology. This study analyzed the structured questionnaires completed by the participants to validate the proposed research framework. Statistical methods were used to verify the research models, including descriptive statistical analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling. The date of this study was from 1 October 2020 to 31 July 2023. The results of this study reveal that the average monthly use of teleophthalmology by individuals in rural areas increased annually. Females tended to utilize teleophthalmology services more than males. There were no significant differences across any of the constructs with respect to age or educational level. Additionally, the patients' awareness of healthcare accessibility via and the communication quality of teleophthalmology simultaneously affected teleophthalmology's adoption and service quality, which in turn jointly affected health outcomes. Both healthcare accessibility and communication quality were the antecedents of the healthcare outcomes. The health outcomes refer to the impact of teleophthalmology on the quality of the patients' health and well-being. Additionally, teleophthalmology's adoption and service quality acted as mediators. This study's findings are expected to increase attention to the healthcare outcomes and antecedents of teleophthalmology to promote better telemedicine practices and services for rural residents.

Medical record-keeping educational interventions for medical students and residents: a systematic review.

Medical records, encompassing patient histories, progress notes, and more, play a crucial role in patient care and treatment, healthcare communication, medico-legal matters, and supporting financial documentation. Despite their significance, literature suggests inconsistencies in record quality and insufficient formal medical record-keeping education for medical students and residents. The study aimed to identify and evaluate the effectiveness of educational interventions by conducting a systematic review. A literature search covering 2003-2023 and review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was undertaken. The literature search identified 44 relevant studies for inclusion. Educational methods, including lectures, feedback, workshops and discussions, addressed different components of the clinical record. The review revealed positive impacts on participant satisfaction, skills and attitudes related to record-keeping. However, some studies reported no significant positive outcomes, emphasising the need for higher-level evidence. Most studies adopted a single-group pretest-posttest design, presenting challenges in control group implementation. The Kirkpatrick evaluation levels were primarily at level 2, with few studies reaching level 3. The absence of studies at level 4 suggested the need for more robust evidence. Studies targeted medical residents more frequently than medical students, with a lack of interventions during the first year of medical education. Despite limitations including language bias and methodological variations, the review revealed diverse educational strategies and highlighted the necessity for more randomised controlled trials and studies providing higher-level evidence to enhance clinical record-keeping skills among medical students and residents. Medical record-keeping educational interventions can significantly improve the documentation skills of medical students and residents, thereby enhancing patient care, communication and medico-legal compliance.

Ameliorating Racial Disparities in HIV Prevention via a Nurse-Led, AI-Enhanced Program for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Utilization Among Black Cisgender Women: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a critical biomedical strategy to prevent HIV transmission among cisgender women. Despite its proven effectiveness, Black cisgender women remain significantly underrepresented throughout the PrEP care continuum, facing barriers such as limited access to care, medical mistrust, and intersectional racial or HIV stigma. Addressing these disparities is vital to improving HIV prevention outcomes within this community. On the other hand, nurse practitioners (NPs) play a pivotal role in PrEP utilization but are underrepresented due to a lack of awareness, a lack of human resources, and insufficient support. Equipped with the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced large language models, chatbots effectively facilitate health care communication and linkage to care in various domains, including HIV prevention and PrEP care. Our study harnesses NPs' holistic care capabilities and the power of AI through natural language processing algorithms, providing targeted, patient-centered facilitation for PrEP care. Our overarching goal is to create a nurse-led, stakeholder-inclusive, and AI-powered program to facilitate PrEP utilization among Black cisgender women, ultimately enhancing HIV prevention efforts in this vulnerable group in 3 phases. This project aims to mitigate health disparities and advance innovative, technology-based solutions. The study uses a mixed methods design involving semistructured interviews with key stakeholders, including 50 PrEP-eligible Black women, 10 NPs, and a community advisory board representing various socioeconomic backgrounds. The AI-powered chatbot is developed using HumanX technology and SmartBot360's Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant framework to ensure data privacy and security. The study spans 18 months and consists of 3 phases: exploration, development, and evaluation. As of May 2024, the institutional review board protocol for phase 1 has been approved. We plan to start recruitment for Black cisgender women and NPs in September 2024, with the aim to collect information to understand their preferences regarding chatbot development. While institutional review board approval for phases 2 and 3 is still in progress, we have made significant strides in networking for participant recruitment. We plan to conduct data collection soon, and further updates on the recruitment and data collection progress will be provided as the study advances. The AI-powered chatbot offers a novel approach to improving PrEP care utilization among Black cisgender women, with opportunities to reduce barriers to care and facilitate a stigma-free environment. However, challenges remain regarding health equity and the digital divide, emphasizing the need for culturally competent design and robust data privacy protocols. The implications of this study extend beyond PrEP care, presenting a scalable model that can address broader health disparities. PRR1-10.2196/59975.

Role of COVID-19 Caller Tune and Intention to Get Vaccinated: An Application of the Health Belief Model

This study examined the persuasive healthcare communication of COVID-19 vaccination using mobile phone caller tunes as cues to action in intention to get vaccinated. Results indicate that caller tunes have a significant impact on only two constructs of the health belief model (HBM)—perceived benefits and self-efficacy—which can lead to getting vaccinated. However, the individual’s perception of barriers, severity and susceptibility was not found to be influenced by the caller tunes. The study was conducted with a sample of 334 drawn from India who were in the process of getting vaccinated at the time of the data collection. Our analysis reveals that a well-designed caller tune message by incorporating aspects of all constructs of HBM may have a bigger impact in such an unprecedented crisis. There is a dearth of research focussing on the relevance of cues to action in public health communication, and our study is an attempt to address this gap.

Comparative Analysis of Large Language Models in Simplifying Turkish Ultrasound Reports to Enhance Patient Understanding

Objective: To evaluate and compare the abilities of Language Models (LLMs) in simplifying Turkish ultrasound (US) findings for patients. Methods: We assessed the simplification performance of four LLMs: ChatGPT 4, Gemini 1.5 Pro, Claude 3 Opus, and Perplexity, using fifty fictional Turkish US findings. Comparison was based on Ateşman’s Readability Index and word count. Three radiologists rated medical accuracy, consistency, and comprehensibility on a Likert scale from 1 to 5. Statistical tests (Friedman, Wilcoxon, and Spearman correlation) examined differences in LLMs' performance. Results: Gemini 1.5 Pro, ChatGPT-4, and Claude 3 Opus received high Likert scores for medical accuracy, consistency, and comprehensibility (mean: 4.7–4.8). Perplexity scored significantly lower (mean: 4.1, p<0.001). Gemini 1.5 Pro achieved the highest readability score (mean: 61.16), followed by ChatGPT-4 (mean: 58.94) and Claude 3 Opus (mean: 51.16). Perplexity had the lowest readability score (mean: 47.01). Gemini 1.5 Pro and ChatGPT-4 used significantly more words compared to Claude 3 Opus and Perplexity (p<0.001). Linear correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between word count of fictional US findings and responses generated by Gemini 1.5 Pro (correlation coefficient = 0.38, p<0.05) and ChatGPT-4 (correlation coefficient = 0.43, p<0.001). Conclusion: This study highlights strong potential of LLMs in simplifying Turkish US findings, improving accessibility and clarity for patients. Gemini 1.5 Pro, ChatGPT-4, and Claude 3 Opus performed well, highlighting their effectiveness in healthcare communication. Further research is required to fully understand the integration of LLMs into clinical practice and their influence on patient comprehension and decision-making.

The Potential Impact of Large Language Models on Doctor-Patient Communication: A Case Study in Prostate Cancer.

In recent years, the integration of large language models (LLMs) into healthcare has emerged as a revolutionary approach to enhancing doctor-patient communication, particularly in the management of diseases such as prostate cancer. Our paper evaluated the effectiveness of three prominent LLMs-ChatGPT (3.5), Gemini (Pro), and Co-Pilot (the free version)-against the official Romanian Patient's Guide on prostate cancer. Employing a randomized and blinded method, our study engaged eight medical professionals to assess the responses of these models based on accuracy, timeliness, comprehensiveness, and user-friendliness. The primary objective was to explore whether LLMs, when operating in Romanian, offer comparable or superior performance to the Patient's Guide, considering their potential to personalize communication and enhance the informational accessibility for patients. Results indicated that LLMs, particularly ChatGPT, generally provided more accurate and user-friendly information compared to the Guide. The findings suggest a significant potential for LLMs to enhance healthcare communication by providing accurate and accessible information. However, variability in performance across different models underscores the need for tailored implementation strategies. We highlight the importance of integrating LLMs with a nuanced understanding of their capabilities and limitations to optimize their use in clinical settings.

An Overview of Nurses' Teamwork Perceptions at RS in 2024

Background: Ineffective teamwork and communication in healthcare has been identified as a major cause of medical errors that harm both patients and providers. Teamwork is the focus of attention in healthcare as the success and failure of the system largely depends on team performance. Objectives: This study aims to determine the picture of nurses' teamwork perceptions at RS in 2024. Methods: This study is a quantitative study with a cross-sectional design conducted in May-June 2024 at one of the hospitals in Padang, Indonesia. The population in this study were all nurses working in the inpatient room of RS with a sample size of 48 nurses selected through purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using a questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic instruments and teamwork perception instruments adopted from AHRQ 2020. Data were analyzed using computerized software. Results: The socio-demographic frequency distribution of respondents showed that most nurses were aged 17-35 years (62.5%), female (91.7%), had a Diploma of Nursing education (54.1%), and a working period between 1-14 years (79.1%). The perception of teamwork of nurses at RS is generally in the good enough category with a mean perception of teamwork of 128.00 (SD 35.39). The communication dimension obtained the highest score with a mean of 26.17 (SD 19.93) followed by the dimensions of team structure, leadership, situation monitoring, and mutual support. Conclusion: The perception of nurses' teamwork at RS in 2024 was in the good enough category with the communication dimension getting the highest score. Socio-demographic factors such as age, gender, education, and tenure influence perceptions of teamwork where nurses who are more experienced and have higher education tend to have more positive perceptions of teamwork.

Quality of Care in the Last Two Years of Life for Children With Complex Chronic Conditions

ContextLimited data exists about care received by children with complex chronic conditions (CCCs) in the final years of their disease and end-of-life (EOL). ObjectiveTo examine hospital performance on EOL quality measures and to describe healthcare services during the last two years of life for children with CCCs who died in-hospital. MethodsRetrospective automated electronic health record review of children with ≥1 CCC ICD-10 diagnosis code, who died inpatient between October 2020 and March 2023 at a single quaternary U.S. children's hospital. Quality was assessed based on performance on 15 measures across five domains: healthcare utilization, interprofessional supports, medical intensity, symptom management, and communication. Quality EOL care and healthcare services in the last two years of life were determined overall by age group and per patient. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate demographic differences by age. Results266 children with CCCs died in the study timeframe; 45% were infants (n = 120), 52% (n = 137) were male, 42% (n = 113) were white, 64% (n = 170) were non-Hispanic, and 59% (n=156) had public insurance. Children had a median of three CCCs (IQR 2.4; range 1–8). On average, children met 69% (SD 13%) of EOL quality measures for which they were eligible. In the two years prior to death, 98% (n = 261) had an ICU admission, 75% (n = 200) had a procedure requiring sedation, and 29% (n = 79) had received cardiopulmonary resuscitation. 86% (n = 229) died in the ICU. ConclusionIn this study, children with CCCs met 69% of quality measures and received high-intensity healthcare in the last two years of life.

Cancer Care Terminology in African Languages

Effective communication between patients and health care teams is essential in the health care setting for delivering optimal cancer care and increasing cancer awareness. While the significance of communication in health care is widely acknowledged, the topic is largely understudied within African settings. To assess how the medical language of cancer and oncology translates into African languages and what these translations mean within their cultural context. In this multinational survey study in Africa, health professionals, community health workers, researchers, and scientists involved in cancer care and research and traditional healers were invited to participate in an online survey on a voluntary basis through online platforms. The survey provided 16 cancer and oncologic terms used in cancer diagnosis and treatment (eg, cancer, radiotherapy) to participants, mostly health care workers, who were asked to provide these terms in their local languages (if the terms existed) followed by a direct or close translation of the meaning in English. The survey was open from February to April 2023. Patterns of meaning that recurred across languages were identified using thematic analysis of 16 English-translated terms categorized into 5 themes (neutral, negative, positive, phonetic or borrowed, and unknown). A total of 107 responses (response rate was unavailable given the open and widespread distribution strategy) were collected from 32 countries spanning 44 African languages, with most participants (63 [59%]) aged 18 to 40 years; 54 (50%) were female. Translations for cancer were classified as phonetic or borrowed (34 [32%]), unknown (30 [28%]), neutral (24 [22%]), and negative (19 [18%]), with the latter category including universal connotations of fear, tragedy, incurability, and fatality. Similar elements connoting fear or tragedy were found in translations of terms such as malignant, chronic, and radiotherapy. The term radiotherapy yielded a high percentage of negative connotations (24 [22%]), with a prevailing theme of describing the treatment as being burned or burning with fire, heat, or electricity, which may potentially hinder treatment. In this survey study of cancer communication and the translation of oncology terminology in African languages, the findings suggest that the terminology may contribute to fear, health disparities, and barriers to care and pose communication difficulties for health professionals. The results reinforce the need for culturally sensitive cancer terminology for improving cancer awareness and communication.

Use of an electronic wellness instrument in the integrated health and social care of older adults: a group concept mapping study

BackgroundHealth system fragmentation directly contributes to poor health and social outcomes for older adults with multiple chronic conditions and their care partners. Older adults often require support from primary care, multiple specialists, home care, community support services, and other health-care sectors and communication between these providers is unstructured and not standardized. Integrated and interprofessional team-based models of care are a recommended strategy to improve health service delivery to older adults with complex needs. Standardized assessment instruments deployed on digital platforms are considered a necessary component of integrated care. The aim of this study was to develop strategies to leverage an electronic wellness instrument, interRAI Check Up Self Report, to support integrated health and social care for older adults and their care partners in a community in Southern Ontario, Canada.MethodsGroup concept mapping, a participatory mixed-methods approach, was conducted. Participants included older adults, care partners, and representatives from: home care, community support services, specialized geriatric services, primary care, and health informatics. In a series of virtual meetings, participants generated ideas to implement the interRAI Check Up and rated the relative importance of these ideas. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to map the ideas into clusters of similar statements. Participants reviewed the map to co-create an action plan.ResultsForty-one participants contributed to a cluster map of ten action areas (e.g., engagement of older adults and care partners, instrument’s ease of use, accessibility of the assessment process, person-centred process, training and education for providers, provider coordination, health information integration, health system decision support and quality improvement, and privacy and confidentiality). The health system decision support cluster was rated as the lowest relative importance and the health information integration was cluster rated as the highest relative importance.ConclusionsMany person-, provider-, and system-level factors need to be considered when implementing and using an electronic wellness instrument across health- and social-care providers. These factors are highly relevant to the integration of other standardized instruments into interprofessional team care to ensure a compassionate care approach as technology is introduced.

Efficient Resource Scheduling in Cloud-based Healthcare Systems

Cloud computing is becoming a key tool in the quickly changing healthcare industry, bringing about major changes to contemporary medical procedures. This study examines the various applications of cloud computing in the healthcare industry, highlighting how it can improve patient care, simplify processes, and stimulate creativity. Healthcare providers can enhance data management, interoperability, and scalability, resulting in more effective and efficient clinical procedures, by utilizing cloud-based solutions. The article explores important uses, emphasizing how cloud computing enables these developments, including electronic health records (EHRs), telemedicine, big data analytics, and AI-driven diagnostics. In addition, it presents a new effective load-balancing architecture for resource scheduling in cloud-based healthcare communications, guaranteeing maximum resource efficiency and continuous service provision. In addition, this paper discusses important issues including data security, privacy, and regulatory compliance while providing advice on how to reduce the risks involved. This paper highlights the transformative impact of cloud computing on healthcare delivery and illustrates its role in changing medical practices of the future through a thorough review of current trends, innovations, and case studies.

Needed competence for registered nurses working at a patient-centred telehealth service aimed to engage and empower people living with COPD: A five-month participatory observational study

BackgroundThe global population of older aged 65 and over is increasing, which means an increase in people living with long-term health conditions and multimorbidity. Implementing new digital health technologies enables increased patient empowerment and responsibility, and the ability to respond to changes in their condition themselves, with less involvement of healthcare professionals. Important parameters need to be addressed for this digitally enabled empowerment to be successful, these include increased individual and organizational health literacy, the establishment of joint decision-making activities among patients and healthcare professionals, and efforts that target the individual's ability to manage their condition, which include education to increase skills and providing technology for self-monitoring. ObjectiveTo identify needed competencies of digital healthcare professionals to be able to provide the needed services to service users with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a 24/7 digital healthcare service. MethodFive registered nurses' work was observed weekly for five months. In total 13 participatory observations were conducted. Data from the observations was transcribed and analysed through inductive content analysis. ResultsFive main categories were identified in the analysis; 1) tasks, 2) communication, 3) the relationships between the registered nurses, 4) service users, and 5) technology. These categories contain different competencies needed for registered nurses working in a digitalized healthcare system. ConclusionsFuture digital healthcare professionals will require several competencies, to be able to deliver proper care in a digital health community that goes beyond traditional healthcare competencies, including social, technological, and communication skills.

Self-powered, multifunctional, and skin-compatible electronic-tattoos based on hybrid bio-nanomaterials as electrically functionalized skins

Electronic tattoos (E-tattoos), imparting electrical functions to skin imperceptibly, are attractive for future biomedical engineering applications. However, it is still challenging to implement all requirements such as biocompatibility, skin-adhesion, breathability, self-powering, etc. in a single E-tattoo for a seamless human–device interface. Here, we report hybrid biomaterial-based E-tattoos fabricated by incorporating graphene with silk sericin (SS)-loaded cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), leveraging each other’s strengths for skin-compatible and multifunctional operations. Graphene/SS/CNF E-tattoos show stable and high electrical conductivities under mechanical deformations, along with breathability. Due to SS, strong skin-adhesion is possible without skin irritation. The broadband optical absorption and temperature-dependent conductivity of graphene facilitate optically and electrically stimulated heat patches and temperature sensors. Furthermore, skin-compatibility enables skin-activated self-powering operation via triboelectricity. A substantial open circuit voltage of 320 ± 20 V and power density of 7.2 mW/cm2, sufficient to turn-on light-emitting diodes, are achieved, and self-powered sensory systems can be developed owing to flexible and porous traits of the E-tattoo. The E-tattoo platform, serving as a proof of concept, demonstrates its utility in healthcare and secure communications by enabling Morse code transmission and biomechanical movement detection. This innovative hybrid biomaterial-based E-tattoo can significantly boost healthcare monitoring and secure communication.

Using Forum Theatre techniques in teaching and learning about professionalism and communication in healthcare

Using Forum Theatre techniques in teaching and learning about professionalism and communication in healthcare

Healthcare Providers’ Resilience Communication: A New Type of Patient-Centered Communication

Patient-centered communication (PCC) is considered a key component of quality healthcare, with reported levels of PCC rising over the last decade. However, engagement with patient emotions and uncertainty have been slower to rise, and healthcare providers at times use PCC behaviors to manipulate patients. Healthcare providers’ use of the communication theory of resilience’s (CTR) processes could benefit patients. A cross-sectional survey in the United States (N = 486) tested associations between CTR processes and patient satisfaction and perceived physical and mental health. All five core CTR processes were positively correlated with patient outcomes. When controlling for traditional PCC behaviors: (a) crafting normalcy, identity anchors, and alternative logics were positively related to patient satisfaction, (b) no processes were related to perceived mental health, and (c) communication networks, alternative logics, and productive action were positively related to perceived physical health. Condition severity moderated three associations. At moderate-high severity, crafting normalcy and communication networks were positively related to perceived mental health, and crafting normalcy was positively related to perceived physical health. Findings extend CTR into the patient-provider relationship and demonstrate the practical potential of CTR processes for improving patient outcomes. The study also forwards a measure of healthcare provider resilience communication (HPRC).

Online vs. face-to-face interactive communication education using video materials among healthcare college students: a pilot non-randomized controlled study

BackgroundThis study aimed to examine whether online interactive communication education using video materials was as effective as face-to-face education among healthcare college students.MethodsThe participants were healthcare college students who were enrolled in study programs to obtain national medical licenses. They participated in lectures and exercises on healthcare communication, both online (n = 139) and face-to-face (n = 132). Listening skills, understanding, and confidence in healthcare communication were assessed using a self-assessed tool.ResultsFrom the two-way ANOVA result, the interaction effects between group (online, face-to-face) and time (Time 1, Time 2, Time 3) were not statistically significant. The main effect of time increased significantly from Time1 to Time 3 on understanding of communication with patients (Hedges’g = 0.51, 95%CI 0.27–0.75), confidence in communication with patients (g = 0.40, 95%CI 0.16–0.64), and confidence in clinical practice (g = 0.49, 95%CI 0.25, 0.73), while the score of listening skills had no significant change (Hedges’g = 0.09, 95%CI − 0.03 to 0.45).ConclusionsThe results show that online communication education with video materials and active exercises is as effective in improving students’ confidence as face-to-face. It will be necessary to modify the content of this educational program to improve skills as well as confidence in communication.Trial registrationNot Applicable.

Sex differences in unmet needs between male and female older Veterans

Aging Veterans face complex needs across multiple domains. However, the needs of older female Veterans and the degree to which unmet needs differ by sex are unknown. We analyzed responses to the HERO CARE survey from 7,955 Veterans aged 55 years and older (weighted N = 490,148), 93.9% males and 6.1% females. We evaluated needs and unmet needs across the following domains: activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental ADLs (IADLs), health management, and social. We calculated weighted estimates and compared sex differences using age-adjusted prevalence ratios. On average, female Veterans were younger, more were Non-Hispanic Black and unmarried. Females and males reported a similar prevalence of problems across all domains. However, compared to males, female Veterans had a lesser prevalence of missed appointments due to transportation (aPR 0.49; 95% CI: 0.26–0.92), housework unmet needs (aPR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.20–0.97), and medication management unmet needs (aPR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.11–0.95) but a higher prevalence of healthcare communication unmet needs (aPR: 2.40; 95% CI: 1.13–5.05) and monitoring health conditions unmet needs (aPR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.08–4.20). Female Veterans’ common experience of unmet needs in communicating with their healthcare teams could result in care that is less aligned with their preferences or needs. As the number of older female Veterans grows, these data and additional work to understand sex-specific unmet needs and ways to address them are essential to providing high-quality care for female Veterans.