Adequacy Of Communication Research Articles

Developmental trajectories of discourse features by age and learning environment

Abstract This study investigated the development of discourse features in young learners of a foreign language (YLLs), focusing on their complexity, accuracy, fluency (CAF), and vocabulary. The study also examined the relationship between CAF and communicative adequacy, and the influence of YLLs’ socio-economic status (SES) on discourse development. The participants were Grades 5, 8, and 10 learners of English in China (32 students in each grade level) who were selected through a stratified random sampling from a larger project and 15 advanced adult learners of English as a comparative group. They engaged in a story-telling task using a wordless picture book. The participants’ communicative adequacy was operationalized as the narrative structure based on story grammar, and 17 discourse features representing CAF were examined across grade levels and SES groups. A series of ANOVA and correlational analyses found that CAF measures generally showed significant differences by grade with some varied patterns reflecting the multidimensional natures of CAF constructs. SES effects appeared in secondary school levels. CAF measures were not interrelated significantly in Grade 5 but showed greater interrelatedness within and across dimensions among students in higher grades. Fluency contributed most to the communicative adequacy measured by story grammar, followed by vocabulary.

What shapes communicative adequacy in second language speaking performance? The contributions of complexity, accuracy, fluency, and pronunciation

The necessity of considering communicative adequacy (CA) in assessing second language (L2) performance has been increasingly recognized, while its nature has yet to be fully explored. The present study examines the relationship between CA and the dimensions of complexity, accuracy, fluency, and pronunciation (CAFP) in L2 speaking assessment. Specifically, the speaking performance of 158 Chinese learners of English was subjectively rated in terms of CA and was also subjectively rated and objectively measured in CAFP. The relationship between the subjective ratings of CA and CAFP and the relationship between the subjective ratings of CA and CAFP and the objective measures of CAFP were analyzed. Results show that the subjective ratings of all CAFP dimensions were significantly correlated with and predicted CA, with pronunciation and fluency ratings making relatively greater contributions to CA than complexity and accuracy ratings, while only the objective measures of verbal complexity, speed fluency, and pronunciation significantly correlated with CA, together accounting for 45% of CA’s variance. Furthermore, the subjective ratings of CAFP showed limited correlations with their objective measures. Discussions were made concerning the validity of the construct of CA, the relative contributions of CAFP to CA, and the important role of pronunciation in L2 speaking assessment.

Postpartum Women's Experiences of Postnatal Care in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis.

Postnatal care (PNC) is a critical service for the health and well-being of new mothers and newborns. However, in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), most efforts to improve maternal and child health have been directed toward enhancing skilled birth attendance and urgent obstetric and neonatal care. This is despite the fact that more than half of maternal deaths globally occur in the postnatal period, with 65% of these occurring in the first week following birth. One of the health system factors influencing PNC utilization is the women's previous PNC experience at healthcare facilities. The aim of this review was to gain a better understanding of women's experiences of PNC in SSA. This study followed a qualitative evidence synthesis design. The phenomenon of interest was postpartum women's experiences of PNC in SSA. PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Science Direct, Africa Journals Online (AJOL), SCOPUS, and Google Scholar were searched for peer-reviewed articles published in English between 2013 and 2023. To assess the quality of the included studies, we used an appraisal tool developed by the Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre. Two authors independently extracted relevant data from the included studies. Thomas and Harden's thematic synthesis framework was used to synthesize the data. Eight articles were used in this review. Seven articles reported on qualitative studies, and one reported on a mixed-method study. All the included studies fully or partially met the 12 quality assessment criteria. Synthesis of the data resulted in the development of five analytical themes. The five themes were the adequacy of physical examination and communication of the findings, adequacy of PNC information, the quality of interactions with healthcare workers (HCWs), the availability of resources and adequacy of HCWs, and denial of care. The overall confidence in the review's findings was either moderate or high. Based on our findings, we recommend that countries in the region address staff shortages, implement task shifting, electronic medicine stock management systems, optimal supply chain policies, and train HCWs on PNC and interpersonal communication skills.

Treatment Escalation Plans: A Snapshot Review on Acute Medical Wards

Abstract Background In medical care, Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNA CPR) orders serve as vital tools in determining whether CPR should be administered to patients, particularly those with progressive life-limiting illnesses or approaching the end of life. Failure to make timely and appropriate CPR-related decisions and treatment escalation plans can lead to the risk of administering futile or inappropriate treatments. Methods Admission booklets in our centre prompt clinicians to indicate whether a patient was for CPR or not as part of the admission process, with further instructions to fill out a DNA CPR form if applicable. We conducted a chart review on acute medical wards to assess the frequency and adequacy of DNA CPR decision-making and communication. Data was collected by three investigators on a structured proforma and anonymised. Data analysis was conducted using Excel. Results Data was collected on 67 patients, with a mean age of 76.6. Of those 67, only six had CPR status indicated on admission, with five specified for resuscitation and one not for resuscitation. A total of 14 patients went on to have DNA CPR forms filled out during admission, but in only five cases were these decisions discussed with the patients themselves. The main reasons for lack of patient involvement in the discussions included confusion and cognitive impairment. Documentation regarding discussions with next of kin was present in eight cases. Conclusion Our snapshot review underscores the importance of early discussions regarding treatment escalation plans and DNA CPR decisions. Our findings reveal that these discussions are not occurring as frequently as advised, and when decisions are made, they are not adequately communicated with patients or those close to them. There is an urgent need for further training on the legal aspects and ethical considerations surrounding DNA CPR decisions to ensure better patient-centered care and decision-making.

Exploring The Impact of Educational Leadership on Secondary School Teachers' Professional Growth: A Comprehensive Survey

The study titled "Educational Leadership: A Survey on Secondary School Teachers" was conducted in the Sadar block of Balasore, Odisha, with a focus on 121 teachers from 19 secondary schools. A sample of 93 teachers, selected using the Raosoft sample size calculator at a 95% confidence level through stratified random sampling, participated. The research aimed to explore leadership qualities among secondary school teachers, specifically comparing the perceptions of science and humanities teachers. Using percentage analysis, the study analyzed quantitative and qualitative data collected via questionnaires and standardized tools. The findings revealed that teachers generally have a positive perception of leadership traits such as interpersonal relations, intellectual operations, and emotional stability. However, many indicated a need for improvement in ethical and moral strength. While communication adequacy and operational citizenship were rated positively, a minority of teachers gave lower ratings in these areas. The study concluded with recommendations for schools to offer professional development programs, mentorship initiatives, and collaborative efforts to enhance leadership skills. Access to workshops, relevant literature, and conferences was suggested as essential for fostering continuous growth in educational leadership among teachers. Key words: Educational Leadership, Secondary School Teachers, Teacher Perceptions, Leadership Qualities

Understanding challenges as they impact on hospital-level care for pre-eclampsia in rural Ethiopia: a qualitative study

ObjectiveTo explore hospital-level care for pre-eclampsia in Ethiopia, considering the perspectives of those affected and healthcare providers, in order to understand barriers and facilitators to early detection, care escalation and...

Debate pedagogy as a conducive environment for L2 argumentative essay writing

Debate pedagogy may hold great potential for improving second language (L2) writing skills. This study investigates this potential by examining the effects of a debate intervention on the quality of argumentative essays of Dutch secondary school students. The intervention consisted of a number of speaking and writing activities, including case-writing and note-taking. The study, which employed a pretest–posttest–delayed-posttest design with a control group, involved 135 students from eight classes at three secondary schools in the Netherlands. To measure the effects of the intervention, we analysed argumentative essays composed by the students on three occasions (pretest, posttest, and delayed posttest). The students’ essays were analysed using a range of measures for fluency, syntactic and lexical complexity, accuracy, and cohesion, as well as for communicative adequacy. Multilevel analyses revealed that the intervention group made a significant improvement in a substantial number of measures in comparison to the control group. We discuss the findings in relation to key pedagogical features of the debate environment. We conclude with implications for L2 argumentative essay pedagogy.

Communicative Adequacy of Linguistics Features Incorporated in the Design of the National Microfinance Bank Commercial Advertisements in Tanzania

This study investigated the communicative adequacy of linguistic features employed in the design of commercial advertisements for the National Microfinance Bank (NMB) in Tanzania. A qualitative research approach and an analytical research design were used. The study employed a population of 250 NMB commercial advertisements, six direct sales officers and a sample of 153 advertisements and three direct salespeople as the representatives of the entire population. A content analysis with an observation checklist for commercial advertisements was used to collect and analyze the sampled advertisements, whereas the interview schedule was used to collect data from NMB direct sales officers. The study concludes that NMB advertisers used a variety of features in their advertising language such as capitalization, different forms of lexicon and varying types of sentences in an effort to capture readers' attention and to impress readers with the quality of their products or services. In grammar perspectives, the language used flouted Grice’s maxims of effective communication. However, the viewers or readers could easily understand the meaning implied. The use of both English and Kiswahili facilitated communication in the country with linguistic diversity and the use of short sentences and phrases was the best strategy to facilitate readability much as the vocabulary used was extensive and vibrant. The study recommends that NMB designers should keep using graphology and layout of advertisements for they reinforce sufficient communication and arouse interests in readers. Furthermore, NMB should continue using code-mixing and code-switching for the strategies tend to effectively grab the attention of customers.

The expression of emotions in online medical consultations: a comprehensive Spanish-English analysis

Doctor-patient interpersonality strategies have evolved considerably in recent years, mainly due to the increase in telephone and online consultations generated by the Covid-19 pandemic. In this type of interaction, the control and expression of emotions have a crucial influence on the adequacy and effectiveness of communication. Remote interaction makes this affective exchange even more complex than in face-to-face consultations. The present study aims to configure a comprehensive model for analysing the affective domain in virtual medical consultations, useful for English and Spanish patients and learners. With this aim, the most recognised theories on professional interpersonality are reviewed and applied to a corpus of doctor-patient interactions in Peninsular Spanish and British English, extracted from representative forums on the Internet. The analysis highlights how specific stance and register variation mechanisms positively and negatively influence the emotional domain in these communicative exchanges. The proposed model allows significant contrastive findings on the occurrence and intensity of sentiment markers in both languages. The results illustrate how doctors in Spanish favour a more cautious, detached and predictable encounter, while doctors in English use a greater number and variety of attitudinal strategies to achieve engagement, empathy and emotional comfort.

The Effect of Strategic Leadership, Organizational Identification, Perceived Organizational Support, Communication on Readiness of Changes and the Impact on Commitment to Change

The purpose of this study is to analyze how the influence of leadership, organizational identification, perceived organizational support and communication adequacy on readiness for change and commitment to change and also examine how the influence of readiness for change on commitment to change. This research uses a quantitative approach. The sample of this study are employees of commercial banks who have digitized their services. The sample of this study consisted of 345 respondents. The data itself is collected online and offline directly to the respondents in this study. Data analysis was carried out using SEM with the Lisrel . program the results show that leadership, perceived organizational support and communication adequacy are factors that can affect readiness for change, while organizational identification cannot affect readiness for change. The results also show that readiness for change, leadership and communication adequacy are factors that can affect commitment to change, while organizational identification and perceived organizational support have no effect on commitment to change.

Inductive coupling-based narrowband PLC systems for overhead MV power distribution networks: New insights

Inductive coupling-based narrowband PLC systems for overhead MV power distribution networks: New insights

The influence of communication adequacy on resistance to change: Case study of selected dealership companies in the Durban metropolitan region

This study aims to assess the impact of communication adequacy on resistance to change at selected dealership companies in the Durban Metropolitan Region. Recent studies suggest that there could be various other factors that influence resistance including leadership skills, demographic factors and theoretical components of resistance to change. The study uses the non-random purposive sampling collected from 270 staff at selected dealership companies in the Durban Metropolitan Region using questionnaires administered to employees. The structural equation model was also applied in analyzing the data. The findings of the study show that there is a significant relationship between communication adequacy based on structure and channel efficiency in relation to resistance communication based on channel efficiency positively influencing resistance to change. The study further provides practical implications for the employees at the selected dealership companies to consider more strategic and appropriate communication tools.

EP-553 A Review of feedback for the Surgical department teaching for foundation doctors

Abstract Aims To assess the usefulness of departmental teaching for the foundation doctors. Methods Teaching sessions are arranged every Friday covering the most common surgical problems and the management steps appropriate for their level. A feedback questionnaire was sent out to the foundation doctors at the end of their rotation and the data was analyzed for the period of August 2020 to November 2020. Results The feedback completion rate was 93%. 18 sessions were planned 14 of which went ahead. 1 session was canceled due to junior doctors shortage. Maximum attendees in any session were 10/14 (mean 7) Almost all of them found these sessions useful to and agreed to recommend attending (6–10 on Likert score of 0–10) 75% rated these sessions as “excellent” and all the rest as “very good”. 76% showed satisfaction with the time and space allocation. 84% agreed that the session length of 1 hour was adequate. 91% were happy with the adequacy of communication from the organizer. A vast majority suggested flexibility in session timings and relief from ward jobs for improved attendance. Conclusion Overall Positive Response. Most suggested the timings/ days be changed. The topics covered were appropriate for their level and helped them in their daily practice. Interactive and simulations sessions were the most appreciated ones. Some necessary changes to rota were suggested in order to make these sessions more accessible and useful.

Parent-Provider Communication in Hospitalized Children with Advanced Heart Disease

Communication between parents and providers of children with cardiac disease is essential to parental decision-making. This study explored how parents of hospitalized children with advanced heart disease perceived communication with their child's providers. We performed a prospective survey study of parents and physicians of children with advanced heart disease age 30days to 19years admitted to the hospital for > 7days over a 1-year period at a single institution (n = 160 parent-provider pairs). Descriptive statistics were primarily used and Fisher exact tests and kappa statistics were used to assess agreement. All parents rated communication with their child's care team as excellent, very good, or good, but 56% of parents reported having received conflicting information. Parental perception of "too many" people giving them information was associated with overall poorer communication and less preparedness for decision-making. One-third (32%) of parents felt unprepared for decision-making, despite 88% feeling supported. Parents and physicians showed poor agreement with respect to overall adequacy of communication, receipt of conflicting information, and evaluation of the most effective way for parents to receive information. Interventions involving physician communication training and proactive assessment of parent communication preferences may be beneficial.

Effects of prior knowledge and reasoning demands on Chinese EFL writing performance

Task design features have different effects on second language (L2) production and can be adopted for different pedagogical purposes. However, the synergistic effects of task features were left unexplored in the extant task-based literature. The present study investigated the synergistic effects of two task design features, namely, prior knowledge and reasoning demands, on the writing performance of Chinese learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). Fifty EFL learners were invited to complete two writing tasks, with varying reasoning demands, under one of two conditions, namely, with prior knowledge available or without prior knowledge available. Their written texts were analysed in terms of complexity, accuracy, fluency, and communicative adequacy, to reflect the multi-componential nature of task performance. The results revealed that increasing reasoning demands reduced syntactic complexity. Furthermore, the availability of prior knowledge resulted in greater lexical sophistication. The findings also showed that the interaction of prior knowledge and reasoning demands led to substantial effects on lexical diversity, lexical sophistication, and communicative adequacy. These findings are interpreted in light of Skehan’s Limited Capacity Model and Robinson’s Cognition Hypothesis. Suggestions are provided for the direction of further research on the influence of task complexity on EFL writing performance.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use in Children with Epilepsy.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use by the pediatric population with epilepsy in rural Pennsylvania was studied to characterize the prevalence, perceived effectiveness, and reasons for CAM use. This study additionally assessed the adequacy of parent-physician communication regarding CAM usage. A telephone survey was administered to 200 parents/caregivers of children with epilepsy followed at Hershey Medical Center. Thirteen percent of respondents indicated CAM use by their child. Common types of CAM used were cannabis-related products such as CBD oil and medical marijuana. Forty-eight percent of CAM users chose to initiate CAM owing to dissatisfaction with the outcomes of antiseizure drugs. Fifty-nine percent noticed a decrease in seizure frequency with CAM use, and more than 11% of CAM users reported side effects from CAM. Eighty percent of CAM users had discussions regarding CAM with their child's neurologist. CAM use was found to be associated with increased seizure severity (P = .004) and the prior use of cannabidiol (Epidiolex) (P < .001) or the ketogenic diet (P = .001). Increased seizure severity and the prior use of Epidiolex or the ketogenic diet may be used as predictors for the identification of patients with a higher likelihood of using CAM. Interest in future CAM use, especially cannabis-related products, was expressed in a large percentage of non-CAM users. Given the high parental or caregiver interest in CAM, providers are encouraged to be proactive in initiating discussions about CAM and collaborate with parents/caregivers to ensure the safe usage of CAM among pediatric patients.

Participation impacts IT workers’ organisational commitment through the mediating roles of internal communication adequacy, burnout and job satisfaction

PurposeThis paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.Design/methodology/approachThis briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.FindingsThe results showed that the three proposed mediators – ICA, burnout and job satisfaction – were all significantly correlated with organisational commitment.Originality/valueThe briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Pre-service Teachers' Perceptions on the Use of Mobile Applications for language Learning

Learning language nowadays can be done by many ways including using mobile technology or mobile phone and its applications. Learning uses mobile applications not only can be done by using app-based language learning, but also using general application. This descriptive case study was used to investigate and find out about pre-service teachers’ levels and perceptions on the use of mobile applications for language learning. The data from six pre-service teachers were collected by using semi-structured interviews and questionnaire. The result showed that all of pre-service teachers have different levels of using mobile applications for language learning based on their purposes, challenges and experiences. In addition, most of pre-service teachers have positive perceptions on the use of mobile application for their language learning regarding on aim-mobile technologies fit, appropriate of branch, and forms of m-learning application and tools’ sufficient adequacy of communication, the findings revealed that (1) mobile applications remove the limitation of time and space; (2) mobile applications are reliable for personal use; and (3) course materials could be sent to students via mobile applications. In conclusion, the use of mobile applications for language learning are helpful for pre-service teachers.

A questionnaire-based study on quality and adequacy of clinical communication between physician and family members of admitted Covid-19 patients

ObjectiveTo assess adequacy of present means of clinical communication between physicians and (Covid-19) patients’ family members, to analyse their perspectives and recommend felicitous practices for virtual conversation during ongoing pandemic.MethodsCross-sectional questionnaire-based (20 questions) anonymous online survey was conducted including patient’s relatives (Group-1) and treating physicians (Group-2), through Google Forms.ResultsResponse Rate was 82.5%. Group-1 and Group-2 included 155 and 204 respondents respectively. Group-1 preferred update by resident doctors (39%), twice a day (41.9%), daily case-summaries (80%) and hand-written document/electronic messages (53%,31%) as consent. Whereas Group-2 favored update by senior consultants (63%), daily one appraisal (55.9%) and scanned copies of hand written consent (81%) before high-risk procedures. The groups broadly agreed on the desired duration for a fruitful discussion (5–10 min) and designating one responsible person from the family for daily appraisal.ConclusionUse of modern techniques/technologies of communication (voice/video calls, texts) during the ongoing pandemic is acceptable to majority.Practice implicationsStudy proposes a senior physician should communicate to a designated responsible family member at-least once a day for stable and twice a day for critical covid patients (more if patient’s health condition changes), either by voice or video calls for 5–10 min.

How does participation impact IT workers' organizational commitment? Examining the mediating roles of internal communication adequacy, burnout and job satisfaction

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to revisit the relationship between employee participation and organizational commitment to determine the mediational mechanisms that underlie it. Specifically, the study examines the role of three heretofore unexamined mediators, namely internal communication quality, burnout and job satisfaction and empirically tests multiple alternative explanations/paths for the relationship between employee participation and organizational commitment.Design/methodology/approachThe data for this study were collected using a cross-sectional online survey of 111 IT professionals (e.g. engineers, technicians, etc.) employed at a public IT company (PITC) in the Midwest of the USA.FindingsOverall, the results of this study provide strong support for an indirect relationship between employee work participation and organizational commitment. More specifically, the results of the study show that that relationship is mediated by internal communication adequacy, job satisfaction, as well as the path Burnout—job satisfaction.Originality/valueThis study makes an important contribution to our understanding of how to make the implementation and evaluation of participative practices more effective. It identifies/clarifies the conditions under which participative approaches are likely to induce employees' organizational commitment.