Effective Communication Research Articles

The role of European chemical manufacturing companies in promoting effective communication of conditions of safe use by workers.

In 2006, the revised chemicals management legislation mandatedthat manufacturers of hazardous chemical substances conduct risk assessments for the entire substance life cycle. Additionally, they mustcommunicate use-specific safe handling advice (exposure scenarios) to their customer, asannex to the Safety Data Sheet (SDS). Despite significant efforts to develop workable solutions for chemical mixtures, this goal has not yet been fully achieved. Therefore, a Cefic research project (LRI B23) was commissioned on how to ensure meaningful health risk communication for workers across supply chains. The research project determined that risk-based safe use advice generated by manufacturers, often does not reach the intended end-user and was seen as not tailored to specific user needs. Recipients of the advice are also not prepared to act based on information developed by suppliers. From an industry perspective, the complexity of supply chains and substance life cycles are considered major barriers for effective safe use communication. Exposure scenarios for substance use in industrial work environments are often perceived as adding little value compared to existing safe use arrangements required by other health, safety, and environmental legislation applicable to employers and duty-holders. To attain meaningful use-specific safe handling advice for workers, including those at non-industrial premises who may benefit most from such advice, knowledge transfer and close collaboration between manufacturers and formulators remain key elements, supported by enhanced regulatory appreciation.

“Unless someone sees and hears you, how do you know you exist?” Meanings of confidential conversations – a hermeneutic study of the experiences of patients with palliative care needs

BackgroundPatients with palliative care needs live with the reality of limited time due to illness or age, eliciting emotional and existential responses. A failure to address their existential needs can lead to significant suffering. A person-centred approach is paramount to effectively address these needs, emphasising holistic care and effective communication. Although existing communication models focus on predefined frameworks, a need exists to explore more spontaneous and confidential conversations between patients and nurses. Confidential conversations have the potential to build therapeutic relationships and provide vital emotional support, highlighting the need for further research and integration into palliative care practice. This study aims to more deeply understand the meaning of confidential conversations for patients with palliative care needs.MethodsIn-depth interviews were conducted with 10 patients in the context of specialised palliative care. A hermeneutic analysis was used to gain a deeper understanding of the meanings of the conversations.ResultsThe patients had varying experiences and wishes concerning confidential conversations. They strived for self-determination in finding confidants, seeking trust and comfort in their interactions with nurses. Trust was crucial for creating a safe space where patients could express themselves authentically. In shared belonging, confidential conversations with a nurse provided validation and relief from life’s challenges. Experiences of feeling unheard or rejected by a nurse could intensify loneliness, prompting individuals to withdraw and remain silent. Regardless of the motives behind their choices, it was crucial that patients felt respect and validation in their decisions. Their autonomy could thus be recognised, and they felt empowered to make decisions based on their unique preferences.ConclusionsPatients value trust and understanding, particularly in confidential conversations with nurses, which offer solace, validation and empowerment. However, indifference can increase patients’ suffering, fostering self-doubt and reluctance to engage further. To address this, health care can prioritise empathic communication skills, offer ongoing support to nurses, and promote continuity in care through investment in training and resources. Additionally, adopting a person-centred approach in confidential conversations is crucial, considering patients’ varying preferences.

‘Baby Ban’ and ‘we are not the same’: creative non-fiction dialogue exploring pregnancy and motherhood for a funded Paralympic and unfunded Olympic athlete

ABSTRACT Elite athlete mothers are an under researched population. This is remiss given their increasing prevalence, sporting successes, and importance as role models that challenge dominant and traditional views of pregnancy and women in sport. Indeed, sporting organisations are gradually adopting policies to support elite athlete mothers. That said, elite sport is part of a complex social and economic environment that is likely to shape support available to elite athlete mothers. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to explore the shared and different experiences of elite athlete mothers in and out of UK national funding programmes. Longitudinal semi-structured individual interviews with two elite athlete mothers, one Paralympian receiving funding and one Olympian not in receipt of funding, were conducted. Bengtsson’s 4-stage process was adopted to analyse data through the bioecological model. Data were merged and reorganised into two creative non-fiction dialogues; ‘Baby Ban’ and ‘We are not the same’. These reveal that national funding bodies’ pregnancy and motherhood guidelines, and funding policy were found to conflict, causing confusion and unsupportive experiences. Inconsistencies appeared in the exosystem guidelines and policy, and resulted in differences in communication, pressure, and support that prompted more positive interpersonal experiences for funded athletes than unfunded. Effective communication appeared as crucial for understanding athletes’ needs and to foster a supportive environment, irrespective of funding status. This study was the first to apply a creative non-fiction approach and a bioecological lens to elite athlete mothers’ postpartum experiences and explore the inequalities between those who are funded and unfunded.

Boosting Intercultural Communication Skills: The Role of Authentic Literary Texts in an Intermediate Turkish EFL Classroom

The purpose of this study is to explore cultural barriers and methods of establishing effective communication in English as a Foreign language classrooms. Simply learning grammar rules is insufficient for students to interact effectively; they also need to acquire knowledge about culture, history, and geography through the use of textbooks, documentaries, and movies. With this in mind, the research study aimed to incorporate authentic literary short stories into an intermediate-level class based on the belief that literary texts can help learners develop their intercultural communicative competence. The participants of this study were 25 EFL learners between 18 and 21 years old. The data was collected and analyzed through individual interviews. The findings demonstrate that students can enhance their English language abilities and communication skills through reading authentic books.

Features of training and competitive activity in eSports

In modern eSports, team dynamics and communication are recognized as vital elements for optimizing player performance, underscoring the importance of cohesive teamwork and effective communication strategies. Additionally, the debate surrounding the classification of eSports as a sport is characterized by divergent perspectives: while some contend that its exclusion is warranted due to perceived minimal physical exertion, others assert that eSports necessitates a blend of skills and psychological training akin to those seen in traditional sports, challenging the notion of physicality as the sole criterion for defining a sport. The article comprehensively explores various facets of eSports and its delineation as a sporting activity, shedding light on nuanced understandings of "competitive experience" within the eSports community. Moreover, it introduces a nuanced definition of eSports players as active participants in organized tournaments who engage in systematic practice and training regimens to prepare for competitive events. Notably, the article underscores the critical role of training activities in eSports, encompassing the cultivation of strategies, tactics, reactions, and game analysis, alongside the significance of fostering effective teamwork dynamics. Furthermore, it highlights the distinctive features inherent in both the training and competitive spheres of eSports, stemming from its unique demands and intricacies. Ultimately, the study's findings contribute to the refinement and standardization of terminology within the eSports domain, facilitating a clearer understanding and classification of this evolving sport within the broader athletic landscape. The features of training and competitive activity in eSports are established and the differences in training and competitive activity in eSports are identified.

The Impact of Supervisory Communication on Newcomers’ Adjustment, Well-Being, and Relationships With Their Organization: A Longitudinal Study

Integrating theories from relationship management, organizational socialization, and leadership communication, the current study examines how an essential component of internal communication—leaders’ use of motivating language—can facilitate newcomers’ socialization, strengthen their relationship with the organization, and promote psychological well-being over time. Our findings, based on a two-wave longitudinal survey of 390 full-time employees in the United States, demonstrate that leaders who use motivating language, especially by providing guidance and creating a sense of purpose, facilitate new employees’ understanding of their roles and adaptation to the organization. The use of motivating language also has long-term benefits on newcomers’ relationship quality with the organization and their psychological well-being. We conclude by discussing the implications of our results for communication professionals designing onboarding programs and coaching organizational leaders on effective communication with new hires.

A blockchain‐based secure framework for data management

AbstractData management is a crucial requirement due to the autonomous and constrained nature of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Internet of Things (IoTs), and the aviation domain. The autonomous and restricted nature of these sectors increases the need for a shared, distributed database, strong access control management, consensus in autonomous decision‐making, and effective communication across diverse protocols and devices. This research presents a comprehensive approach and offers a new viewpoint to the field of blockchain while establishing a fundamental baseline for future improvements in data management systems and addressing the shortcomings of previously proposed existing frameworks in order to fulfill the complex needs of secure data management. This study contributes to the advancement of secure and efficient data management systems by implementing robust data monitoring for error detection, ensuring data integrity, and enabling encrypted or anonymous data sharing based on sensitivity levels. Additionally, the integration of diverse devices, enforcement of immutable regulations compliance, and development of permissioned blockchain systems for identity management further enhance the system's capabilities, offering comprehensive solutions for modern data management challenges. In the tests, the proposed framework showed increased successful transactions in all rate controllers. Besides, effect of the validator number on throughput and latency is tested and analyzed thoroughly.

Investigating the Relevance of the Development and Implementation of Strategic Plans in Public Sector Education Institutions: A Case of Public Teacher Training Colleges in Malawi

The hub of every academic institution of higher learning rests upon key areas of policies and how they are developed, managed and championed. This research study investigated the relevance of development and implementation of strategic plans in public sector education institutions in Malawi. In 2019 and 2020, GIZ championed the development of strategic plans in TTCs. This was done by facilitating the training of Principals in the quest to develop strategic plans. Field data was collected using both qualitative and quantitative approaches through document analysis, questionnaires, and focus group discussion guide. The findings of the study indicate that the strategic plans are relevant in public TTCs because of the following factors: government policy, strong committed leadership, organizational culture, structure and effective communication. The study findings support Bryant (2013) in his evaluation report in Malawi and the study by Nyakeriga (2015) who identified the same factors as influencing the development and implementation of strategic plans. The structure is identified by the setup of the public TTCs, with the principal being the top manager, followed by the Deputy Principal, Heads of Departments, Teaching Practice Coordinator, and Assessment Committee chairperson. through the organizational culture, Quality Assurance and Monitoring and Evaluation work to track the progress of the implementation process in the TTCs. The study also showed plans the activities in the strategic plan inform TTC budgets. However, the study has firmly established that completing the activities in the strategic plans is a challenge. The study attributes this to erratic and inadequate funding, lack of knowledge on the implementation process and lack of political will. The study proposes investment in continuous professional development with all education stakeholders to fully understand the concept of strategic planning and implementation in order to achieve set objectives.

Experiences and perspectives of adults on using opioids for pain management in the postoperative period: A scoping review.

Opioids play an important role in peri-operative pain management. However, opioid use is challenging for healthcare practitioners and patients because of concerns related to opioid crises, addiction and side effects. This review aimed to identify and synthesise the existing evidence related to adults' experiences of opioid use in postoperative pain management. Systematic scoping review of qualitative studies. Inductive content analysis and the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) were applied to analyse and report the findings and to identify unexplored gaps in the literature. Ovid MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Embase, CINAHL (EBSCO), Cochrane Library and Google Scholar. All qualitative and mixed-method studies, in English, that not only used a qualitative approach that explored adults' opinions or concerns about opioids and/or opioid reduction, and adults' experience related to opioid use for postoperative pain control, including satisfaction, but also aspects of overall quality of a person's life (physical, mental and social well being). Ten studies were included; nine were qualitative (n = 9) and one used mixed methods. The studies were primarily conducted in Europe and North America. Concerns about opioid dependence, adverse effects, stigmatisation, gender roles, trust and shared decision-making between clinicians and patients appeared repeatedly throughout the studies. The TDF analysis showed that many peri-operative factors formed people's perceptions and experiences of opioids, driven by the following eight domains: Knowledge, Emotion, Beliefs about consequences, Beliefs about capabilities, Self-confidence, Environmental Context and Resources, Social influences and Decision Processes/Goals. Adults have diverse pain management goals, which can be categorised as proactive and positive goals, such as individualised pain management care, as well as avoidance goals, aimed at sidestepping issues such as addiction and opioid-related side effects. It is desirable to understand the complexity of adults' experiences of pain management especially with opioid use and to support adults in achieving their pain management goals by implementing an individualised approach, effective communication and patient-clinician relationships. However, there is a dearth of studies that examine patients' experiences of postoperative opioid use and their involvement in opioid usage decision-making. A summary is provided regarding adults' experiences of peri-operative opioid use, which may inform future researchers, healthcare providers and guideline development by considering these factors when improving patient care and experiences.

Bridging Communication Gaps: A Study on Effective Patient Communication Among Respiratory Therapy Students and Interns

Bridging Communication Gaps: A Study on Effective Patient Communication Among Respiratory Therapy Students and Interns

Impact of construction workers informal safety communication (CWISC) on safety performance on construction sites

PurposeAn understanding of the impact of construction workers informal safety communication (CWISC), a form of parallel safety communication between workers, on safety performance among construction workers is crucial in order to develop effective strategies for improving safety performance in the construction industry. However, research remains scant on the impact of CWISC on safety performance. This study empirically aims to test the relationship between these important constructs.Design/methodology/approachStatistical analysis was used to examine the relationship in a hypothetical model with two latent variables; the exogenous variables represented by two groups of informal safety communication: friends and crew members and the endogenous variables represented by two groups of Safety performance metrics: safety compliance and safety participation, was tested.FindingsThe emergent findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between informal safety communication among crew members and safety compliance, and also between informal safety communication among friends on construction sites and safety participation. These findings emphasize the importance of fostering effective safety communication and collaboration within construction crews, as well as recognizing the influence friendships on safety performance. Stakeholders can leverage on these findings to implement policies to improve safety performance.Originality/valueThe study presents insightful practical knowledge on how CWISC impacts safety performance on construction sites. Practical recommendations for organizations are also proposed, e.g., development of team-building activities, platforms for sharing safety-related information and experiences, mentorship programs and initiatives that encourage social interaction among workers.

Exploring the Successful Factors of Brand Collaborations Between KFC and Genshin Impact: A Case Study Analysis

In a post-pandemic era marked by a decline in consumer purchasing power, particularly in the restaurant industry, this paper delves into the successful collaboration between the international fast-food chain KFC and the popular open-world role-playing game, Genshin Impact. This collaboration, which occurred in 2021, generated extensive buzz and recognition on social media platforms. By analyzing this case, we explore the effective marketing strategies and communication methods that led to the success of this co-branding venture. The study uncovers the significance of cross-domain collaborations, emphasizes the impact of consumer groups, and delves into the role of social media and the fan effect in marketing strategies. It also sheds light on the social comparison effect, pivotal in influencing players' motivations and purchasing behavior. Furthermore, it examines KFC's hunger marketing approach and the integration of fast-food industry characteristics. The paper concludes with suggestions for addressing supply chain management, resource optimization, and service quality in co-branding campaigns. Despite these valuable insights, the study acknowledges certain limitations and points towards future research directions.

Political Choices of Muhammadiyah Citizens as a Muslim Minority in the 2018 Bali Governor Election in Indonesia

Purpose: the primary aim of this study is to explore how the Muhammadiyah community in Bali, a minority Muslim group, engaged in the 2018 Bali gubernatorial election to assert and navigate their political identity. This research seeks to understand the impact of their political participation within the broader dynamics of identity politics in a predominantly non-Muslim setting. Theoretical Reference: the study is framed within theories of political identity and political communication, which provide insights into how identities are formed, communicated, and leveraged in political contexts. These theories help elucidate the complex interactions between minority groups and the political environment, particularly in areas where identity politics play a significant role. Method: A qualitative descriptive approach was employed to capture the political preferences and behaviors of Muhammadiyah members during the 2018 gubernatorial election. Data was gathered through interviews, focus groups, and analysis of campaign materials and public statements. This method enabled a detailed and nuanced understanding of the Muhammadiyah community's political engagement. Results and Conclusion: the findings indicate that Muhammadiyah members actively participated in the election, using it as a platform to advocate for their political and social interests. Their engagement was shaped by their minority status and the need to assert their identity in a socio-political landscape dominated by different religious and cultural norms. The election outcomes revealed both the challenges and opportunities faced by Muhammadiyah in navigating identity politics in Bali. Implications of Research: this study highlights the critical role of minority religious communities in shaping political landscapes, even in regions where they do not form the majority. Understanding these dynamics is essential for policymakers, political leaders, and civil society organizations that aim to foster inclusive political processes. It also underscores the importance of effective political communication strategies that cater to diverse communities. Originality/Value: this research contributes to the limited literature on the political behavior of Islamic organizations like Muhammadiyah in regional politics, particularly within non-Muslim majority regions. It offers a unique insight into how identity politics and minority status influence political engagement and communication, adding depth to the discussions on multiculturalism and political inclusion in Southeast Asia.

Remote family education and support program for parents of patients with adolescent and early adulthood eating disorders based on interpersonal psychotherapy: study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial.

In cases of adolescent and early adulthood eating disorders, despite the importance of the patients' relationship with their parents, conflict and confusion frequently occur among them. Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a present-focused psychotherapy that emphasizes the interpersonal context of symptoms. We developed a remote family education and support program exclusively for parents of patients with eating disorders, based on the principle of IPT. The use of IPT is expected to reduce conflicts in the patient-parent relationship. Consequently, parents will be better able to listen to patients, and patients will be better able to express their thoughts and desires. In this study, we describe the protocol for a randomized controlled trial designed to examine the effectiveness of this program in promoting effective communication in their home based on active listening skills of parents of patients with adolescent and early adulthood eating disorders. Participants will be parents of patients aged 12-29years with adolescent and early adulthood eating disorders. Individually randomized, parallel-group trial design will be employed. Seventy participants will be allocated to one of two treatment conditions: (1) remote family education and support program (four, 150min weekly group sessions) for parents plus treatment-as-usual for patients (consultation by physicians or no treatment), or (2) waiting for the control condition (parents will wait to start the program for 8weeks) plus treatment-as-usual for patients. The primary outcome measure will be parents' active listening ability as measured by the Active Listening Attitude Scale at 8weeks after randomization. Additionally, perception of social support (Social Provision Scale-10 item), loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale), mental health status (K6), family function (Family Assessment Device), and parent-evaluated eating disorder symptoms (Anorectic Behavior Observation Scale) will be assessed. Data from the intention-to-treat sample will be analyzed 8weeks after randomization. This is the first study to evaluate the effectiveness of a family education and support program for parents of patients with adolescent and early adulthood eating disorders based on IPT. If this type of intervention is effective, although indirect, it could be a new support method for this patient population. Clinical Trials. gov ID NCT05840614.

Understanding Sexual Dysfunctions in Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities from A Psychological Perspective

Background: This article delves into the complex world of sexual dysfunctions in individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID), a topic that has been relatively underexplored in the realm of psychological research. Intending to shed light on the unique challenges faced by this population, the article meticulously examines the barriers to effective communication, cognitive differences, and the social dynamics that impact both the experiences and treatment outcomes for individuals with ID. Methods: The study utilized a blend of empirical methods, including questionnaires, psychodiagnostic tests, and graphical representations of data, and was conducted among a substantial sample of 1450 individuals with ID in Kyiv, Ukraine. It offers a comprehensive overview of the sexual health landscape within this community. Results: The research findings highlight a notable prevalence of sexual dysfunctions among the ID population, exacerbated by a lack of accessible sexual education, the prevalence of unsafe sexual practices, and a high rate of self-reported sexual abuse. Conclusions: The article emphasizes the importance of a nuanced understanding and approach to sexual health care and education for individuals with ID. It calls for policies, practices, and further research that honor the dignity, autonomy, and sexual rights of individuals with ID, aiming to bridge the current gaps in care and understanding. By doing so, it contributes significantly to the discourse on sexual health in the ID population, offering valuable insights and directions for future work in this vital area of study.

Comparison of barriers to effective nurse-patient communication in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 wards

BackgroundCommunication is a basic need of humans. Identifying factors that prevent effective nurse-patient communication allows for the better implementation of necessary measures to modify barriers. This study aims to compare the barriers to effective nurse-patient communication from the perspectives of nurses and patients in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 wards.Materials and methodsThis cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 2022. The participants included 200 nurses (by stratified sampling method) and 200 patients (by systematic random sampling) referred to two conveniently selected hospitals in Shahroud, Iran. The inclusion criteria for nurses were considered having at least a bachelor’s degree and a minimum literacy level for patients to complete the questionnaires. Data were collected by the demographic information form and questionnaire with 30 and 15 questions for nurses and patients, which contained similar questions to those for nurses, based on a 5-point Likert scale. Data were analysis using descriptive indices and inferential statistics (Linear regression) in SPSS software version 18.ResultsThe high workload of nursing, excessive expectations of patients, and the difficulty of nursing work were identified by nurses as the main communication barriers. From the patients’ viewpoints, the aggressiveness of nurses, the lack of facilities (welfare treatment), and the unsanitary conditions of their rooms were the main communication barriers. The regression model revealed that the mean score of barriers to communication among nurses would decrease to 0.48 for each unit of age increase. Additionally, the patient’s residence explained 2.3% of the nurses’ barriers to communication, meaning that native participants obtained a mean score of 2.83 units less than non-native nurses, and there was no statistically significant difference between the COVID and non-COVID wards.ConclusionIn this study, the domain of job characteristics was identified by nurses as the major barrier, and patients emphasized factors that were in the domain of individual/social factors. There is a pressing need to pay attention to these barriers to eliminate them through necessary measures by nursing administrators.

School Public Relations: An Essential Tool for Fostering Effective Communication and Administration in Educational Institutions

In the dynamic landscape of educational institutions effective communication and administration are fundamental elements that underpin the success and sustainability of the educational process and school public relations play a catalytic role in facilitating these processes. As a multifaceted tool, this paper provides a comprehensive insight into school public relations for promoting transparency, building community relationships, and enhancing administrative effectiveness in educational settings. By drawing upon the fundamental principles, strategies, and best practices of school public relations, this study seeks to bring to light its significance in fostering positive stakeholder engagement, managing crises, and achieving organizational goals. Through case studies, theoretical frameworks, and practical insights, the paper examines the various areas of school public relations and its impact on educational administration. Recommendations were made for school administrators, educators, and communication professionals to leverage school public relations as a strategic asset in its pivotal role in enhancing administrative processes and the effective functioning of educational institutions. The paper concluded that school public relations is indispensable in the educational institution. By prioritizing communication excellence, ethical conduct, and stakeholders’ relationships, educational institutions can unlock the full benefits of school public relations as a tool for fostering effective communication and administration.

Health Messaging Strategies for Vaping Prevention and Cessation Among Youth and Young Adults: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT This systematic review evaluates health messaging strategies for the prevention and cessation of e-cigarette use among youth and young adults. Health messaging strategies were defined as the strategic process of developing messages with the intent to shape, reinforce, or change recipients’ health attitudes and behaviors. McGuire’s Communication/Persuasion Model guided the analysis of the messaging strategies, focusing on the model’s five communication inputs (i.e. source, message, channel, audience, destination) and 14 persuasive outcomes. Nine databases were searched from January 2007 to September 2023. The inclusion criteria encompassed studies in English that presented quantitative data on messaging strategies aimed at discouraging vaping among youth and young adults. Each study was also coded for study characteristics and the utilization of theory. Out of 6,045 studies, 25 met the inclusion criteria. The reviewed studies exhibit a diverse array of research methods and a consistent integration of theories. The review emphasizes the nuanced main and interaction effects of various communication inputs, such as message features and audience characteristics, while also pointing out a research gap in message sources. In addition, the utilization of social media for effective messaging to engage the audience requires further research. Only one study specifically evaluated messaging strategies for vaping cessation. More research is imperative to develop targeted and tailored messages that effectively prevent and reduce vaping, especially among populations at higher risk of vaping-related harms, while also leveraging effective channels and innovative communication technologies to engage the audience.

Responsible coordination of municipal health and care services for individuals with serious mental illness: a participatory qualitative study with service users and professionals

BackgroundCare coordination is crucial to ensure the health of individuals with serious mental illness. The aim of this study was to describe and analyze an inclusive innovation process for coordinating municipal health and care services for individuals with serious mental illness.MethodsWe conducted café dialogues with professionals and service users with serious mental illness. The café dialogues engaged participants in conversation and knowledge exchange about care coordination, adressing topics of efficiency, challenges, and improvement. We used a responsible innovation framework to analyze the innovation process.ResultsResponsible coordination requires promoting service users’ health and ensuring communication and mutual awareness between professionals. Individual-level factors supporting responsible coordination included service users knowing their assigned professionals, personalized healthcare services, and access to meaningful activities. Provider-level factors included effective coordination routines, communication, information exchange, and professional familiarity. Results reflect professionals’ and service users’ perspectives on efficient care coordination, existing challenges, and measures to improve care coordination.ConclusionCafé dialogues are an inclusive, participatory method that can produce insights into the responsible coordination of municipal health and care services for individuals with serious mental illness. The responsible innovation framework is helpful in identifying care coordination challenges and measures for responsible coordination.

The Interventional Capacity of Community Health Volunteers for Screening and Linkages of Non-Communicable Diseases in Nyeri County, Kenya

Purpose: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a significant global health challenge, contributing to 50% of worldwide morbidity and 63% of mortality. The burden is particularly substantial in low—and middle-income countries (LMICs), where 80% of NCD-related deaths occur. This study evaluated barriers and challenges to effective screening and linkages of NCDs in Nyeri County. Methodology: A quasi-experimental non-equivalent pre-and post-test design was conducted from May 2022 to March 2023. The study employed multistage cluster and random sampling to select ten community units, resulting in 150 community health volunteers (CHVs) in the control unit and 150 in the intervention group. Data collection was facilitated through the KOBO app. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 28.0, and qualitative data was audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed via N-Vivo 12 and findings were presented in textual descriptions and thematic analysis that included direct quotes from participants, descriptions of observed behaviors, and interpretations of patterns and themes. Findings: The study shows that 59.3% of respondents have minimal information, and 92.7 % (n =139) have no clear understanding of NCDs, with a pre-intervention capacity of 48.8%. Independent sample t-test showed a significant difference in capacity from a pre-intervention average of 48.75 (SD±5.7) %, which increased to 68.28 (SD±7.6) %, p<0.001. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: There is a need for a comprehensive, and culturally sensitive training for that will focus on modern healthcare practices, implementing more structured, community-centric approaches involving effective communication, mobilization, and sensitization will enhance the capacity and acceptance of CHVs' roles in combating NCDs. Continuous research and evaluation should ensure practical changes including innovations and use of mobile apps like NCDs app and wheel. An easy-to-use CHV mobile app, continuous capacity building and increased awareness and training will greatly improve on CHVs screening and linkages. Therefore, in this era of technology and use of mobile phones, there is need to develop an app that can be integrated with CHVs mobile phones, Healthcare facility and clients for close NCD monitoring and referral.