Preferred Method Of Communication Research Articles

Women's Health Information-Seeking Experiences and Preferences for Health Communications on FDA-Regulated Products: A Qualitative Study in Urban Area.

A key part of any effort to ensure informed health care decision-making among the public is access to reliable and relevant health-related information. We conducted focus groups with women from three generations across the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area to explore their information-seeking motivations, perceptions, challenges, and preferences regarding three FDA-regulated products: drugs, vaccines, and medical devices. The youngest generation discussed seeking health information for their children; the other two sought information for their own needs. All participants noted that finding health information appropriate to their reading level was a challenge, as was identifying reliable sources of information. All generations identified in-person and live interactions as their preferred method of communication and health care providers as their preferred source for information. All three generations recognized the usefulness of websites, and the two older generations acknowledged the advantages of brochures. Our findings suggest approaches the FDA could consider to improve communications: (a) supporting in-person and live health information interactions; (b) leveraging the agency's standing with the public to highlight it as a leading source of validated health information; (c) increasing the FDA website's visibility in internet searches and making its navigation easier; and (d) using multi-pronged approaches and media for various audiences.

Primary Care Physician Preferences Regarding Communication from Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Musculoskeletal consultations constitute a growing portion of primary care physician (PCP) referrals. Optimizing communication between PCPs and orthopaedists can potentially reduce time spent in the electronic medical record (EMR) as well as physician burnout. Little is known about the preferences of PCPs regarding communication from orthopaedic surgeons. Hence, the present study investigated, across a large health network, the preferences of PCPs regarding communication from orthopaedists. A total of 175 PCPs across 15 practices within our health network were surveyed. These providers universally utilized Epic as their EMR platform. Five-point, labeled Likert scales were utilized to assess the PCP-perceived importance of communication from orthopaedists in specific clinical scenarios. PCPs were further asked to report their preferred method of communication in each scenario and their overall interest in communication from orthopaedists. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine whether any PCP characteristics were associated with the preferred method of communication and the overall PCP interest in communication from orthopaedists. A total of 107 PCPs (61.1%) responded to the survey. PCPs most commonly rated communication from orthopaedists as highly important in the scenario of an orthopaedist needing information from the PCP. In this scenario, PCPs preferred to receive an Epic Staff Message. Scenarios involving a recommendation for surgery, hospitalization, or a major clinical change were also rated as highly important. In these scenarios, an Epic CC'd Chart rather than a Staff Message was preferred. Increased after-hours EMR use was associated with diminished odds of having a high interest in communication from orthopaedists (odds ratio, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.48 to 0.88; p = 0.005). Ninety-three PCPs (86.9%) reported spending 1 to 1.5 hours or more per day in Epic after normal clinical hours, and 27 (25.2%) spent >3 hours per day. Forty-six PCPs (43.0%) reported experiencing ≥1 symptom of burnout. There were distinct preferences among PCPs regarding clinical communication from orthopaedic surgeons. There was also evidence of substantial burnout and after-hours work effort by PCPs. These results may help to optimize communication between PCPs and orthopaedists while reducing the amount of time that PCPs spend in the EMR.

Comparison of nurse and resident physician paging frequency by sex in the emergency department.

The role of biological sex in interprofessional relationships is an important factor in collaborative health care settings such as the emergency department (ED) but one that has been sparsely studied. While there is anecdotal evidence on gender-based differences in communication, little research has focused on this topic. The goal of this study was to determine whether there are differences in paging frequency between nurses and male and female residents. We conducted a retrospective review of patient visits to our urban, tertiary care academic ED between January 1 and April 1, 2021. Only pages from nurses to emergency medicine (EM) residents were included. Outcome variables included number of pages received by sex, number of unique ED visits, and mean number of pages per unique visit. Pearson's chi-square tests were used to analyze differences between observed and expected results. A total of 15,617 pages from nurses to residents over 6843 unique patient visits to the ED were analyzed. This included 187 nurses, 162 (87%) of whom were female and 25 (13%) were male. Of the 39 residents, 12 (31%) were female and 27 (69%) were male. Female residents received 4500 pages over 2228 unique patient ED visits, or a mean of two pages per patient with a mean of 186 unique ED visits per female resident. Male residents received 11,117 pages over 4615 unique patient ED visits, or a mean of 2.4 pages per patient, with a mean of 171 unique ED visits per male resident. This difference in pages per patient was statistically significant (χ2(1) = 369, p < 0.001). We found that male residents received significantly more pages per patient than their female colleagues. Overall, further research is required to understand the factors, such as characteristics of patients or preferred communication methods of providers, that drive this disparity and what the implications are for patient outcomes.

The communication preferences of University of Idaho Extension professionals and their constituents

As Cooperative Extension Services (CES) grow, agriculture evolves, and urbanization increases, Extension professionals are challenged to continue meeting the needs of their constituents by providing reliable, research-backed information to their communities. This includes utilizing appropriate communication means to reach their constituents. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the communication preferences of University of Idaho CES professionals and their constituents and the communication types and channels most used. We used a cross-sectional descriptive census survey design and administered the survey to all University of Idaho CES faculty and educators. We analyzed the data via descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon signed rank tests, and paired sample t-tests. University of Idaho CES professionals ranked mainly individual communication channels as their preferred method of communication. However, they felt their constituents may prefer mass or group communication channels more than they do. CES professionals should utilize audience segmentation to serve their constituents better. COVID-19 also significantly increased the time spent preparing communications and utilizing mass communications. While technological-based communication increased during COVID-19, it is important to consider access and availability to constituents. Understanding what resources constituents have available and how they prefer to receive their information, can help CES professionals maintain relationships with their audiences.

The process of reacquiring new vocalization in total laryngectomy patients with head and neck cancer: A qualitative study

ObjectiveSpeech rehabilitation significantly contributes to the enhanced quality of life for patients who have undergone laryngectomy due to head and neck cancer. The initiation of tracheoesophageal speech early in the rehabilitation process has been associated with improved speech quality. Despite this, voice changes can carry a stigma due to communication challenges, even after successful voice restoration, potentially limiting the overall improvement in quality of life. Thus, our aim was to gain a profound understanding of the transition process from the selection to the adaptation of tracheoesophageal speech in patients with head and neck cancer. MethodsParticipants, who had undergone laryngectomy for head and neck cancer, were recruited from peer support groups in Japan, resulting in the identification of thirteen tracheoesophageal speakers. The data were analyzed using grounded theory methodology, incorporating open, axial, and selective coding. Semi-structured interviews delved into tracheoesophageal speakers' perceptions of their voices and the adaptive strategies employed for their preferred alternative communication methods. ResultsDuring the adaptation process, participants underscored the importance of communicating with their own voices. However, they also experienced anxiety about losing their natural voice, confronted the reality of living without a voice, and coped with their new voice. Eventually, participants came to recognize the changed voice as their own. ConclusionsThe personal conviction associated with the notion of “communicating with one's own voice” is integral to the adaptation process for patients with head and neck cancer who undergo laryngectomies and utilize tracheoesophageal speech. Some aspects of tracheoesophageal speech can evoke feelings of hopelessness, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive support for professional speech rehabilitation.

Abstract B013: Unsilenced strength: Survivorship perspectives from Black prostate cancer survivors

Abstract Introduction: The relentless surge of prostate cancer rates is rapidly alarming public health officials, leaving a trail of shattered hopes among Black men in the United States. This toll reduces mortality for this population, the urgent need for effective solutions becomes more apparent. Survivorship care plans (SCPs) emerge as a beacon of hope, holding the potential to transform the provision of care. Within this tool lies the encapsulation of vital cancer-related information, passed from the oncology team to the resilient survivor and their primary care physician. However, despite the unwavering support of national governing bodies, a disheartening reality persists for Black male survivors, who never access these life-saving plans. The study purpose was to identify receipt of SCPs and the preferred communication delivery of health information among Black prostate cancer survivors. Methods: Utilizing a grounded theory approach, our study delved into the experiences of a convenience sample of seven Black male prostate cancer survivors. In-person and telephone-based semi-structured interviews we sought to unravel unique narratives. The research inquiries used open-ended questions (1) knowledge, awareness, and understanding of SCPs; (2) interactions with medical professionals; and (3) preferred methods of communication of healthcare information. Employing a line-by-line descriptive force coding method, we extracted pertinent statements by open and axial coding to generate specific codes to encapsulate information collected from an underserved population. Results: Thorough analysis revealed several distinct themes pertaining to survivorship care plans and preferred communication styles. The relevant findings were a lack of SCPs knowledge, an absence of post-treatment care, the profound influence of faith and family support, and the value of group settings. Despite receiving education on treatment, survivors expressed a sense of being left adrift, as if their medical professional team had failed to provide them with a clear roadmap for their survivorship journey. In the absence of proper guidance, survivors resorted to considering pre-treatment risk assessments as a makeshift substitute for a comprehensive survivorship care plan. Conclusion: The impact of our study’s findings resonates deeply, revealing a startling reality: Black male survivors in our sample possessed a distressing lack of knowledge about the post-treatment phase of survivorship. Instead, they relied on the support of their spouses or fellow survivors with whom they connected during treatment sessions. The removal of government mandates aimed at promoting SCPs likely contributes toward a disheartening knowledge disparities among many Black men, leaving them without clear guidance regarding the crucial phase of aftercare. Armed with this data, we have the opportunity to drive change and enhance the development of culturally tailored, interactive care plans specifically designed to support Black male survivors after they conquer prostate cancer treatment. Citation Format: Dottington Fullwood, Charles Waldon, Carol Thomas, Mary Ellen Young, Shannon Pressey, Folakemi T. Odedina, Brandon Snipe, Isela Villasenor. Unsilenced strength: Survivorship perspectives from Black prostate cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B013.

Abstract C130: Increasing prostate cancer education and screening for black men in southeastern Michigan: Your prostate, your health

Abstract Background Black Men (BM) have disproportionately higher mortality rates from prostate cancer (PCa) and present with more advanced disease. Early screening may improve outcomes. The aim of our project was to provide education, screening, and provider outreach in efforts to decrease the disproportionate number of PCa deaths in Black men. Methods We conducted focus group discussions with BM to assess their perceptions and understanding of PCa and screening. Focus groups aided in the development of educational materials. Educational materials were distributed at community events. Attendants were asked to participate in a survey to assess their knowledge, interest, and perceptions of prostate cancer screening and diagnosis. Screening was offered, at select events, using prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing. Men with PSA levels of ≥4 ng/ml were contacted for follow-up. The project included training for Henry Ford Health (HFH) providers and an assessment of their PCa screening practice. Results We completed 4 focus groups and distributed ~1000 PCa educational brochures. To date, 136 men completed the survey. The least common response (n=33, 21.17%) to signs and symptoms associated with prostate cancer was “Prostate cancer can have no symptoms.” while the most common response (n=108, 66.42%) stated that prostate cancer is associated with “Having a hard time passing urine.” The most common response (n=106, 79.1%) to the perceived barrier to prostate cancer screening was “Lack of education around the importance of screening.” Furthermore, when participants were asked why men do not get prostate cancer screening the most common response (n=119, 79.33%) was “Fear of diagnosis.” The greatest number of survey responses (n=90, 69.77%) stated that “Social Media” is how they learned about prostate cancer screening. The largest number of responses (n=83, 57.24%) for the preferred method of communication regarding getting a prostate cancer screening was, “Text message reminder to schedule an appointment.” We participated in 42 community events between March 2022 to May 2023. 323 men were screened. 27 men had an elevated PSA, and 14 of these men did not complete follow-up. The reasons for the lack of follow-up were inability to re-contact (n=10, 71%), lack of insurance (n=2, 14%), no show to appointment (n=1, 7%), fear (n=1, 7%), and unknown (n=1, 7%). HFH provider educational sessions were conducted. Of 129 providers who completed a screening practice assessment, 78 (60%) routinely offered PSA screening to men between ages 55-69. Between 2018 to 2023 at HFH, the PSA screening rate overall increased from 8.2% to 12.7%. Conclusion Although our outreach efforts were effective at increasing PSA screening, half the men with elevated PSA did not follow-up. Future efforts should further reduce barriers to PCa screening and follow-up. Citation Format: Shane A. Tinsley, Doreen Dankerlui, Camille Romain, Wilma Ruffin, Clarence Burnett, Donna Long, Karen Yacobucci, Jaye Clement, Abisola Fasakin, Biola Makinde-Odusola, Eric Williams, Tiffany Fields, Firas Abdollah, Daniel Moore, Clara Hwang, Eleanor M. Walker. Increasing prostate cancer education and screening for black men in southeastern Michigan: Your prostate, your health [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C130.

It Takes A Village; Involvement of Village Health Teams to Develop Tools and Resources to Communicate about Antiretroviral Use in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding at Community Level in Uganda.

Research findings must be communicated to the populations who will benefit from them, in a manner that is accessible and understandable. We recently generated novel data on medication use in breastfeeding. A Faculty of Health and Life Sciences (Liverpool) grant enabled work with a team of Village Health Teams (VHTs) in Hoima, rural Uganda, to co-create related communication materials for use in their house-to-house visitation and health education. After an initial workshop from 24th to 26th March 2021, training and review of draft materials, 10 VHT pairs visited 50 households in Hoima district. Basic demographic data were collected alongside preferred communication methods. VHTs provided feedback and re-design of materials commenced. This included dramatization of scenarios and photography. A second round of house-to-house visitation informed final adjustments. We conducted focused group discussions and a dissemination workshop attended by VHTs, local healthcare leaders and journalists was hosted on 16th - 17th June 2022. Most households (74%) had a breastfeeding baby. Majority could read and had access to radios (60%), but not to smartphones (58%) or television (86%). Most preferred verbal and visual aids for health education, and requested images of "people who look like us".Final co-created materials included posters in English and Runyoro and laminated 'job aids' in both languages . These continue to be in active use. VHTs and community members requested future projects of this nature. Healthcare communication to communities must be accessible and clear. Representation of images that the public can identify with is important. Co-creation workshops were successful in rural Uganda, and pave the way for future collaborative, participatory research.

Enhancing policy communication: Establishing a formal channel for disseminating policy updates to improve staff access and engagement.

43 Background: Institutional policies serve as a fundamental framework that enables staff to fulfill their roles and responsibilities. A comprehensive analysis of 5 months of policy access log data extracted from Ellucid, our policy management system, showed that the average views per updated pharmacy policy ranged from 0 to 3 within the 7-day period following the updates. These findings reveal a notable lack of visibility and limited user engagement with policy updates within the pharmacy department, which consists of approximately 300 staff members. To bridge this gap and enhance policy communication, we aim to keep pharmacy staff well-informed and provide easy access to the most up-to-date policies at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Methods: The study employed the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle methodology to guide the quality improvement process. An assessment of preintervention data from the policy access log was conducted to identify the problem. Subsequently, a survey was designed and administered to evaluate staff’s ability to navigate the policy management system, their awareness of policy updates, and their preferred communication channels for receiving updates. Descriptive statistics were utilized to summarize the survey responses, providing valuable diagnostic data. Additionally, a Statistical Process Control (SPC) chart was employed to monitor the process change over time, ensuring ongoing improvement. Results: The survey was distributed to select pharmacy staff in various areas, with a response rate of 30% (13/42). The majority of participants (80%) indicated that email is their preferred communication method for receiving policy updates on a quarterly basis. In the first cycle of the PDSA, an email communication channel was established using the Staffbase program to disseminate policy updates and was piloted within the pharmacy department. The email communication included a summary of all pharmacy policy updates from the past three months, with key changes highlighted. Each policy was attached with a hyperlink directing staff to the full policy on Ellucid, facilitating convenient access. Staff were also provided with education on navigating the communication email. These interventions resulted in a two-fold increase in the policy access rate compared to the baseline. Conclusions: The implementation of a formal communication channel for policy updates, along with improved accessibility to relevant content, successfully enhanced pharmacy staff access to policies. Ongoing monitoring of the policy access log will be maintained to ensure the sustainability of these improvements in the future.

High School Student and Caregiver Preferred Communication Method Regarding School Meals: A Qualitative Approach.

This study examined student and caregiver preference for school communication and explored the feasibility and acceptability of a digital tool to assist with communication about school meal program between schools and families. The study used qualitative methodology through youth focus groups and caregiver semi-structured phone interviews. The study was conducted in 4 high schools in a large, urban city. The phenomenon of interest included the exploration of preferences regarding communication around school meal programs and feasibility and acceptability of a digital tool for communication and promoting the ordering of healthful foods in the school environment. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed through NVivo qualitative software using thematic analysis approach to examine themes. Forty-seven students (ages 14-21, grades 9-12) participated in 7 focus groups and 24 caregivers participated in semi-structured phone interviews. Three themes emerged around (1) communication preferences, (2) accessibility, and (3) extrinsic motivational factors for engagement in healthy eating behaviors. Results indicated that communication methods could potentially influence motivation and engagement in youth school meal participation.

Primary Care Physicians’ Preferences Regarding Communication from Orthopaedic Providers

Category: Other Introduction/Purpose: Musculoskeletal consultations constitute a growing portion of primary care physician (PCP) referrals. Optimization of communication between PCPs and orthopaedists can potentially reduce the time PCPs spend in the electronic medical record (EMR). This, in turn, may help reduce burnout. However, little is known about the preferences of PCPs regarding communication from orthopaedic specialists. The current study therefore investigated the preferences of PCPs across a large health network regarding communication from orthopaedists. Methods: One hundred and seventy-five PCPs across 15 practices within our health network were surveyed. These providers universally used the Epic Systems EMR. PCPs were asked to report their years in practice, panel size, typical number of electronic clinical messages received each day, time spent in the EMR after normal clinical hours, and burnout level. Likert scales and top-box scores were used to assess the PCPs’ perceived importance of communication from orthopedists in specific clinical scenarios. PCPs were further asked to report their preferred method of communication in each scenario and overall interest in communication from orthopaedists. Regression analyses were performed to determine if any PCP characteristics are associated with communication preferences and overall PCP interest in communication from orthopaedists. Results: A total of 107 (61%) PCPs completed the survey. PCPs most commonly rated communication from orthopaedists as highly important when the orthopaedist needed information from the PCP. In this scenario, PCPs preferred to receive an Epic Staff Message. Other scenarios rated as important included: the decision for surgery, hospitalization, and a major clinical change. In these scenarios, a CC’d Chart rather than Staff Message was preferred. Increased EMR use after-hours was associated with diminished odds of having high interest in communication from orthopaedists (odds ratio=0.65, 95% confidence interval: 0.48-0.88, P=0.005). Ninety-three PCPs (86.9%) reported spending at least 1 hour a day in Epic after normal clinical hours. Twenty-seven (25.2%) spent more than 3 hours. Forty-six PCPs (42.9%) reported experiencing at least one symptom of burnout. Conclusion: In the current study, there were distinct preferences among PCPs regarding clinical communication from orthopaedic surgeons. In addition, there was evidence of substantial burnout and after-hours work effort by PCPs. Our results may be helpful in optimizing communication between PCPs and orthopaedists, while also reducing time spent in the EMR by PCPs.

The “How” and “Why” Behind Clinical Site Visits: A Qualitative Study Exploring Director of Clinical Education Perspectives

Introduction. Several studies have investigated stakeholder perspectives regarding clinical site visits (SVs). An SV is one of the many ways of building strong relationships through collaborative communication. This study explored perceptions of directors of clinical education (DCEs) about why SVs are important, why they prefer certain methods of communication over others, and how they prioritize their decision-making process regarding structure and communication methods used. Literature Review. Barriers to conducting SVs exist, including scheduling challenges, time, and cost. Some studies suggest preferences for using in-person communication. Subjects. Fifteen DCEs from across the United States. Methods. Subjects participated in one-on-one semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were analyzed using a grounded theory approach and thematic analysis. Results. Six themes emerged from the data: (1) communication is vital, (2) SVs are fact-finding missions that serve multiple purposes, (3) flexibility is essential, (4) showing up in person has a strong impact, (5) DCEs strategically schedule in-person SVs, and (6) faculty assistance can be valuable. Some of the purposes of an SV include learning about the clinic's expectations, gathering data to ensure that the student is having a good experience, keeping current with curricular trends and contemporary practice, and building and nurturing relationships. Faculty may be able to assist in conducting SVs when properly trained. In-person SVs show a powerful message of support to students and clinicians. Discussion and conclusion. Similar to other stakeholders, DCEs value SVs for building, maintaining, and strengthening clinical and academic relationships. Site visits also bridge curricular gaps, support stakeholders, and help DCEs do their job. Directors of clinical education are strategic when considering SV structure, communication methods, and prioritizing student and clinician needs. Results were used in conjunction with prior findings of our mixed-methods explanatory sequential study to create recommendations, which will empower DCEs to advocate for resources to continue conducting SVs, particularly in-person SVs, especially under certain circumstances. Future research should explore clinician perspectives, specifically related to preferred communication methods, structure of the SV, and meeting with faculty other than the DCE.

COVID-19 Booster Dose Reminder/Recall for Adolescents: Findings From a Health-Care System in Wisconsin

PurposeThis study assessed efficacy of one-time COVID-19 booster reminder/recall for booster eligible adolescents in a health-care system in Wisconsin. MethodsCOVID-19 booster eligible patients aged 12–17 years were randomized 1:1 to receive one reminder/recall message from the health-care system using the parent's preferred communication method (intervention) or no reminder/recall (usual care) in May 2022. ResultsReminder/recall was sent to 2,146/4,296 (50%) adolescent patients. During the 90-day evaluation period following randomization, booster dose receipt was 2.0 percentage points (CI: 0.3%–3.7%) higher in the intervention (10.0%) versus usual care groups (8.0%). Among patients with ≥1 preventive visit during the evaluation period, uptake was 7.5 percentage points higher in the intervention (16.4%) versus usual care groups (8.9%). DiscussionA single COVID-19 booster dose reminder/recall resulted in a small but statistically significant increase in booster dose receipt, though uptake overall was low. Additional strategies are needed to increase uptake.

Perceptions Toward the Usefulness and Benefits of Teledentistry in the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA) in Saudi Arabia.

Aim The present study aimed to evaluate the dentists' perceptions of the usefulness and benefits of teledentistry at the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA) in Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was carried out among 170 dentists from all the dental specialties who were recruited and trained under MNGHAin Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire was distributed using different social media channels. The questions were arranged into four distinct categories: concerns about data security held by dentists,teledentistry and the enhancement of dental practices,and the usefulness of teledentistry for dental clinics and their patients. The responses of the enrolled participants were further collected. The frequency distribution was calculated. A one-way ANOVA test was applied for comparisons. The confidence interval and p-value were set at 95% and ≤ 0.05, respectively. Results Most participants showed neutral responses to the perception of teledentistry's ability to diagnose accurately. Most of them agreed that the waiting list could be shortened with the help of teledentistry and that it would improve the interaction between peers. The mean score for the usefulness of teledentistry in dental practice was found to be significantly higher among 45-54-year-old than other age groups, among those with >16 years of work experience, among consultants, and among those with video conference as the preferred method of communication. Conclusion General knowledge, attitudes, and views of the value and advantages of teledentistry were moderate among dentists in the MNGHA. A few issues about diagnostic precision, cost, and data security were relevant.

Small and Medium-Sized Accounting Practices (SMPs): Explaining Financial Performance based on Human Capital and Organisational Resources

Small- and medium-sized accounting practices (SMPs) offer clients – small and medium-sized entities – support to comply with statutory services (financial statements, tax file preparation) and provide customised business advice. This paper investigates differences in SMP’s financial performance. A survey was sent to Belgian heads of SMPs, asking about personal characteristics regarding education and experience (representing human capital resources), firm size, service types provided, cooperation, and communication (representing organisational capital resources). The findings show that additional specialisation degrees, more experience, and more continuing professional development are linked with higher sales per employee. However, the advantage of additional specialisation degrees diminishes as experience increases. Cooperating with other service providers and using the phone as preferred communication method were also linked to higher financial performance. Finally, male-headed SMPs had higher sales per employee than female-headed ones. Female accountants focused more on their educational role, spending more time explaining the figures to clients.

Interprofessional sense-making in the emergency department: A SenseMaker study.

Emergency Departments serve as a main entry point for patients into hospitals, and the team, the core of which is formed by doctors and nurses needs to make sense of and respond to the constant flux of information. This requires sense-making, communication, and collaborative operational decision-making. The study's main aim was to explore how collective, interprofessional sense-making occurs in the emergency department. Collective sense-making is deemed a precursor for adaptive capability, which, in turn, promotes coping in a dynamically changing environment. Doctors and nurses working in five large state emergency departments in Cape Town, South Africa, were invited to participate. Using the SenseMaker® tool, a total of 84 stories were captured over eight weeks between June and August 2018. Doctors and nurses were equally represented. Once participants shared their stories, they self-analysed these stories within a specially designed framework. The stories and self-codified data were analysed separately. Each self-codified data point was plotted in R-studio and inspected for patterns, after which the patterns were further explored. The stories were analysed using content analysis. The SenseMaker® software allows switching between quantitative (signifier) and qualitative (descriptive story) data during interpretation, enabling more deeply nuanced analyses. The results focused on four aspects of sense-making, namely views on the availability of information, the consequences of decisions (actions), assumptions regarding appropriate action, and preferred communication methods. There was a noticeable difference in what doctors and nurses felt would constitute appropriate action. The nurses were more likely to act according to rules and policies, whereas the doctors were more likely to act according to the situation. More than half of the doctors indicated that they found it best to communicate informally, whereas the nurses indicated that formal communication worked best for them. This study was the first to explore the ED's interprofessional team's adaptive capability to respond to situations from a sense-making perspective. We found an operational disconnect between doctors and nurses caused by asymmetric information, disjointed decision-making approaches, differences in habitual communication styles, and a lack of shared feedback loops. By cultivating their varied sense-making experiences into one integrated operational foundation with stronger feedback loops, interprofessional teams' adaptive capability and operational effectiveness in Cape Town EDs can be improved.

Examining the Role of Self-Reliance, Social Domination, Perceived Surveillance, and Customer Support with Respect to the Adoption of Mobile Banking

This article aims to investigate the main drivers of mobile banking among Delhi-NCR consumers. The TAM (technological acceptance model) was used as a framework for this study. Only a few studies have looked at how online banking users in India plan to use other similar services, such as m-banking. In order to do this, a theoretical model was made using the technology acceptance model. This model was then expanded to include the factors that make m-banking users more likely to use mobile banking. These adoption factors include the feeling of being watched, the ability to do things on your own with a mobile device, social dominance, and the role of customer support as a mediator. The use of m-banking is the thing that matters. In the last two decades, digital mobile devices have become the primary preferred method of consumer communication. Throughout the past year, mobile banking has become increasingly popular. The increasing number of smartphones in use, as well as the government's push for cashless transactions, provide an opportunity for the Indian banking industry to rapidly expand its usage of mobile and online banking. The data were collected through a structured questionnaire distributed to 376 respondents from different sustainable investment classes. The use of convenience sampling was imposed. Structure equation modeling (SEM), reliability, convergence, discriminate validity, and model fitness were achieved through SmartPLS 3. The study found that the adoption factors had a significant impact on perceived surveillance, mobile self-reliance, and social domination and mediating role of customer support to use mobile banking. These latest findings will inform banks and financial institutions on the rise of m-banking in India, as well as provide insight into digital banking channels and add to the literature on the topic of digital banking adoption.

Family risk communication preferences in pediatric surgery: A scoping review

BackgroundEffective patient-surgeon communication is vital in pediatric surgical practice. However, family (including child) preferences for the format and content of risk communication information are largely unknown. In order to optimize the shared-decision making process, this scoping review explored the family-preferred methods for risk communication in pediatric surgery. MethodsA search was conducted in 7 databases from inception until June 2020 to identify family risk communication preferences in pediatric surgical patients, with language restricted to English and French. Two independent reviewers completed the screening in Rayyan software following PRISMA protocol. Included publications were reviewed for data extraction, analyzed, and assessed for risk of bias using standardized instruments. ResultsA total of 6370 publications were retrieved, out of which 70 were included. Studies were predominantly from ENT (30.0%), general surgery (15.7%), and urology (11.4%). Family-preferred risk communication methods were classified as visual, verbal, technology-based, written, decision aids or other. Technological (32.4%) and written tools (29.7%) were most commonly chosen by families as their preferred risk communication methods. Written tools were frequently used in general surgery and urology, while technology-based tools were widely used in ENT. Most studies were cross-sectional and had a significant risk of bias. ConclusionEliciting families’ preferences for risk communication methods is critical for the implementation of shared decision-making. Different risk communication media appear to be preferred within specific surgical domains. To further improve shared-decision making in pediatric surgery, the development and usage of robust, validated risk communication tools are necessary. Level of evidenceLevel IV (Scoping Review).

Bluetooth Tactical Headsets Improve The Speed of Accurate Patient Handoffs.

The Committee on En Route Combat Casualty Care recently ranked the patient handoff as their fourth research priority. Bluetooth technology has been introduced to the battlefield and has the potential to improve the tactical patient handoff. The purpose of this study is to compare the traditional methods of communication used in tactical medical evacuation by Special Operations medical personnel (radio push-to-talk [PTT] and Tactical Medic Intercom System [TM-ICS]) to Bluetooth communication. Twenty-four simulated tactical patient handoffs were performed to compare Bluetooth and traditional methods of communication used in tactical medical evacuation. Patient scenario order and method of communication were randomized. Accuracy and time required to complete the patient handoff were determined. The study took place using a rotary-wing aircraft kept at level 2 to simulate real-world background noise. Preferred method of communication for each study participant was determined. There were no differences in accuracy of the received patient handoffs between groups or patient handoff transmission times at the ramp of the aircraft. However, when comparing patient handoff times to the medical team within the aircraft, Bluetooth communication was significantly faster than both TM-ICS and radio PTT, while Bluetooth PTT and radio PTT were also significantly faster than TM-ICS. Bluetooth communication was ranked as the preferred method of handoff by all study participants. The study demonstrated that utilization of Bluetooth technology for patient handover results in faster handoffs compared with traditional methods without sacrificing any accuracy in a scenario with high levels of noise.

Pediatric Practices' Perceptions of Text Message Communication with Families: An American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Pediatric Research in Office Settings (PROS) Study.

Text messages can be an effective and low-cost mechanism for patient reminders; however, they are yet to be consistently integrated into pediatric primary care. The aim of this study was to explore pediatric primary care clinician and staff perceptions of pediatric office text message communication with families. As part of the National Institutes of Health-funded Flu2Text randomized controlled trial of second-dose influenza vaccine text message reminders, we conducted 7 focus groups and 4 individual interviews in July-August 2019 with primary care pediatric clinicians and staff (n = 39). Overall, 10 Pediatric Research in Office Settings (PROS) pediatric practices in 10 states were selected using stratified sampling. Semi-structured discussion guides included perspectives on possible uses, perceived usefulness, and ease of use of text messages; practices' current text messaging infrastructure; and perceived barriers/facilitators to future use of texting. Two investigators independently coded and analyzed transcripts based on the technology acceptance model using NVIVO 12 Plus (intercoder reliability, K = 0.86). Overall, participants were supportive of text reminders for the second-dose influenza vaccine, other vaccines, and appointments and perceived texting as a preferred method of communication for caregivers. Health information privacy and patient confidentiality were the main concerns cited. Only respondents from practices with no internal appointment text message reminder system prior to the study expressed concerns about technology implementation logistics, time, and cost. Text message reminders, for various uses, appear to be well accepted among a group of geographically widespread pediatric practices after participation in a trial of influenza vaccine text message reminders. Privacy, confidentiality, and resource barriers need to be addressed to facilitate successful implementation.