Diagnostic radiography students' perceptions towards communication with service users who are deaf or hearing impaired.

Communication issues can arise when deaf or hearing impaired individuals access National Health Service (NHS) radiology services if reasonable adjustments and inclusive services are not facilitated. This study aims to assess student diagnostic radiographers' attitudes and communication experience with service users who are deaf or hearing impaired. An anonymous online survey was conducted on UK undergraduate diagnostic radiography students from a single university. The sample size of students invited to participate in the study was n = 156. The measurement scales and questions included quantitative attitudinal 5-point Likert and qualitative free-response questions. Statistical analysis included the Kruskal-Wallis H test, Mann-Whitney U test, pairwise comparisons of variables and thematic coding of qualitative data. n=48 students responded. The student's perceptions of communication experiences with deaf or hearing-impaired patients were positive (72.9%) but depended on the amount of experience whilst on clinical placement (first-year students had less clinical placement experience than years two and three). Overall confidence in communicating was 47.9% with no difference by gender (p = 0.87) but variance by age category (p = 0.03), with the 18-29 group less confident and first-year students having less experience to draw upon for responses (p = 0.04). Confidence in gaining consent (56.3%) demonstrated no variation by gender (p = 0.75) or cohort (p = 0.54), but variance by age category (p = 0.03) due to difference in unmatched sample sizes. Participants elaborated on positive service adaptations that can be facilitated for service users who are deaf or hearing impaired and issues that caused negative communication experiences. The study has produced data on the experience of student radiographers interacting with an understudied service user group who are deaf or hearing impaired. Qualitative responses discussed a range of resources to assist clinical practice communication and recommendations for further improvements and training opportunities. The findings of this study can help to inform future research, policy, practice, and educational training. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Closed trajectories of a particle model on null curves in anti-de Sitter 3-space

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Striated muscle contraction is regulated by dynamic and cooperative interactions among Ca2+, troponin, and tropomyosin on the thin filament. While Ca2+ regulation has been extensively studied, little is known about the dynamics of individual regulatory units and structural changes of individual tropomyosin molecules in relation to their mechanical properties, and how these factors are altered by cardiomyopathy mutations in the Ca2+ regulatory proteins. In this hypothesis paper, we explore how various experimental and analytical approaches could broaden our understanding of the cooperative regulation of cardiac contraction in health and disease

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