148 - The Perception of Communication: The Ways Clinicians and Parents of Chronically Ill Children Communicate

Children with chronic illnesses are often exposed to many medical facilities and providers who must speak to them about their illness. Due to the sensitivity of the topic and the emotional strain, the communication can be weaker or strained from the physicians. The aim of this research was to determine how parents are the main information source and how these parents and other clinicians perceive the communication of the information provider as weak. The participants included three parents and two clinicians who underwent an interview and filled out a questionnaire about communication independently in connection with a child’s illness (their own or those they have interacted with). Findings revealed that parents were the main source of information for children about their illness, not the physician, due to the age of their child, the scary atmosphere of doctor’s offices, and trust in the parents. Additionally, all participants reported negative experiences with doctor communication, such as confusing medical jargon, not listening to concerns, lack of decorum and not trusting the patients, which suggests that doctors need more communication training. Finally, the interviews revealed high personal evaluation of the participant’s communication skills but agreement with poor communication tactics in the questionnaire. Further research includes interviewing more people, including physicians and other members of the medical community to get a holistic view of the opinions of the public

A Research Paper on George Ferguson Armstrong

George Ferguson Armstrong was the youngest of four children born to Benjamin Remington and Elizabeth Ferguson Armstrong. Apparently the most financially successful of his siblings, he climbed to the vice-presidency of Strachan and Company from the position of clerk. At thirty-seven years of age, he married a woman fifteen yeats his junior and the marriage produced one child, a daughter. At the time of his death on February 24, 1924 he was a prominent and popular member of the Savanna business community and of several prestigious clubs, one of which included the Oglethorpe Club.https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/sav-bios-lane/1008/thumbnail.jp

On Writing Abstracts

Fred Guyette of Erskine College & Seminary shares his experiences with writing abstracts for Religious and Theological Abstracts (RTA) and Old Testament Abstracts (OTA)

We Would See Jesus... A Wesleyan Approach to Three Recent Films

Many Hollywood films are content to offer Americans an escape from the conflicts of contemporary life. A handful of special films lead us instead to probe and question the way we live. Here we look at three films through the lens of John Wesley\u27s theology: Forrest Gump, Babbette\u27s Feast, and Places in the Heart. The aims of the essay are threefold: (1) to initiate a more meaningful conversation about the way film can help us raise religious questions, (2) to learn more about God\u27s power to renew His image in our lives, and (3) to seek the transformation of society through faith, hope, and love. Special attention is given to the role Wesley\u27s sermons can play in this process, especially On Love, The Marks of the New Birth, and Scriptural Christianity

Place-Based Learning As An Effective Methodology For Developing Self-Efficacy Skills In Students With Learning Disabilities

Research shows that place-based learning is a proven methodology in supporting students in achievement of their academic and social needs. There are inconsistencies related to documenting its success with learning disabled students, especially in the area of self-efficacy. This study attempted to fill this gap in the literature by exploring the perception of educators regarding self-efficacy of students with learning disabilities who have experienced environmental science place-based programs. Elementary educators were recruited from a broad pool of participants via social media. One hundred seventy surveys were received from educators in the six New England states. Five participants provided in-depth information via semi-structured interviews. Across all areas of self-efficacy participants responded more favorably in the categories of Agree or Strongly Agree except for work completion. In all areas of academics participants responded more favorably except Math. Results indicated that educators’ perceptions about the effectiveness of place-based learning on self-efficacy skills in students with learning disabilities were affirmed. Recommendations include: training for teachers in increasing their knowledge of how to utilize place-based practices with standards-based curriculum and instruction, training for teachers in inclusion of self-efficacy skills in their instruction, more focused study of other specialized populations (for example, gifted students with learning disabilities) to understand the effect of utilizing place-based programs to develop self-efficacy, and further research of others’ perceptions (parents and students) in development of self-efficacy skills in students with learning disabilities

EDUCATING HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS ON IMPLANTABLE HEARING SOLUTIONS TO INCREASE APPROPRIATE REFERRAL RATES IN ADULTS

Despite being an available hearing treatment option for several decades, there is still an underutilization of cochlear implants within the population of adults with hearing loss that would meet candidacy criteria. Only 8% of people that are cochlear implant candidates utilize cochlear implants. Thus, it is important to examine why underutilization occurs and how to solve the problem. The current doctoral scholarly project aims to educate health care professionals, with targeted audiences of hearing instrument specialists and primary care practitioners, on cochlear implants, outcomes, and candidacy. Narrated PowerPoint presentation videos were created as a way to educate health care professionals on cochlear implants. Sharing presentations such as these could be one way that an audiologist could educate local health care practitioners to boost cochlear implant candidacy referral rates in his/her area. This would also lead to an increase in use of implantable hearing solutions in adult populations that could stand to benefit tremendously from this technology