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To study feasibility and impact of telephone and video communication on perceptions of loneliness and social isolation in community-dwelling older adults. Purposive flyer distribution to communities, area agencies on aging, meals on wheels, and snowball sampling. Sixteen people met inclusion criteria. Pre- and post-intervention data were collected: UCLA-3, UCLA20, FRAIL Scale, and Social Frailty Scale. Participants were allocated to either telephone or video communication groups, completing 8 weeks of one time per week 45–60-minute conversations. UCLA-20 demonstrated statistical significance (p =.017) for the full cohort with large effect size (Hedges' g = 1.273). UCLA-3, SFS-8, and FRAIL Scale did not demonstrate statistically significant pre-post differences. No statistically significant differences (p >.05) were identified between the telephone and video communication groups. Remote communication may have a positive impact on perceptions of loneliness that appear to be independent of the communication modality utilized. Randomized controlled trials are required to determine if either modality is more effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring and managing asthma using technology can help increase patient adherence and achieve better asthma control. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of telemonitoring using smartphones and telephone communication compared to usual outpatient clinical evaluation in patients with asthma. This systematic review was conducted in 2023. Databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Google Scholar search engine, were searched from 2013 to 2022. The selected studies were randomized clinical trials that used telemonitoring in patients with asthma. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the JADAD scale. Data were collected using a data extraction form, and the findings were synthesized narratively. This systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA checklist. Initially, 4,147 articles were found, of which 14 were included in the study. The results showed that in some cases, telemonitoring using smartphones and telephone communication in patients with asthma is effective, while in other studies, its effectiveness was not observed. Telemonitoring using smartphones and telephone communication in patients with asthma can be considered an appropriate strategy to reduce the use of healthcare resources and improve quality of life. However, further studies are recommended to investigate the effectiveness of each of these technologies and their specific outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Communication has a crucial role in public health, because it becomes an essential component of prevention; it is also a proactive tool in health promotion. From a planning perspective, it is appropriate to use communication means that can help the bidirectional communication process, such as face-to-face communication and telephone communication. Materials and methods. In relation to this, the Italian National Institute of Health has developed the "Modello Operativo Comunicativo-Relazionale" (the "Communicative-Relational Operating Model"). It is based on the fundamental skills of the counselling, this gives a protocol to the health professionals that is replicable and organized and it allows health professionals to carry out a telephone communication that is efficient with the user through technical-scientific and communication-relational skills. The goal is to answer in a customized way to the various users' health needs. The Operating Model was created by experts of the National AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections Helpline of the Operational Unit of Psycho-Socio-Behavioural Research, Communication, Training, of the Infectious Diseases Department. Later, the Operating Model was proposed to the experts of the Helplines in the National Centre on Addictions and Doping and the National Helpline of the National Centre for Rare Diseases in the National Institute of Health that integrated this method into their telephone approach. Results. The Operating Model illustrated above was applied to several helplines of the National Institute of Health as an example of correct scientific information, updated and customized on sexual transmitted infections, addictions and rare diseases. Conclusions. This article aims to illustrate the Operating Model, the theoretical prerequisites that subtend it and its possible application in the different public health structures that use the telephone for a professional relationship with their users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to improve the level of investor relationship management of listed companies and establish trust relationship with investors is an important research issue for enterprises in the capital market. From the perspective of optimal contracting theory, we construct a theoretical model to assess how executive equity incentive plans (EEIPs) affect enterprises’ investor relationship management. For the analysis purpose, this study looks into panel data issues in depth by using approaches the fixed effect (FE) method, and the study employs the propensity score matching (PSM), instrumental variable method, and core indicator substitution method to test the robustness of the conclusions. Based on the panel data of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2014 to 2019, our baseline results indicate that EEIPs improves investor relations. This positive effect mainly exists in stock options, rather than restricted stocks. In the sample of enterprises implementing EEIPs, the intensity of executive equity incentive is positively correlated with investor relationship management. Further research shows that EEIPs mainly through telephone communication, network communication and on-site communication to achieve the impact of listed companies investor relationship management. These findings enriches the economics of executive equity incentives from the perspective of investor relations management. At the same time, it has certain guiding significance for improving the design of the incentive system for corporate executives and improving the information efficiency of the capital market.

Introduction: The crisis generated by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has had a great impact in health, economic and social sectors. In the health field, the exceptional circumstances in which many deaths have occurred have forced professionals to communicate bad news remotely by telephone. Objective: This article aims to synthesize in an organized way the main guidelines that contribute to effective communication, allowing professionals to reduce their stress levels and achieve greater efficiency when communicating a death by telephone in an emergency situation such as the current pandemic. Methodology: A review was carried out based on the scientific evidence collected in the existing bibliography on the subject. The databases consulted were PubMed, Scopus and the search engine Google Scholar. Results: To communicate bad news, the professional must have both good communication skills and adequate management of basic technical guidelines for action. Conclusion: The use of a series of guidelines with a certain degree of structure can increase the effectiveness of bad news communications through the telephone in emergency situations, maximizing the benefits for both the receiver and the sender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, alternatives to established and proven formats had to be found in university teaching within a very short time. In the case of the SkillsLab at the Dorothea Erxleben Lernzentrum Halle (Saale) at the Martin Luther University Halle (Saale)-Wittenberg, this meant in relation to the communication courses that a considerable proportion of the simulation participants of advanced age or with pre-existing conditions were suddenly no longer available for conversation simulations in teaching.Project description: In the course of the seminar “Conversation with relatives – dealing with relatives” in the 8 semester, the conversation simulation was therefore adapted at short notice and converted into a telephone conversation. Thus, the simulation subjects were able to participate remotely and the students had the opportunity to test their doctor-patient conversation skills with regard to telephone calls in a safe environment. Results: The focus on nonverbal techniques and the departure from the usual face-to-face setting was perceived by students and simulation subjects alike as a positive stimulus and particularly challenging. The lack of visual impressions had made empathic conversation more difficult. Discussion and Conclusions: The positive experiences from this project should be used to expand the communication curriculum in the future to include telephone-based conversations with simulation subjects. Ideally, it would then be possible for the simulation persons to be present in the future after the conversation for feedback mediation and group discussion.

This article has examined the telephone communication of bad news in the health field during the public health emergency of international concern decreed by the WHO on March 11, 2020. Communicating bad news is not an easy or pleasant task, especially when it comes to a death. Its effects, both for the sender and the receiver, will depend on the way it is carried out. In relation to the recipient, adequate communication can facilitate the process of acceptance and adaptation to the new reality, the one in which your loved one is no longer. Regarding the issuer, a correct transmission of information can lead to a reduction in stress levels, increasing the efficiency of communication, present and future, as well as reducing the probability of problems such as burnout. A good notification of unfavorable news requires communication skills and the handling of basic technical guidelines for action, for which training is necessary. The pandemic situation caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has made the communication of bad news, until now considered a minor competence, a central element of the care process. The exceptional circumstances of this health emergency have also meant having to carry out communications over the phone on many occasions, an action not recommended in normal situations due to the associated inconveniences and which has been a real challenge for professionals. The scarcity of specific material on remote communication in exceptional situations such as the current one, makes it necessary to study and research in depth on the area. This article has attempted to address these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Telemonitoring of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) has many advantages. However, telemonitoring involves clinical work that is often overlooked or considered a burden, such as the work performed during telephone contact with patients. The objective of this study was to scrutinize telephone calls to and from patients to understand the clinical workload in CIED remote monitoring. The focus was on time spent, type of work, and the content of telephone contact with patients.Methods: A combined quantitative and qualitative observational study was conducted at a large CIED remote monitoring center. The unit 'encounter' was used to describe either a telephone call between patient and clinician and/or a complete review of a CIED data transmission. The time spent on different encounters was measured, the telephone call content was identified and described, and the different types of clinical work were described.Results: A total of 260 encounters were analyzed. Encounters that involved patient telephone contact were more time consuming. Telephone calls were mostly about the home monitoring box, CIED transmission data, and symptoms. In most telephone calls, two or more topics appeared. Five types of clinical work were performed: inclusion work, coordination work, diagnostic work, education work, and comfort work. Inclusion work and diagnostic work were the dominant types.Discussion: Patient telephone contact in CIED telemonitoring is typically described as a "burden". This study unpacks the contents and functions of telephone calls between patients and clinicians and suggests that the function of telephone contact should be recognized as integral, rather than burdensome, to the clinical work in CIED telemonitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate a system - "the service" - designed to improve mobile telephone communication for people with hearing loss. Design: Each participant registered online and took an online hearing test using their own mobile telephone held in the position of their choice. The test assessed the combined effects of the telephone, the hearing loss of the participant and the hearing aid of the participant (if worn). The results were stored as a "hearing profile" and used to set up frequency-dependent amplification and multichannel amplitude compression. The signal processing was performed in the telephone network and applied to all calls of the participant. Participants completed four questionnaires about their listening experiences using the telephone, one before using the service, two while using the service and one after using the service. Also, the ability to understand speech was measured using challenging sentences. Study sample: Fifty-three participants with varying degrees of hearing loss. Results: The great majority of participants indicated that call clarity was improved and that listening difficulty was reduced when using the service. Speech intelligibility scores were significantly improved when using the service. Conclusions: The service appears to be effective in improving phone communication for people with hearing loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study evaluated how breast cancer diagnoses were shared with patients.Methods: Current members of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation's Army of Women cohort were sent one email with a link to a survey assessing how their breast cancer diagnosis was communicated, a description of their support system during treatment, basic demographic information, and breast cancer diagnosis details.Results: Participants (n = 2896) were more likely to be given their diagnosis over the telephone in more recent years (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.06-1.08). Up until about 10 years ago (1967-2006), breast cancer diagnoses were communicated in person more often than by telephone. Since 2006, more than half of participants learned about their diagnosis over the telephone. From 2015 to 2017, almost 60% of participants learned about their diagnosis over the telephone. Among those who heard the news in person, a steady 40% were alone. Characteristics of those who received the news over the telephone included having identified support members, heterosexual identity, and a diagnosis of in situ breast cancer.Conclusions: Receiving a telephone call about breast cancer diagnosis may be the norm rather than the exception in health care today. Trends in practice, as well as current best practices based primarily on expert opinion, may not provide optimal care for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Patient outcome research to guide future practice, such as the impact of modes of delivery of bad news, is urgently needed to determine appropriate patient-centered approaches for notification of breast cancer diagnoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Client communication is a core clinical skill that is taught as part of the required curriculum at many veterinary colleges. Although much client communication occurs face-to-face, telephone communication is used to provide patient updates, relay results of diagnostic tests, and check on discharged patients. This research explored fourth year veterinary medical students' telephone communication skills. We recorded and analyzed the transcripts of 25 calls students made to clients of three different services in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Additionally, we explored the perspectives of veterinary educators by distributing a survey to university faculty and house officers (n = 57). Results indicate that students excelled at identifying the patient and purpose of the call and incorporating professional language and clear explanations. They require development in providing structure and incorporating core communication skills. Compared with our survey results, the student findings are at odds with clinicians' expectations of students' communication abilities. We conclude that additional training is required to familiarize students with expectations regarding telephone communication, including reviewing the case thoroughly, preparing to answer questions and provide explanations, following organizational protocol, and incorporating open ended questions, reflective listening, and empathy. This data will inform design, and help to measure the impact, of telephone communication education and training that will be incorporated into the existing veterinary communication curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This program evaluated post-procedure concerns of patients after common urologic procedures with an innovative telephone follow-up process. As the success of this process became apparent, it led to revisions to both the patient discharge information and the information available to nurses to make both more representative of actual patient issues and concerns postoperatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resumen: En los últimos años, el ejercicio de la interpretación telefónica es tan usual que se habla ya de tres tipos de interpretación: cara a cara, telefónica, de conferencias. Los avances en la telefonía han hecho que esta realidad sea posible, sin embargo, la interpretación electrónica aunque no utilizada con fines de comunicación telefónicos está supeditada desde el comienzo a la telefonía. El intérprete, a veces entendido como mediador cultural o como un participante con más o menos visibilidad en la interacción, es en la interpretación telefónica donde su papel participativo se hace más notable. Este papel de coordinación a la que ya otros autores han hecho referencia en otros contextos tríadicos es ahora en el contexto telefónico indispensable para que el ejercicio de interpretación entre ambas partes de la interpretación sea posible. Este trabajo hace un estudio de dos casos reales de interpretación, grabados y realizados a través del teléfono, español-inglés. Presentamos el esfuerzo de coordinación que el intérprete realiza en estos casos en concreto para coordinar la conversación a través del teléfono. Palabras clave: Interpretación telefónica, el intérprete como coordinador, la comunicación telefónica, interpretación electrónica. Telephone Interpreting. The interpreter as a coordinator: Case studies of telephone interactions Abstract: In recent years, the use of telephone interpreting is so frequent that we could be talking about three types of interpreting: face to face, telephone and conference. The improvements in the telephone industry have made it possible, but nevertheless the origins of electronic interpreting are linked to the telephone. The interpreter understood as a cultural mediator or as a participant with more or less visibility in the interaction, shows a more active role in telephone interpreting. This role which is of a coordinator of the talk also mentioned by other authors in triadic encounters acquires a higher importance in telephone interpreting. This piece of work studies two real telephone interpreting interactions that took place in English and Spanish, which were recorded and later transcribed, in order to show the coordination effort of the interpreter when doing telephone interpreting. Key words: Telephone interpreting, the interpreter as coordinator, telephone communication, electronic interpreting.

Abstract: Aim: To determine which aspects of primary nurse–patient telephone communication are viewed positively or negatively in terms of meeting the older persons’ needs. Background: Health professionals are increasingly being called on to develop different ways of working and increase their capacity to meet the needs of an ageing population. In some countries, telephone communication between primary nurses and patients in General Practice is already seen as a routine practice, but determining the value of this type of communication as a specific health service needs more understanding. Design: A qualitative exploratory study as the aim was to explore the older person's experiences. Methods: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 21 older people from General Practices in New Zealand during 2014–2015. Thematic analysis was informed by a constructivist grounded theory approach. Findings: The overarching theme was the difficulties older people face in making decisions about whether to contact a health professional by telephone and whether this should be the Primary nurse. Accounting for some of their symptoms as age related added to the uncertainty of decision‐making. Importantly, some older people were not raising concerns e.g. emotional state. Conclusion: Decision‐making by older people around treatment seeking is complex. Increasing the awareness of the nurse role in the General Practice is integral to creating a health system which will meet the needs of a growing older population. Primary care practices can review their systems to better inform older people how the nurse‐telephone role as a specific health service works and what they can expect when using this service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telephone nursing services are expanding globally. Swedish Healthcare Direct is the largest healthcare provider in Sweden. This paper provides a comprehensive understanding of telephone nursing, as reflected by research on Swedish national telephone nursing, and discusses the findings in relation to international literature. A descriptive, mixed-studies literature review was conducted. Twenty-four articles from January 2003 to April 2015 were identified from PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL, and included. The issues explored in this study are how telephone nursing is perceived by callers, telephone nurses, and managers, and what characterizes such calls. Callers value reassurance, support, respect and satisfaction and involvement in decisions can increase their adherence. The telephone nurses' perspective focused on problems and ethical dilemmas, communication, the decision support tool, and working tasks. The managers' perspective focused on nursing work goals and malpractice claims. Concerning call characteristics, authentic calls, incident reports, and threats to patient safety were considered. Telephone nursing seems safe, but gender can play a role in calls. Future research on caller access, equity, and efficiency, healthcare cost-effectiveness, distribution, and patient safety is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Client communication is a core clinical skill that is taught as part of the required curriculum at many veterinary colleges. Although much client communication occurs face-to-face, telephone communication is used to provide patient updates, relay results of diagnostic tests, and check on discharged patients. This research explored fourth year veterinary medical students’ telephone communication skills. We recorded and analyzed the transcripts of 25 calls students made to clients of three different services in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Additionally, we explored the perspectives of veterinary educators by distributing a survey to university faculty and house officers (n = 57). Results indicate that students excelled at identifying the patient and purpose of the call and incorporating professional language and clear explanations. They require development in providing structure and incorporating core communication skills. Compared with our survey results, the student findings are at odds with clinicians’ expectations of students’ communication abilities. We conclude that additional training is required to familiarize students with expectations regarding telephone communication, including reviewing the case thoroughly, preparing to answer questions and provide explanations, following organizational protocol, and incorporating open ended questions, reflective listening, and empathy. This data will inform design, and help to measure the impact, of telephone communication education and training that will be incorporated into the existing veterinary communication curriculum.

Introduction: Communication has a crucial role in public health, because it becomes an essential component of prevention; it is also a proactive tool in health promotion. From a planning perspective, it is appropriate to use communication means that can help the bidirectional communication process, such as face-to-face communication and telephone communication., Materials and Methods: In relation to this, the Italian National Institute of Health has developed the "Modello Operativo Comunicativo-Relazionale" (the "Communicative-Relational Operating Model"). It is based on the fundamental skills of the counselling, this gives a protocol to the health professionals that is replicable and organized and it allows health professionals to carry out a telephone communication that is efficient with the user through technical-scientific and communication-relational skills. The goal is to answer in a customized way to the various users' health needs. The Operating Model was created by experts of the National AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections Helpline of the Operational Unit of Psycho-Socio-Behavioural Research, Communication, Training, of the Infectious Diseases Department. Later, the Operating Model was proposed to the experts of the Helplines in the National Centre on Addictions and Doping and the National Helpline of the National Centre for Rare Diseases in the National Institute of Health that integrated this method into their telephone approach., Results: The Operating Model illustrated above was applied to several helplines of the National Institute of Health as an example of correct scientific information, updated and customized on sexual transmitted infections, addictions and rare diseases., Conclusions: This article aims to illustrate the Operating Model, the theoretical prerequisites that subtend it and its possible application in the different public health structures that use the telephone for a profes-sional relationship with their users.

Abstract This single-station, standardized case assesses the medical knowledge and communication skills of an intern and/or fourth-year medical student in answering a mock page. The authors developed this case as an objective method to assess professionalism and communication skills through the use of a common clinical scenario in the health care system: a page from a nurse about patient care (an infected central venous catheter). This case can be administered as a stand-alone assessment or included as a station in an OSCE. The mock page scenario was created to mimic a naturally occurring communication episode between the learner and a nurse. In this scenario, a standardized nurse was used in the interaction. The authors created a checklist to emphasize items that demonstrate professionalism and communication skills. Medical knowledge checklist items were developed to assess the learner's ability to correctly identify and manage the clinical scenario of an infected indwelling venous catheter. This station was part of a six-station OSCE performed during the fourth-year medical school sub-internship rotation. This case has also been used during OSCEs administered to residents at the beginning and end of the intern year. Each examinee was provided with written instructions on the door of the station room. Using the checklist, in which items were equally weighted, the nurse assessed each learner during a 3-minute break between interactions. Scores were reported as percent correct on the 12-item checklist. Formative educational feedback on students' performance was provided to the learner, the sub-internship directors, and the director of the fourth year. Feedback on the interns' performance was provided to the interns and to their program directors. This feedback allowed medical students to identify areas for self-improvement as they progressed to the intern year, and it allowed individual program directors to reflect on and potentially modify their educational curricula.

The aim was to investigate telephonic voice intelligibility in patients treated for laryngeal cancer using different approaches. In total, 90 patients treated for laryngeal cancer using different approaches and 12 healthy volunteers were recruited. Each patient and each healthy control read a list of words and sentences during a telephone call. Six auditors listened to each telephonic recording and transcribed the words and sentences they understood. Mean intelligibility rates for each treatment were assessed and compared. Regarding words, the poorest intelligibility was noted for type II open partial horizontal laryngectomies, followed by total laryngectomies. The best intelligibility was found for transoral laser microsurgery, followed by radiotherapy alone. For sentences, the poorest intelligibility was noted for type II open partial horizontal laryngectomies, followed by chemoradiotherapy. The best intelligibility was found for radiotherapy alone and transoral laser microsurgery. More aggressive surgery as well as chemoradiotherapy correlated with significantly poorer outcomes. Transoral laser microsurgery or radiotherapy alone ensured the best telephonic voice intelligibility. Intermediate-advanced T stages at diagnosis also showed significantly poorer intelligibility outcomes, suggesting that T stage represents an independent negative prognostic factor for voice intelligibility after treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The slower and unnatural timing of speech inherent to speech-generating devices (SGDs) can be a barrier to successful aided telephone calls. The timing of message delivery when using an SGD may vary depending on the type of access method used. We measured the difference in the success rate of telephone calls made with an SGD either using switch scanning or direct selection with eye gaze. The scripted calls, asking for directions, were placed to 100 randomly selected businesses. Analysis showed a statistically significant difference in the success rate between the two conditions, with eye gaze access resulting in more successful calls. Findings from this study suggest that people who use SGDs for phone calls may improve the timing of message delivery by using eye gaze access compared to switch scanning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Communicating interprofessionally using the telephone is an essential skill within pharmacy practice. Student pharmacists' ability to perform this task effectively and efficiently may be hindered by generational changes, social anxiety, and very few opportunities to practice these skills. Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop and implement a simulation allowing students to practice interprofessional communication and assess the simulation's impact on students' confidence in providing pharmacy-related interventions to another health care professional via telephone. Methods: Faculty developed a simulation focused on interprofessional telephone communication. Baseline student information was collected to quantify pharmacy work experience in terms of practice setting, duration of employment, and skills. Presimulation and postsimulation surveys evaluated self-assessed telephone-related skills, attitudes, and confidence. Quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were evaluated through a thematic analysis of students' reflective responses to 2 open-ended questions. Results: Of the 53 pharmacy students that participated in the simulation, 44 (83%) and 43 (81%) completed the anonymous presimulation and postsimulation surveys. Students significantly improved as reflected in the following response: "I have confidence in my ability to provide pharmacy-related interventions to another health care professional in a logical and concise manner via telephone call." Significant improvement also occurred in the ability to work independently, communicate an order change to another health care professional, justify recommendations, answer a drug information question, and discuss recommendations in a logical and concise manner. Conclusion: The simulation discussed in this article provided students an opportunity to practice interprofessional telephone communication in a low-risk environment and resulted in significant growth in confidence and skills., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2022.)