COVID-19 Exposes Digital Divide, Social Stigma and Information Crisis in Bangladesh

This paper gives an overview of digital inequalities and sociocultural factors (e.g., stigma, religious faith) associated with health-related misinformation during COVID-19 in Bangladesh. It aims to explore how digital inequalities, digital surveillance, socio-cultural and religious factors, and health-related misinformation spread through social media have further exacerbated the crisis. Highlighting the growing digital inequalities and health crisis in Bangladesh, it proposes some recommendations to ensure digital inclusion and improve overall public health education and change behaviour in order to mitigate the risks of COVID-19. This essay will provide a forum and research agenda for academicians and practitioners from the Global South to develop and identify new opportunities or challenges regarding emerging health crisis issues relevant to communication practice in the use of digital media and technology.

Clinician Delivery of Virtual Pivotal Response Treatment with Children with Autism during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This concept paper describes how the evidence-based Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) model of autism treatment was adapted for delivery via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiple features of existing video conference technology were utilized for implementation of PRT motivational strategies with young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). PRT is an empirically supported treatment for ASD which can be taught to parents and delivered directly by trained therapists. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the majority of clinical care for children with ASD had to be transitioned to telehealth delivery, models for parent training had been previously established. However, no model for direct clinician delivery of virtual PRT existed. This manuscript outlines practical details of the model developed by our team and provided to a total of 17 families between April 2020 and May 2021. Key lessons from technological adaptations of the PRT motivational strategies are described in order to inform future empirical investigation of this approach. The virtual PRT delivery model can serve as a guide for engaging children in meaningful social interaction and communication practice via video conference software, with implications for expanding access to autism treatment as well as for motivating a wide range of children in distance learning activities.

Mediation and communication practices in education

In the sphere of education, mediation and communication practices help not only to resolve disputes and conflicts most effectively but also to protect the interests of children and minors. The study aims to explore and analyze the effectiveness of mediation and communication practices in resolving conflicts in educational organizations, as well as identify trends in the development of this institution. The importance and role of using mediation and communication practices in conflict resolution in the sphere of education are analyzed and the theoretical aspects of the effectiveness of mediation in educational organizations are studied. The reasons for the emergence of conflicts in educational organizations are identified and the need to improve the effectiveness of mediation and communication practice implementation in conflict resolution in the sphere of education is substantiated. The study results allow outlining trends in the development of the studied institution. Further research can address the effectiveness of mediation and communication practices and the feasibility of using various methods and techniques to improve the use of mediation and communication skills in educational legal relations.

A Systematic Map of Inclusion, Equity and Diversity in Science Communication Research: Do We Practice what We Preach?

Effective engagement with diverse stakeholders, combating misinformation and encouraging wider participation in science is core to science communication practice, and comprises much of the current focus of research in the discipline. Global events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have clearly shown that social inequalities also manifest within communication structures, including those of science communication. Practices which are inclusive of diverse audiences are key if we wish to engage diverse audiences in finding solutions to societal issues. Yet there is little available evidence to show which diverse, marginalised and/or excluded groups are being engaged within science communication, and via what means. This paper develops a systematic map of academic literature spanning 40 years to provide a preliminary evidence base of how diversity and inclusion within science communication research and practice is conceived and implemented. Although the discipline has shown an increased focus within the last 5 years, science communication must evolve further in order to develop a robust evidence base for understanding what constitutes inclusive science communication in both theory and practice.

Integration of complementary and integrative medicine competencies in general practice postgraduate education – development of a novel competency catalogue in Germany

Background Complementary and integrative medical procedures (CIM) play an important role in general practice (GP). Consequently, in some countries (e.g. USA, Australia) specific curricula for the integration of CIM competencies in GP postgraduate education exist. Although Germany is one of the countries where CIM is strongly integrated in general practice, no such catalogue exists up to date. The aim of this study was to define a set of CIM competencies that are seen as relevant and feasible for postgraduate education in the German general practice setting. Methods We used a multi-step, peer-based approach combining four different steps. Firstly, a survey among GP trainees (n = 138) was performed in order to assess needs and attitudes towards CIM. Then, existing competency-based CIM curricula were identified in international literature, translated into German and compared with the needs assessment from the survey. In a next step, we performed a survey among the CIM working group of the German Society for General Medicine and Family Medicine (DEGAM). As a last step, in a peer-based survey, GP trainers, GP trainees, and members of professional CIM associations (n = 131) evaluated a list of CIM competencies according to relevance and feasibility for general practice. Results Within this multistage process, a final catalogue of 16 competencies was defined, covering the following areas: Medical knowledge, patient care and communication, practice-based learning, professionalism, and competencies based on the German healthcare system. Conclusion The final catalogue of CIM competencies is intended to serve for GP training complementing the German competency-based curriculum for general practice. These competencies cover basic skills and are not intended to replace existing additional qualifications awarded by the medical associations in specific CIM methods, such as acupuncture or manual medicine. Therefore, a list of relevant competencies on CIM is available in order to serve as add-on for postgraduate education in general practice in Germany.

Selling the Earth: re-purposing geoscience communications

Earth scientists have a critical role to play in communicating to the public and policy makers what we know about looming societal threats including climate change, extreme natural events, resource conflicts and the energy transition. But whilst geoscientists are being encouraged - and, increasingly, trained - to ‘go public’ with our science, what is less clear is to what extent our current geo-communications are effectively addressing the long-term planetary concerns that confront society.In this paper we argue that scientists are the interface between the research organisations that produce knowledge and the wider public who could use that knowledge, and, in that regard, are akin to marketers in the business world. Drawing from the dominant paradigms that shape business marketing, we re-consider the prevailing models of science communication and their consequent sense of purpose. We identify three dominant approaches of marketing-led science communication: ‘make-and-sell’; ‘sense-and-respond’; and ‘guide-and-co-create’. We judge the first two to be incompatible with delivering long-term sustainability, in contrast to the emergent guide-and-co-create mode - purpose-driven, interdisciplinary, participatory, and reflexive - which we contend is best placed to tackle long-term geo-environmental concerns through having a clear wellbeing- focused objective whilst co-creating the path to achieving it.We conclude with the contention that adopting a guide-and-co-create approach to science communications will require not only rethinking communication practice within universities but also radical institutional regime change towards universities becoming purpose-driven organisations.

Evaluation of Veterinary Students’ Communication Skills with a Service Dog Handler in a Simulated Client Scenario

Effective communication skills serve as a key component of excellent veterinary care and provide a foundation for building trusting relationships with clients. While many veterinary clients value their pets for companionship, the focus of other relationships may be based on a partnership between the human and animal, as is the case with the handlers of service dogs. As the use of service dogs in the US continues to grow, it is important that veterinary professionals are educated on how best to meet the unique needs of service dogs and their handlers. This article evaluates the interactions of veterinary students with a service dog handler in a simulated client scenario. Ten videotaped interactions were coded to assess third-year students’ communication skills (nonverbal communication, open-ended questions, reflective listening, and empathy), and their ability to discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic options for a dog with suspected intervertebral disk disease. Results showed that the majority of students demonstrated competence in the use of nonverbal communication skills and in discussing the biomedical aspects of the disease. Students require development in the use of open-ended questions, reflective listening statements, and expression of empathy, as well as building client rapport and discussing the psychosocial aspect of the disease on the client and patient. These findings suggest that veterinary students may benefit from targeted instruction on “best practices” in caring for service dogs and their handlers, including greater attention to the psychosocial aspects of a disease, and from additional communication practice using standardized clients with service dogs.

Implementasi Kode Etik Jurnalistik pada Rubrik Berkonten Islami

In this digital era, all information and communication technology emhanched faster all the time. This issue gives a big chance on communication practice become more effective than before. Hence, to full the tight competition on digital era such as online media, the researcher wanted to investigate about applying ethic of journalist code in the online media and in journalist understanding to the ethic journalist code. The researcher used qualitative descriptive method which oriented on the field research and literature. On the other side, the qualitative research also directs into the finding of basic theory which is emphasized the process over the result. It also limits the research with the focus which has criteria on finding the trustwothiness dta. Based on the result on the research about applying ethic of journalist code in the Islamic rubrik OASE at Depok POS.com, online media in Depok POS always apply the ethic of journalist code with colaborate on that ethic such as the way which always used in the field by journalist and the ethic of journalist understanding are the specific detail and detail things which manage about how should the media worker such as journalist, editor, chief of reporter, news achor and every profession which can called a journalist can behave on ethic of journalist code. Further, ethic of journalist code is the basic of journalist thought.