Theoretical and Practical Guidance for Incorporating Auditor-Client Communication in Experimental Research

In this paper, we provide theoretical and practical guidance on experimental design choices when incorporating auditor-client communication in audit research. We structure our discussion around Social Presence Theory, noting how elements of social presence impact theoretical predictions and the related experimental design. We then compare non-interactive, highly-controlled paper/computer-based studies with studies that involve automated interaction, interaction with an actor, or interaction between participants. We provide a discussion of best practices and pitfalls related to these different experimental design choices, including theoretical and logistical considerations, as well as recent innovations in this area. While our methodological discussion is nested in auditor-client communication research, these methods and logistical considerations are applicable to most accounting experiments designed to address research questions steeped in social psychology (i.e., contexts of human interaction).

Are They Ready? Trials, Tribulations, and Professional Skills Vital for New Veterinary Graduate Success

Stress and burnout levels are high among young veterinarians with the transition to practice being particularly challenging. This qualitative study aimed to capture and document the new graduate veterinary experience within the United States and which professional skills are most important for success during the transition to practice. The researchers sought to better understand this challenging transition period and provide insight for veterinary educators who are tasked with preparing new veterinary graduates for day 1 practice readiness. To gain a deeper understanding of the new graduate experience, a focus group was conducted with six veterinarians who recently graduated from four different U.S. veterinary colleges. Several themes arose regarding their experiences in the transition to practice including setbacks and adaptations, self-sufficiency and self-doubt, changing clientele and ethical dilemmas, leadership and conflict, and good vs. bad mentorship. Self-care, conflict management, and client communication were perceived as the most important professional skills for success in the transition to practice. New graduate veterinarians reported that they were least prepared for working with clients with financial constraints and managing conflict. Drawing from this qualitative data, the researchers propose several topics that could be incorporated into professional skills curriculum to further enhance day 1 preparedness of new veterinary graduates to promote well-being in the transition to practice.

The metapragmatics of legal advice communication in the field of immigration law

Metapragmatic comments are crucial in lawyers’ attempts at managing legal advice communication with asylum seekers. Drawing on linguistic-ethnographic fieldwork in the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, this paper aims to demonstrate how/when/why textual features which tell interactants how to interpret the ongoing speech are used in the context of lawyer-client communication in the field of immigration law. The data analysis reveals how lawyers frame the discursive conditions (i.e. linguistic diversity, the institutional need for efficiency and the presence of emotional lifeworld concerns) of the local interaction in the lawyer’s office. This is necessary as clients are not always acquainted with the discursive routines of the legal consultation, nor aware of its position within the wider chain of discursive asylum events. As many aspects of the legal advice context resemble the interactional conditions of the government-asylum seeker communication, it proves key yet challenging for lawyers to metapragmatically signal their advocating role in a way that enables a relationship of rapport with their client.

Community Veterinary Medicine Programs: Pet Owners' Perceptions and Experiences

Many American pet owners struggle financially, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this problem. Yet, the positive effects that companion animals have in people's lives create the need for supportive systems to ensure that financial limitations, and other barriers, do not preclude pet ownership. To help address these barriers, and reach underserved communities, various forms of community-based veterinary medicine programs have been developed across the country. This study assesses two community-based veterinary programs in North Carolina, USA. In addition to perceptions surrounding veterinary services, this study paid specific attention to communication and respect; two additional elements needed for successful community-based veterinary programs. Surveys were given to clients accessing Asheville Humane Society (AHS) mobile veterinary care clinic and Asheville Humane Society (AHS) Affordable Pet Care Clinic. Results of the anonymous survey indicate that the majority of clients had positive veterinary care experiences in terms of both veterinary services and client communication. In conclusion, low-cost or free community veterinary programs—with effective communication, empathy, and cultural competence—can help open the door to future positive veterinary experiences for disadvantaged pet owners.

PROFESSIONAL BURNOUT SYNDROME IN SOCIAL WORKERS, EMPLOYED IN COMMUNITY REHABILITATION CENTRES FOR ADDICTIVE DISEASES: THE CONTEXT OF INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

The article overviews the problematic questions of the study: 1) What interpersonal factors cause professional burnout syndrome in social workers, employed in community rehabilitation centres for addictive diseases; 2) How communal relationships with colleagues can help overcome professional burnout. Research object: interpersonal relationships of social workers. The aim of the article is to reveal possibilities of overcoming professional burnout syndrome on the basis of the experiences of social workers’ interpersonal relationships. Research methods: academic literature analysis, document analysis, the method of a semi-structured interview, quality (content) analysis, summarizing method were used. The study was conducted in January – March of 2020 in the community rehabilitation centre for addictive diseases. Empirical research has shown that social workers, employed in community rehabilitation centres for addictive diseases, believe that the threat and risk of professional burnout syndrome arise, first of all, from interpersonal relationships with clients: their negative attitude towards social workers, inadequate client communication culture, lack of positive feedback. Secondly, it is important for social workers to feel emotional and moral support and help of colleagues, share responsibility for work. Joint leisure time improves the quality of communication between colleagues, strengthens the inner relationship in the collective, increases work efficiency.

The effect of a digital targeted client communication intervention on pregnant women’s worries and satisfaction with antenatal care in Palestine–A cluster randomized controlled trial

Background The eRegCom cluster randomized controlled trial assesses the effectiveness of targeted client communication (TCC) via short message service (SMS) to pregnant women, from a digital maternal and child health registry (eRegistry) in Palestine, on improving attendance and quality of care. In this paper, we assess whether this TCC intervention could also have unintended consequences on pregnant women’s worries, and their satisfaction with antenatal care (ANC). Methods We interviewed a sub-sample of Arabic-speaking women attending ANC at public primary healthcare clinics, randomized to either the TCC intervention or no TCC (control) in the eRegCom trial, who were in 38 weeks of gestation and had a phone number registered in the eRegistry. Trained female data collectors interviewed women by phone from 67 intervention and 64 control clusters, after securing informed oral consent. The Arabic interview guide, pilot-tested prior to the data collection, included close-ended questions to capture the woman’s socio-demographic status, agreement questions about their satisfaction with ANC services, and the 13-item Cambridge Worry Scale (CWS). We employed a non-inferiority study design and an intention-to-treat analysis approach. Results A total of 454 women, 239 from the TCC intervention and 215 from the control arm participated in this sub-study. The mean and standard deviation of the CWS were 1.8 (1.9) for the intervention and 2.0 (1.9) for the control arm. The difference in mean between the intervention and control arms was -0.16 (95% CI: -0.31 to -0.01) after adjusting for clustering, which was below the predefined non-inferiority margin of 0.3. Women in both groups were equally satisfied with the ANC services they received. Conclusion The TCC intervention via SMS did not increase pregnancy-related worries among recipients. There was no difference in women’s satisfaction with the ANC services between intervention and control arms.

Developing targeted client communication messages to pregnant women in Bangladesh: a qualitative study

Background Timely and appropriate evidence-based practices during antenatal care improve maternal and neonatal health. There is a lack of information on how pregnant women and families perceive antenatal care in Bangladesh. The aim of our study was to develop targeted client communication via text messages for increasing antenatal care utilization, as part of an implementation of an electronic registry for maternal and child health. Methods Using a phenomenological approach, we conducted this qualitative study from May to June 2017 in two sub-districts of Chandpur district, Bangladesh. We selected study participants by purposive sampling. A total of 24 in-depth interviews were conducted with pregnant women (n = 10), lactating women (n = 5), husbands (n = 5), and mothers-in-law (n = 4). The Health Belief Model (HBM) was used to guide the data collection. Thematic analysis was carried out manually according to the HBM constructs. We used behavior change techniques to inform the development of targeted client communication based on the thematic results. Results Almost no respondents mentioned antenatal care as a preventive form of care, and only perceived it as necessary if any complications developed during pregnancy. Knowledge of the content of antenatal care (ANC) and pregnancy complications was low. Women reported a variety of reasons for not attending ANC, including the lack of information on the timing of ANC; lack of decision-making power; long-distance to access care; being busy with household chores, and not being satisfied with the treatment by health care providers. Study participants recommended phone calls as their preferred communication strategy when asked to choose between the phone call and text message, but saw text messages as a feasible option. Based on the findings, we developed a library of 43 automatically customizable text messages to increase ANC utilization. Conclusions Pregnant women and family members had limited knowledge about antenatal care and pregnancy complications. Effective health information through text messages could increase awareness of antenatal care among the pregnant women in Bangladesh. This study presents an example of designing targeted client communication to increase antenatal care utilization within formal scientific frameworks, including a taxonomy of behavior change techniques. Trial registration ISRCTN69491836. Registered on December 06, 2018. Retrospectively registered.