Inter-networked computers enable virtual collaborative work. In the course of interacting with one another, individuals send and receive messages and files of various sorts. This may be done within specialized collaborative work environments, or by simply employing a combination of different communication tools and applications. In the course of doing their work, collaborators perform different...

Research on collaboration and collaborative learning (CL) has a much longer history than ICT use for learning and collaboration. The emergence of CSCL has brought new possibilities and practices to CL, and facilitated advances in theories of socially constituted learning. The first CSCL tools were products from academic research, often underpinned by theories of collaborative learning. However,...

OBJECTIVES To pilot the use of a range of complementary risk communication tools in simulated general practice consultations; to gauge the responses of general practitioners in training to these new consultation aids. DESIGN Qualitative study based on focus group discussions. SETTING General practice vocational training schemes in South Wales. PARTICIPANTS 39 general practice registrars a...

Keeping in touch with family and friends should be easier now that we have a repertoire of communication tools available to us (e.g. SMS, IM, email, mobile and landline phones). And yet many of us continue to find it difficult to maintain and manage our personal contacts. Why is this so? This paper describes a study that looked at how a range of different social groups manage their personal net...

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To assess the acceptability and usability of a standardised communication tool for nurses. BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE Communication is key in health care. On a daily, if not hourly, basis, nursing staff is inundated with new information regarding tools and resources, practice changes and the work environment. However, there is currently no standardised messaging or delive...

In veterinary medical education, it is now necessary to design competency frameworks (CFs) that list expected competencies at graduation. Three different CFs with different formats and contents have been published in Europe, such as the Day One Skills (DOS), the recommendations of the World Organization for Animal Health(OIE), and the Veterinary Professional (VetPro). In the current study, on t...

Climate-related health indicators are potentially useful for tracking and predicting the adverse public health effects of climate change, identifying vulnerable populations, and monitoring interventions. However, there is a need to understand stakeholders' perspectives on the identification, development, and utility of such indicators. A qualitative approach was used, comprising semi-structured...

BACKGROUND Ventilator-dependent patients in the ICU often experience difficulties with one of the most basic human functions, namely communication, due to intubation. Although various assistive communication tools exist, these are infrequently used in ICU patients. We summarized the current evidence on communication methods with mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU. Secondly, we develope...