Teaching Without Computers Bradley J. Fest   In a moment, I am going to talk about despair. But let me be clear: What I have to say in the following is not about frustration, burnout, or stress; it is...

YouTube video by tom ficklin

Background: Digital health interventions (DHIs) are a potential tool to address communication challenges in primary care medicine by improving patient participation, treatment adherence, and self-management of chronic diseases. However, Germany’s digital health infrastructure remains underdeveloped compared to other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. Designing tailored, context-sensitive tools requires a deep understanding of patient needs, particularly for underserved populations navigating complex health care systems. Participatory approaches that actively involve end-users and stakeholders can help ensure that digital health tools are responsive to these needs. Behavioral science frameworks such as the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW), which incorporates the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation–Behavior (COM-B) model, can further support this process. Such technologies, developed using cocreation and behavior change frameworks, may improve health outcomes for underserved patient populations by addressing context-specific needs. This study explores how cocreation and behavioral science can inform the adaptation of a digital patient preparedness tool for international students accessing primary care in Germany. Objective: This study aimed to gain insight into international students’ experiences with primary care in Germany and explore whether adapting an existing digital patient preparedness intervention could address communication challenges and improve the standard of care. Using cocreation methods and the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW), we identified key design specifications and behavior change levers to inform tool development. Methods: A mixed methods design was used to identify design specifications for a DHI across 4 cocreation workshops with 12 students at an international university in Germany. Quantitative data were used for descriptive insights, and qualitative data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Workshops were informed by the BCW and the Health CASCADE cocreation methods selector tool. Results: Cocreators reported feeling misunderstood, anxious, and ill-informed during primary care interactions, with system-level barriers compounding communication difficulties. Despite this, many engaged in preparatory behaviors (eg, note-taking) to manage uncertainty and structure their consultations. Feedback on an existing digital intervention was mixed: while cocreators appreciated its intent, structured lesson formats were seen as too time-consuming. Cocreators preferred a concise, interactive design. Communication prompts, appointment scheduling, and personalized feedback were frequently requested features, though tool adoption was seen as contingent on addressing broader system-level frustrations. Conclusions: International students’ negative health care experiences, often stemming from unclear communication, perceived indifference, and difficulty navigating an unfamiliar medical system, may be mitigated through codesigned, personalized digital interventions. Frequently requested features, such as appointment scheduling, clinic directories, test result access, and interactive tools like chatbots, may help address barriers related to system navigation, communication, and access. This study demonstrates how cocreation methods can be integrated with the BCW to inform the development of context-sensitive digital health tools for specific target groups.

Background: Virtual health care has become increasingly popular worldwide since the #covid19 pandemic. Immigrant populations in Canada face significant barriers to, and disparities in, access to and use of virtual care. South Asian immigrants in particular often face intersectional impediments to health care access. Compassionate and equitable health care is a fundamental patient right and should be provided at all levels of the health care system; however, patients frequently report a lack of compassionate, respectful, and caring health services. Objective: There is a large gap in studies conducted among South Asian immigrants, particularly regarding their access to and use of virtual care and their perceptions of compassionate virtual care. This #Study aims to address this gap by exploring how South Asian immigrants in Canada understand and define compassion, trust, and equity within the context of virtual care. Methods: This #Research will be underpinned by the framework on #Digital intersections with compassionate care. This patient- and community-partnered cocreation #Research is informed by a qualitative, descriptive, participatory approach. This #Research will be conducted in three phases: (1) a scoping review to explore this emerging area of #Research; (2) one-on-one qualitative interviews with South Asian patients to examine compassionate, equitable, trusting, and productive patient–health care professional relationships in the context of virtual care; and (3) collective virtual meetings to cocreate principles of compassionate and equitable virtual care. This participatory #Research will be guided by the SPOR Patient Engagement Framework to ensure meaningful engagement throughout the #Study. Additionally, the three co’s framework will guide the patient partnership. South Asian patients will be recruited from the community via collaboration with community organizations and Facebook groups. Purposive sampling will be used for an estimated sample size of 15 to 20 patients. An inductive content analysis will be applied. The data will be read thoroughly, and the text will be coded based on the content within the data. The codes will be sorted into categories to formulate themes. Results: The findings are expected to have implications for practice, #Research, and education. The #Study was funded in June 2023; however, an extension was granted to accommodate the principal investigator’s maternity leave and facilitate completion of the #Study. Data collection is projected to take place between June and August 2026. As of June 17, 2026, two participants have been recruited. Data analysis will commence in July 2026, following the completion of initial interviews, with findings expected to be published in winter or spring 2027. Conclusions: This #Study fills a #Research gap regarding South Asian immigrants’ access to, use of, and perceptions of compassionate virtual care to promote its adoption.

YouTube video by Colleen Chanel - Topic

This blog series explores simple medicines for complex times—the everyday plant magic of cocreating with plants. In this article, we look to the South, welcome summer Fire, and explore roses, people’s medicine.

By Patricia Cota Robles | Source On July 4, 2026, the United States of America, will celebrate our 250th Anniversary. This year on that day millions of

Get your team aligned on the who, what, when, where, and why of using AI.

This blog series explores simple medicines for complex times—the everyday plant magic of cocreating with plants.

Michael Schur wrote for Saturday Night Live and The Office before cocreating, writing, and producing Parks and Recreation and, most recently, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, two half-hour comedies that have won c...

Purpose This study aims to build a sustainable reciprocal learning community between China and Canada in mathematics education, exploring how teacher learning c...