Bridging cultures: Chinese elements in scientific illustrations.

In the context of globalization, the integration of cultural elements into scientific research, particularly through the incorporation of traditional Chinese cultural motifs in scientific illustrations, represents a novel frontier in enhancing the universality and appeal of scientific discoveries. This paper explores the innovative practice of embedding traditional Chinese cultural elements into scientific paper illustrations, highlighting its significant role in augmenting the global appeal of research findings, promoting diversity and innovation in scientific inquiry, and facilitating cross-cultural understanding. Through a series of case studies, including symbolic representations of ancient myths and the use of traditional themes to elucidate complex scientific phenomena, we demonstrate how this cultural integration not only makes scientific content more accessible and engaging but also fosters a deeper appreciation of Chinese heritage among international audiences. This approach not only bridges the gap between science and culture but also contributes to a more inclusive and interconnected global scientific community, underscoring the importance of cultural diversity in enriching scientific exploration and communication.

'Tausi Feagaiga: A Project to Train Caregivers and Empower the American Samoan Community.

The 'Tausi Feagaiga (Covenant Keeper) project was a partnership to support the traditional values of tausi matua (caring for one's elders). The partners included a non-governmental organization (Pacific Youth and Community Development), a faith-based organization (Roman Catholic Diocese of Samoa-Pago Pago), and an institute of higher education (University of Hawai'i John A. Burns School of Medicine). The project was created to address the lack of community-based health care such as home health or hospice, and families needing to work outside the home. A culturally based caregiving curriculum was developed to educate caregivers and improve their knowledge and skills. Using a train-the-trainer model, 125 caregivers were trained in family caregiving from 2016-2020. Training was conducted through an intensive workshop followed by practicum at Hope House, the Catholic Diocese home for the aged. Participants who expressed a willingness and competency were mentored to be trainers to continue the 'Tausi Feagaiga project. The mean self-rated confidence in caregiving improved significantly from 3.17 ± 1.02 (mean SD) pre workshop to 3.53 ± 0.71 post workshop (P = .001). Competence in geriatric syndromes was improved from 18.04 ± 4.27 to 21.31 ± 4.30 after attending the workshop (P < .001) and the feedback was extremely positive. Technical assistance was provided to obtain funding through American Samoa Medicaid State Agency to improve the existing infrastructure of Hope House, obtain much needed supplies, and increase ability to hire the participants. 'Tausi Feagaiga positively impacted the lives of the residents of Hope House, the course participants, the elders in the community, and those who care for them.

Lesser relevance markers in Chinese academic spoken English corpus: a cross-disciplinary study on pragmatic features.

This study explores the usage characteristics and pragmatic functions of lesser relevance markers in academic spoken English lectures presented by Chinese scholars. A qualitative and quantitative approach is employed using the Chinese Academic Spoken English Corpus (CASEC), which encompasses disciplines in science, engineering, humanities, and social sciences. The findings reveal that Chinese scholars use lesser relevance markers less frequently compared to native English speakers. These differences in usage highlight the influence of language background, disciplinary culture, and communication conventions on the realization of informing evaluation, topic handling, and interactivity. Furthermore, within the Chinese scholars' group, humanities and social sciences scholars tend to use lesser relevance markers more frequently than science and engineering scholars. This research enhances our understanding of the multifaceted pragmatic roles of lesser relevance markers and offers insights into cross-cultural academic communication and English teaching.

How to Teach Cross-Cultural Communication: A Workshop Using the Experiential Learning Model.

Introduction: The United States population is diversifying, leading to higher rates of cultural, ethnic, and racial discordance between medical teams and patients. Studies show that pediatric residents lack training in cross-cultural communication (CCC). Methods: We based learning objectives on the AAMC's Tool for Assessing Cultural Competency Training. The workshop design was based on Kolb's experiential learning model. In 2020-2021, we delivered this 2-hour workshop to trainees at two large, urban sites. We administered two surveys to evaluate our workshop: a retrospective pre-post survey following the workshop and a 3-month follow-up survey. Using 5-point Likert scales, participants rated their awareness of the effect of their own cultural identity on CCC and familiarity with and confidence using CCC models. We analyzed responses using Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Results: Sixty-two trainees participated in the workshop; 44 completed the retrospective pre-post survey (71%). After the workshop, 36% were extremely aware of the effect of their own cultural identity on CCC compared to 4% before the workshop (p < .001). Confidence managing cross-cultural misunderstandings when conveying a diagnosis and explaining disease management increased after the workshop (70% vs. 25%, p < .001; 70% vs. 20%, p < .001, respectively). Twelve participants completed a 3-month follow-up survey (27%). Discussion: A workshop using the experiential learning model to teach CCC increased participants' awareness of how their cultural identity impacted CCC and familiarity with and confidence in using two CCC models. This workshop offers pediatric program directors a tool to enhance their CCC curricula and meet ACGME requirements.

Spiritual Coping Among Families of Children With Cancer: A Qualitative Study.

The impact of a childhood cancer diagnosis precipitates caregiver's engagement in spiritual coping. This study aimed to explore spirituality among Malaysian Muslim caregivers of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A total of 13 eligible caregivers participated in this qualitative semi-structured interview via purposive sampling. Each interview was audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using NVivo 12 via thematic analysis. Three main themes revolved around hope through the act of praying and recitation (du'a' and dhikr), acceptance of God's will (redha), and faith toward God as the Provider of sustenance (rezeki). The findings of this study contribute to a holistic supportive care system in pediatric oncology as it informs health care providers the role of spirituality in mitigating the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis and promoting psychological adaptation. As a multicultural country, future studies may explore spirituality in other cultures and religion in the country.

East is East: Socratic classroom communication is linked to higher stress in students from confucian heritage cultures.

East Asian students are often educated in a more instructor-led and less interactive manner than their North American and European peers. Therefore, as international students at Western universities, they need to adapt to unfamiliar teaching practices that involve classroom communication emphasising critical thinking, debating, and challenging others' views. We explored the stress from such communication by assessing the relationships between East Asian students' perceived ease of engaging in Socratic communication and stress. 51 students from various majors completed the Ease of Socratic Communication scale and the Conceptions of Learning Inventory. One week later, students rated on the Perceived Stress Scale their levels of helplessness and self-efficacy. East Asian students found it less easy to engage in Socratic communication than their non-Asian peers,. The harder students found Socratic communication, the higher were their stress levels. On the other hand, higher Socratic communication ease was associated with higher self-efficacy. Moreover, the relationship between Socratic communication ease and stress was less pronounced the more students viewed learning as the development of personal competence. Complementing extant qualitative research, our findings suggest that Socratic communication may act as a stressor to East Asian international students. Reducing that stress might help improve international students' learning experience and thus foster their academic integration.

'Food and medicine continuum' in the East and West: Old tradition and current regulation.

Food-medicine products are important materials for daily health management and are increasingly popular in the global healthy food market. However, because of the biocultural difference, food-medicine knowledge may differ among regions, which hinders the global sharing of such health strategies. Aim at bridging the food-medicine knowledge in the East and West, this study traced the historical roots of food and medicine continuum of the East and West, which was followed by a cross-cultural assessment on the importance of food-medicine products of China, thereafter, the current legislative terms for food-medicine products were studied using an international survey. The results show that the food and medicine continuum in the East and West have their historical roots in the traditional medicines since antiquity, and the food-medicine knowledge in the East and West differs substantially; although the food-medicine products have common properties, their legislative terms are diverse globally; with proofs of traditional uses and scientific evidence, food-medicine products are possible for cross-cultural communication. Finally, we recommend facilitating the cross-cultural communication of the food-medicine knowledge in the East and West, thus to make the best use of the traditional health wisdom in the globe.

Congruent Communication: Addressing Culture and Care for a Seriously Ill Rohingya Infant.

Pediatric palliative care teams seek to collaboratively promote the quality of life for children with serious medical illness in the context of the values expressed by the patient and family. Especially for infants with high medical fragility, shared decision making can be a complex task that often requires flexibility to respond to the clinical circumstances at hand, as well as contextualization within the family culture. In this paper, we present the case of an infant with a severe congenital brain malformation who was born in an American hospital to a Rohingya-speaking, Burmese family whose care preferences seemed to oscillate between comfort-focused and life-prolonging without clear acknowledgement of the consequences of shifting between treatment plans. Discussion of this case helps to illustrate the cultural factors, ethical challenges, and systems-level issues that can arise for medical teams in seeking to promote patient-centered care that respects family values while also honoring the principle of nonmaleficience.

Addressing racial/ethnic inequities in vaccine hesitancy and uptake: lessons learned from the California alliance against COVID-19.

Lack of trust in biomedical research, government, and health care systems, especially among racial/ethnic minorities and under-resourced communities, is a longstanding issue rooted in social injustice. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted existing health and socioeconomic inequities and increased the urgency for solutions to provide access to timely, culturally, and linguistically appropriate evidence-based information about COVID-19; and ultimately to promote vaccine uptake. California's statewide alliance STOP COVID-19 CA (comprising eleven sites), leverages long standing community partnerships to better understand concerns, misinformation, and address racial/ethnic inequities in vaccine hesitancy and uptake. Using data from the California CEAL Communication Working Group, we demonstrate the wide range of strategies, communication methods, languages, and trusted messengers that have been effective in reaching diverse communities across the state. We also showcase challenges and lessons learned, such as the importance of including trusted community partners to share information or provide vaccines. These approaches, rooted in community engagement, are crucial for addressing inequities and responding to future public health emergencies.

Effects of message delivery on cross-cultural biosecurity compliance: Insights from experimental simulations.

Background: Effective biosecurity communication of transmission risks and associated protective behaviors can reduce the impacts of infectious diseases in US animal agriculture. Yet, more than 1/5 of animal production workers speak a language other than English at home, and more than 40 percent are less than fluent in English. Communicating with these workers often involves translating into their primary languages. However, communication strategies targeting different cultural groups are not well-understood. Aims: To identify cross-linguistic risk communication strategies to facilitate compliance, we hypothesized that uncertainty avoidance cultures associated with the languages might affect biosecurity compliance contingent upon two additional covariates: (1) the risk of acquiring an infection and (2) the delivery method of the infection risk. Methods: We designed an experimental game simulating a line of separation (LOS) biosecurity tactic in a swine production facility, where participants were tasked with completing tasks inside and outside of the facility. Data were collected using games in the two most spoken languages in the US: English (EN) and Spanish (SP). Participants made binary decisions about whether to use the LOS biosecurity tactic based on the risk information provided. Mixed-effect logistic models were used to test the effects of covariates on using the LOS tactic by different language groups. Results: We found that biosecurity compliance rates of participants who took the experiments in the language associated with high and low uncertainty cultures showed no significant differences. However, there are substantial differences in how risk information is perceived between the two language groups under different infection risks. Specifically, and counterintuitively, SP participants were more risk-averse in gain scenarios but more risk-taking in loss scenarios. These differences are most pronounced in numeric risk messaging, indicating that numbers may not be the best way to communicate risk information regarding biosecurity cross-culturally. Conclusions: When confronted with situational biosecurity decisions, risk perception and preferences vary by language group. Effective biosecurity communication needs to account for these differences and not assume that direct translation of risk messages will result in comparable compliance.

Communication Management Processes of Dentists Providing Healthcare for Migrants with Limited Japanese Proficiency.

Low health literacy results in health inequity are linked with poor adherence to medical care. In the globalized Japanese context, the number of migrants with Japanese as a second language is increasing year after year. Since limited Japanese proficiency may pose a greater health risk, dentists are expected to manage cross-cultural communication and provide dental care to foreign patients. This study explored dentists' experiences of treating patients with limited Japanese proficiencies. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 community dentists and the qualitative data were analyzed through a thematic analysis approach. Their major challenges were classified into three themes-linguistic aspect (e.g., complicated explanation regarding root canal treatment), sociolinguistic aspect (e.g., communication with foreign residents with limited dental knowledge), and sociocultural aspect (e.g., cultural differences in their dental aesthetics and insurance treatment system). Several management strategies were employed, including linguistic accommodation, avoidance of complexities, use of various communication tools, and getting help from others. However, they were unsatisfied with their practice because they could not understand the patients' psychosocial aspects due to incomplete communication. These findings provided insights into dentists' practice in the globalized context.

The very first sentence in research article introductions: A rhetoric comparative approach.

The current study explores the rhetoric and stylistic properties of the very first sentence that scholars generate in their research article introductions. The study draws upon a corpus of 502 sentences written in the fields of linguistics and translation, half of which are collected from national low-impact journals affiliated with Gulf universities in the Middle East while the other half are elicited from international high-impact journals. The study shows that half of the authors in high-impact journals as opposed to a quarter of the authors in low-impact journals provide citations to their very first sentence. These preferences are accounted for by the distinction drawn by Swales (1990) between centrality claims and topic generalizations under Move 1. Contra the predictions made by Create A Research Space Model proposed by Swales (1990, 2004), the results show that the authors of high-impact journals are more liberal in starting their introduction with a sentence of Move 2 or 3 type. In contrast, the authors of low-impact journals prefer to begin with a sentence of Move 1 type that is shorter in word count, more metaphorical, less academic as well as full of typos and grammatical errors.

Relatives' perspectives on encounters and communication in nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic: a qualitative interview study.

BACKGROUND: Relatives of nursing home (NH) residents have experienced national or local restrictions on visiting their elderly family member during the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, many NHs have a multicultural environment, as staff, residents and their relatives speak different languages. Thus far, studies of remote communication with staff with limited language skills during the Covid-19 pandemic are lacking. AIM: The aim of the present study was to explore relatives' experiences of encounters and communication with staff and residents in NHs during the Covid-19 pandemic. METHOD: An explorative qualitative study using semi-structured telephone interviews with 17 relatives of NH residents (12 women and 5 men). Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis to identify four main categories and nine sub-categories. RESULTS: Communicating during visiting restrictions was challenging, and relatives experienced ups and downs when trying to stay in contact with NH residents and staff. Relatives received general information, but desired information about residents' everyday life without having to ask for it. Moreover, remote communication was difficult for residents with hearing impairment or dementia. Even relatives who understood different languages had to develop strategies to communicate with staff with limited language skills in Swedish and English. Relatives did not mention using translating applications to facilitate communication. CONCLUSION: During visiting restrictions, relatives lacked information about residents' everyday life and found communication with staff with limited language skills challenging. For this reason, and to enable communication with staff with limited language skills, there is a need to find practical and technical solutions for facilitating remote communication between relatives, residents and staff at NHs.

Addressing the Challenges of Cross-Cultural Communication.

Cross-cultural communication has many challenges due to the complexity of culture, communication, and language. Improving cross-cultural communication in health care is critical to reducing disparities and improving health equity. Specifically, improving cross-cultural communication must be prioritized to overcome systemic barriers and to eliminate disparities that stem from stigma and biases. Communication must be improved, ideally via a cultural humility framework. Unconscious bias and communication training must be intentional. Culture is an attribute and should be celebrated and incorporated into health practice at all levels to prioritize health equity.

Breaking bad news in a cross-language context: A qualitative study to develop a set of culturally and linguistically appropriate phrases and techniques with Zulu speaking cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: Breaking bad news (BBN) in healthcare is common. Guidelines abound but little is documented in an African context. We wanted to describe Zulu speaking patients' BBN experience and assess their opinions of internationally recommended techniques. METHODS: BBN techniques were highlighted from the literature using systematic review methods. Semi-structured focus group interviews with Zulu speaking cancer patients were conducted. Data were analysed using Framework Analysis. RESULTS: Language concordance was central - regardless of whether this necessitated a nurse acting as translator. While non-abandonment, empathy and maintenance of hope was valued by participants, an oft-expressed belief in positive outcomes accounted for mixed responses to phrases implying ambiguity. In contrast, "I wish" phrases were appreciated. Silence received mixed responses with a strong dislike for silence as a front for non-disclosure. CONCLUSION: Language-related concerns dictated the bulk of participants BBN perspectives. While cultural and linguistic differences exist, good communication skills, empathy and the maintenance of hope remain central. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: BBN in a language in which the patient is fluent, whether mediated or not, should be the standard of care. Cultural and linguistic variance must be born in mind and clinicians should become familiar with the preferences of the communities they serve.

Challenges in Cross-Cultural Communication in Breast Cancer Surgery: Is there a Gender Gap?

The aim of this study is to identify [1] facilitators and barriers to cross-cultural communication with Canadian immigrants during the breast cancer (BC) surgical consultation and [2] the impact of cultural sensitivity training on the perception of cross-cultural communication barriers. A 29-item questionnaire mailed to 450 surgeons was developed based on the Ottawa Decision Support Framework, informed by interviews with BC practitioners and a literature review. The inclusion criteria are English-speaking general surgeons practicing in Vancouver, Montréal, and Toronto, home to > 60% of Canada's immigrant population. The association between surgeon characteristics and barriers to communication was assessed using the chi-square or Fisher's exact test. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models estimated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between frequent perception of each barrier to communication and gender, career stage, and percentage of foreign-born patients. Between June and September 2017, 130 surveys were returned for a 29% response rate. The majority of practitioners reported experiencing language barriers in consultation with immigrant patients (71.4%). In the patient-provider relationship, the most commonly reported barrier was the patient's lack of medical understanding (81.4%). At the system level, the absence of a relative for translation was the most frequently encountered challenge (77.1%). On multivariable analysis adjusting for career stage and percentage of foreign-born patients, female gender of a surgeon was associated with more frequent perception of barriers related to language (OR 4.91, [95% CI 1.43, 16.82; p = 0.0114]), the patient's desired role in decision-making (OR 3.000 [95% CI 1.116-8.059; p = 0.0294]), and poor access to interpreters (OR 3.63 [95% CI 1.24, 10.64; p = 0.0189]). Furthermore, on multivariable analysis adjusting for gender and career stage, surgeons identified as having < 25% foreign-born patients in their practice were less likely to identify communication barriers due to the patients' perception and understanding of their healthcare (OR 0.32 [95% CI 0.11, 0.95; p = 0.041]). Cultural sensitivity training did not appear to be an influential factor though this may be due to the low number of surgeons who received training (5.7%). There are multiple cross-cultural communication challenges. Gender, years in practice, and the cultural diversity of a practice might play significant roles in the identification and perception of these barriers.

Cultural awareness training for dental students.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the impact of a full-day workshop on increasing cultural awareness among incoming first-year (DDS-I) and post-doctoral (PGY-I) dental students at the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. METHODS: The workshop focused on developing students' cultural awareness regarding dimensions of identity, recognition of power and privilege, importance of cross-cultural understanding and communication, and the role of self-reflection through direct teaching, interactive discussions, and reflective writing. A convenience sample of 83 DDS-I and 30 PGY-I students from the 2019 enrollment class were recruited. Assessments included pre- and post-workshop surveys, facilitator interviews, and a formal workshop evaluation. Descriptive and bivariate analyses of students' responses were performed to assess cultural awareness within and between student groups. Facilitator interviews and student feedback were analyzed qualitatively to identify emerging themes. RESULTS: Global cultural awareness among both student groups was higher in the post-workshop survey (for DDS-I, mean = 3.46, SD = 0.38; for PGY-I, mean = 3.47, SD = 0.30) than in the pre-workshop survey (for DDS-I, mean = 2.98, SD = 0.34; for PGY-I, mean = 2.90, SD = 0.47), which represented a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001 for both comparisons). Quantitative analysis revealed that the workshop provided a platform to discuss sensitive topics, increased cultural awareness among students and faculty, and provided faculty with different perspectives about culture awareness. CONCLUSIONS: The full-day workshop achieved its goals of increasing dental students' self-perceived cultural awareness and capacity to establish cross-cultural professional relationships.

Differences of kindergarten children's linguistic picture of the world: focus on Hungary, Russia, and Laos.

Three-to-five-year-old Laotian kindergarten children, native speakers of the Lao language were investigated in order to map the peculiarities of their picture of the world through their word associations. Results were contrasted to a previous comparative study of Hungarian and Russian kindergarteners of the same age aiming at revealing linguistic and cultural differences and similarities in this age group in the three aforementioned countries. Theories and methods of the Moscow School of Psycholinguistics were utilized for the cross-cultural comparison based on a Vygotskian cultural-historical approach, on Leontiev's speech activity theory, on the concept of verbal consciousness (linguistic picture of the world) and on the association experiment. A pedagogical perspective was incorporated through the application of the Conception of Childhood theory and the shoulder-to-shoulder method. Linguistic data gained during the association experiment was analysed by Sketch Engine, an online corpus linguistics research tool. The outcome of the investigation is a unique set of associations that on the one hand proves the overlapping of Lao children's picture of the world with Russian and Hungarian kindergarteners, on the other hand, sheds light on distinctive, culture- and language-specific characteristics of Laotian kindergarten children's verbal consciousness.