RESUMO
Purpose: The researcher aimed to identify how rehabilitation professionals engage in their peer leadership network during the first year following leader development training for the purpose of understanding the networking experiences, development of the peer leadership network, and expansion of collective leadership in an organization. Methodology: A sequential exploratory mixed method design including Q-Methodology and focus group interviews identified the experiences of 11 rehabilitation professionals in an urban rehabilitation hospital during the first year following leader development training. Findings: Three themes were identified. These include: (a) an opportunity to connect, (b) a community of leaders, and (c) a healthy peer leadership network emerged from the data analysis. These results indicated that shared experiences and opportunities to connect in a robust peer leadership network can influence the growth of all leaders independent of their current leadership or networking competency. The opportunity to connect for shared discussions in a healthy peer leadership network can accentuate the learning following leader development curriculum as individual leaders develop leadership and as collectives advance organizational outcomes. Practical Implications: Healthcare organizations should facilitate connections in a healthy leadership network to develop individual and collective leadership in an organization.
RESUMO
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention established infection prevention recommendations, resulting in hospital systems adopting universal mask-wearing. Mask-wearing and its impact on patient-provider communication have been highlighted, yet have not been systematically studied to date. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of mask-wearing on provider communication during wheelchair education. Allied health professionals (65 physical and occupational therapists and 1 other) completed a 24-item, online self-report survey on the impact of provider mask-wearing on communication with patients and/or their caregivers during wheelchair education. This survey contained questions, graded on 5-point Likert-like scales, regarding the perceived impact of mask-wearing on the quality of communication efficiency and effectiveness, the types and frequency of communication strategies used to enhance communication during breakdowns, knowledge/confidence in implementing communication strategies, and preferences for additional training. Results indicated that mask-wearing impacted communication, yet clinicians made adaptations of various verbal and nonverbal communication strategies to avoid disruptions in providing education. Clinicians identified training preferences for additional support with provider communication. As the pandemic continues, patient-provider communication can be supported through targeted training in communication strategies.