共同体(community)是如何构成的?——基于三种政治现象学的研究

文章主要讨论了胡塞尔、海德格尔和萨特对于共同体是如何构成的这个问题提供的三种现象学的路径。胡塞尔对于现实的德国和欧洲共同体的理解与他现象学中关于Einfühlung(同感或移情)作为共同体形成的方式之间具有某种张力,但是在胡塞尔的理论中我们发现,Einfühlung究竟是“同感”还是“移情”,这个区分成了理解真正的人类共同体的关键。海德格尔认为,移情应该建立在共在的基础之上,他把共在作为此在的内在本质部分,强调的是非本真和本真共同体的关系。萨特认为,海德格尔的共在不应该是理论的前提,而是需要进行仔细分析的对象。在萨特看来,人与人之间的根本关系是冲突,不可能存在真正的Einfühlung。文章最后以“同感”(不是“移情”)为核心概念,讨论了community与communion之间的内在本质联系,指出真正人类共同体的可能路径。

Floristic Diversity and Conservation Status of Guineo-Congolese Species in Southeastern Cameroon: The Case of the Gari-Gombo Communal Forest

The conservation of plant biodiversity has become one of the most important objectives in the sustainable management of Guinean-Congolese ecosystems. However, in the south-east zone of Cameroon, there is a lack of rigor in the management of these forests, which can result in the loss of species of high conservation value. The study was carried out in communal forests in the south-east zone of Cameroon. Its aim was to carry out a floristic inventory and then compare the list of species with the IUCN catalog. Twenty-four plots, each with a surface area of 0.2 ha, were set up in the Gari-Gombo communal forest. All timbers with a DBH ≥ 5 cm were systematically counted. A total of 176 species, belonging to 144 genera and 45 families, were surveyed. Fabaceae (42.08%), Malvaceae (39%), Euphorbiaceae (24.64%), Moraceae (20.92%), Apocynaceae (18.64%), Cecropiaceae (16.60%), Ulmaceae (14.76%), Meliaceae (14.61%), Violaceae (14.08%), Combretaceae (12.67%), Theobroma cacao (21.17%), Baphia leptobotrys (18.06%), Rinorea sp. (14.09%), Musanga cecropioides (12.18%), Terminalia superba (10.32%), Neosloetiopsis kamerunensis (10.14%), Celtis zenkeri (8.29%) and Alstonia boonei (7.77%) were the most important taxa. Nearly 90% of the species in this forest are Guinean species, with a dominance of Guinean-Congolese species (66%). Fourteen (14) threatened species have been identified in the FCGG. This study, which highlights the rich biodiversity of communal forests, is important for guiding biodiversity conservation policies in ecosystems used for production.

Community Caregivers’ Experiences and Programmatic Strategies to Improve Active Case Finding in Community Tuberculosis Care in Botswana 2016-2021

Background: The community tuberculosis care program was started to reduce the impact of TB and increase successful treatment outcomes, thus contributing to meeting WHO targets on TB. According to the Botswana Ministry of Health, community tuberculosis care was introduced with the main goal of reducing tuberculosis-related morbidity and mortality among communities through the expansion of direct observed therapy and community involvement to community settings. The community caregivers were to support tuberculosis patients throughout their treatment period until they were cured or had completed their treatment. Settings: Two major cities of Botswana, Francistown and Gaborone, with more than twenty-two health clinics offering tuberculosis care. Objective: To investigate community caregivers’ experiences and identify programmatic strategies to improve active TB case findings under the community TB care (CTBC) program in Botswana during 2016-2021. Methods: We adopted a descriptive qualitative research design, followed by convenience purposive sampling. We obtained consent and interviewed 40 participants who met the inclusion criteria, 16 out of 73 in Gaborone and 24 out of 38 from Francistown. Results: We interviewed 40 caregivers with a mean age of 43.4 years. Accepting the caregiving role was identified as the main experience by more than two thirds of the caregivers. While at least more than two-fifth felt obligated to care for the patient at home due to personal relations. More than half of the respondents found caregiving difficult or frustrating due to some challenges encountered during the caregiving role. Behavioral modifications were suggested under different subthemes as strategies to improve active case finding. [-rId13-]Conclusion: Acceptance was the major experience in CTBC. Intensification of known programmatic strategies was suggested by caregivers to improve tuberculosis active case finding in CTBC.

Satellite Communications with 5G, B5G, and 6G: Challenges and Prospects

Satellite communications, pivotal for global connectivity, are increasingly converging with cutting-edge mobile networks, notably 5G, B5G, and 6G. This amalgamation heralds the promise of universal, high-velocity communication, yet it is not without its challenges. Paramount concerns encompass spectrum allocation, the harmonization of network architectures, and inherent latency issues in satellite transmissions. Potential mitigations, such as dynamic spectrum sharing and the deployment of edge computing, are explored as viable solutions. Looking ahead, the advent of quantum communications within satellite frameworks and the integration of AI spotlight promising research trajectories. These advancements aim to foster a seamless and synergistic coexistence between satellite communications and next-gen mobile networks.

PLFA Analysis of Soil Microbial Community Structure in Different Forest Types

Soil soluble organic matter is an important component in the study of carbon and nitrogen cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Soil microorganisms, as soil decomposers, participate in soil biogeochemical processes and play an important role in maintaining the balance of soil ecosystems. As a typical subtropical regional unit, Queensland, Australia, is a relatively concentrated distribution area of forests in Australia. It is very sensitive to climate change and plays an important role in Australian climate and even global climate change. Its unique natural environment and ecosystem occupy a special position in the world. However, the knowledge of available carbon and nitrogen pool and microbial activity in forest soil is still very limited. Pinus elliottii, Araucaria cunninghamii and Agathis australis are the three most important forest types in southern Queensland, Australia. In our research, the function and structural diversity of soil microbial communities of these three forest types were studied using biochemical and molecular biological methods, and the effective carbon and nitrogen pools of soil of different forest types and related microbial processes were discussed, which has important theoretical guiding significance for further research on the structure and function of soil ecosystem. The number of PLFAs in the soil of P. elliottii was 45, the number of PLFAs in the soil of Araucaria cunninghamii and Agathis australis was 39 and 35, respectively. The number and content of PLFAs monomer in P. elliottii were higher than those in the other two kinds of forest soil.

Advances in Research on Synthetic Microbial Communities

The synthetic microbial community is a synthetic microbial system co-cultured with multiple species, which has the characteristics of clear composition and strong controllability. Compared with a single colony, it can achieve more complex functions and adapt to the changing environment more easily, so as to meet a wide range of needs. In this paper, the contents and concepts of microbial community and synthetic microbial community are briefly introduced, the principles that should be followed in the construction of microbial community are expounded, the methods and mathematical models used in the construction of synthetic microbial community are introduced, and the applications of synthetic microbial community in various fields are summarized. Finally, the challenges in the research of synthetic microbial communities are briefly described.

Exploring Global Demands for Integrating Social Aspects into Community Healthcare: A Literature Review

Aging and crises like pandemics and climate change are global concerns that affect community environments. These social and natural changes influence people’s health worldwide. Aging impacts human health, including physical and mental aspects, and increases the need for care. Recent crises have affected not only the elderly but also younger populations, necessitating further efforts to develop a systematic community strategy. The goal of such a strategy is to maintain or enhance people’s well-being. As we face aging and crises like pandemics and climate change, it becomes essential to consider health holistically and globally, taking into account the community environment and social determinants without boundaries. The present study aimed to explore the necessary aspects of incorporating social determinants into clinical practice, enabling healthcare providers to view health from a holistic and planetary perspective. This approach facilitates the development of integrated community strategies. The study reviewed literature from PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL databases, focusing on medicine, health, and welfare. An electronic search for English-language articles in peer-reviewed journals was conducted up to July 2024, using search terms such as “holistic health,” “planetary health,” and “social determinants.” Eight articles were identified through the search. After excluding three based on their titles, abstracts, and full texts, five articles were selected. The research focused on three areas: perceiving health in ecosystems, considering health-related policy in clinical situations, and addressing health in primary care settings. This study emphasizes the need for further research on innovative, integrated community strategies in the context of a globally aging society, focusing on non-medical aspects like pandemics, climate change, and social determinants to achieve a holistic and planetary understanding of people’s health. It suggests that understanding the social aspects of ecosystems in clinical settings, through interdisciplinary collaboration, is crucial for developing systematic community strategies for people’s well-being life in medical, health, and welfare contexts.

Feasibility Study of Assist-Linked Brief Intervention for Substance Use Disorders in a Rural Community of Plateau State, Nigeria

Objective: We studied the feasibility of using Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) linked with Brief Intervention (ALBI) in treating Substance Use Disorder in Nigeria. There is a clear gap in meeting the needs for treatment and care for people with drug use disorders in Nigeria with many users reporting a self-perceived need for treatment and about 40% of them wanting to receive drug treatment but were unable to access such services. Methods: ASSIST questionnaire was used to gather baseline data, and ALBI along with Motivational Interviewing (MI) was used to intervene for 6 weeks following which ASSIST score was repeated and compared with baseline. Results: Majority of the participants were aged 21 - 30 years, mostly males with (61.3%) lacking steady jobs. Lifetime prevalence of any drug use was (88.2%). Three months prevalence was nicotine (72.0%), alcohol (66.7%), cannabis (47.3%), opioids (11.8%) among others. The ASSIST scores were mostly on the severe ranges. ASSIST result after six weeks showed marked reduction. The Mean Difference (MD) in the ASSIST scores after intervention was significant for tobacco, opioids, alcohol, and cannabis. The Cohen’s D effect size was large for tobacco (1.08), alcohol (0.92) and cannabis (0.73) but low for other substances. Conclusion: ALBI along with MI was helpful in combating the menace of substance use.

Epidemiological, Diagnostic, Therapeutic, and Prognostic Profile of Non-Tuberculous Community-Acquired Purulent Pleurisy in Children at the Bouaké University Hospital Center, 2017-2021

Introduction: In Côte d’Ivoire, there is a scarcity of data on children’s purulent pleurisies. Objective: This study aims to elucidate the epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic, and evolutionary facets of non-tuberculous purulent pleurisies in pediatric patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the medical records of children aged one month to fifteen years with purulent pleurisies at Bouaké University Hospital Center from January 2017 to December 2021. Results: The study identified 124 cases of purulent pleurisies, constituting 18% of lower respiratory tract infections and 0.8% of all hospitalizations. The majority of these cases (69%) were in children between 1 and 24 months of age. Prominent symptoms included dyspnea (85.5%), O2 saturation below 95% in room air (76.6%), respiratory distress (68.5%), cutaneous-mucosal pallor (63.7%), and fever (43.5%). Radiological findings predominantly showed right-sided pleurisy (62.1%). The pleurisy was often extensive (78.2%), accompanied by pneumothorax (37.1%), alveolo-interstitial opacities (8.1% of cases), and abscess formations (1.6%). Pleural fluid cultures were positive in 46.9% of cases, with Staphylococcus aureus (75%, methi-S) identified among 32 bacteria. Initial antibiotic treatment was empirical, favoring oxacillin (53.2%) or amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (53.2%) in dual (42%) or triple therapy (33%) with gentamicin (64.1%) and/or metronidazole (21.8%). Treatments also included pleural drainage (68.5%) or repeated evacuation punctures (33.1%), and blood transfusion (39%). The mortality rate was 18.8%. Conclusion: Non-tuberculous purulent pleurisy remains a significant concern in pediatric hospitalizations at the CHU of Bouaké, marked by high mortality rates.

The Burden of Undiagnosed Hypertension and Associated Risk Factors among Adults in a Rural Community in Imo Sate, South-East Nigeria

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally and hypertension is a major contributor to this burden. Many people with hypertension have poorly controlled blood pressure and up to half of the adults with hypertension are unaware of their hypertensive status due to factors that bother on poor management and poor screening approaches. The implication is that people who have poor access to healthcare especially those in the rural communities are at increased risk of cardiovascular complications and all-cause mortality. Unfortunately, not much has been done to ascertain the burden of undiagnosed hypertension and associated risk factors in rural communities in Nigeria. Methods: We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study in a rural community in Imo State, Nigeria, on burden of undiagnosed hypertension with participants recruited via a multi-stage sampling method. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used, and standardized instruments were applied to obtain, process and analyze the data. Tests of association between the independent variables and outcome were conducted using logistic regression. P-value of Results: A total of 380 adults participated in the study. The mean age was 44.2 years. The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension was 35.8%. Logistic regression revealed that age, with the respondents in the age groups 26 - 35 years (OR = 10.647, 1.910 - 59.345, p-value = 0.007), 36 - 45 (OR = 3.680, 1.263 - 10.723, p-value = 0.017), 46 - 55 years (OR = 2.737, 1.114 - 6.727, p-value = 0.039), 56 - 65 years old (OR = 3.384, 1.610 - 7.115, p-value = 0.001);and being married (OR = 3.846, 1.118 - 13.233, p-value = 0.033), were independent risk factors for undiagnosed hypertension. Conclusion: The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension in the rural population of South-East Nigeria is high. Younger age (26 - 35 years) had the highest odds of risk for occurrence of hypertension. Also being married was identified as a risk factor for undiagnosed hypertension.

Macroinvertebrate Community Index (MCI) and Quantitative Macroinvertebrate Community Index (QMCI) Analysis: A Comparative Study between Le Afe and Mulivaifagatoloa Rivers, Upolu Island, Samoa

The diversity of Samoa’s freshwater macroinvertebrates remains largely unexplored, with past studies focusing on specific species without comprehensive cataloguing. This research evaluated the health of Upolu Island’s rural rivers through macroinvertebrate analysis, particularly in the Le Afe and Mulivaifagatoloa Rivers. Collaborating with Samoa’s Water Resources Division in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), three sites along each river were sampled, representing a gradient from pristine to anthropogenically impacted areas. A total of 2953 macroinvertebrates were collected and classified into five categories using established identification keys. The Macroinvertebrate Community Index (MCI) and Quantitative Macroinvertebrate Community Index (QMCI) were applied for analysis. The results showed no clear pattern of pollutant-sensitive species prevalence or decline in less disturbed rivers. High MCI scores with low QMCI values indicated numerous low-scoring species, while the opposite suggested a richness of high-scoring taxa. Although MCI and QMCI are tools for monitoring freshwater health, this study lays the groundwork for future research to categorize Samoan macroinvertebrates and assign tolerance scores based on their presence in varying river conditions. .

Assessing Community Health Interventions in Reducing Infant and Child Mortality in the Southeastern Benin

Background: To reduce infant and child mortality in Benin, a package of high-impact interventions per healthcare level was implemented in 2009. This study aimed to assess the quality of community-based health interventions in reducing infant and child mortality within the municipality of Pobè in southeastern Benin. Methods: This was a cross-sectional evaluative study carried out in November 2021 focused on children aged 0 - 59 months, their mothers, health workers, community facilitators, community health workers and the Town Hall health focal point. Mothers and their children were targeted by cluster sampling, and exhaustive selection was used to recruit all other participants. Predetermined scores based on rating criteria were used to assess the quality of community health interventions using the “input, process and outcome” of Donabedian approach. Results: Over 300 mother-child couples, 46 community health workers, 7 health agents, 1 community facilitator and 1 health focal point from Pobè town hall were surveyed. Intervention quality was judged as “average”, with a score of 73.80%. The “inputs” and “outcomes” components were the weakest links. Conclusion: Improving access to the inputs needed by community health workers can enhance the quality of PIHI interventions.

Innovative Practice of Intelligent Business Models in the Field of Communication

As a service format to meet spiritual needs, fashion culture industry is often synchronized in its creation, production, dissemination, display and consumption. In order to explore how artificial intelligence provides technical means, platforms, channels and space for intelligent formats in the field of communication, and how to provide intelligent services for cultural creation, communication, display and consumption. This paper discusses the application and innovation of artificial intelligence in all aspects of communication field, analyzes the problems and puts forward corresponding countermeasures and suggestions.

Application Effect of Health Management in Community Diabetic Population

Objective: This study aims to improve the health level of patients with diabetes in the community through health management measures under the concept of health management. Methods: Community residents were selected to detect, collate and analyze the social demographic information, body mass index, fasting blood glucose and blood lipid level of diabetic patients before and after health management. Results: The study showed that after the implementation of health management education in the community, the detection rate of diabetes patients increased, but the population was no longer mainly elderly patients, but mainly people under 60 years old. The levels of body mass index, fasting blood glucose, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were significantly decreased (all P Conclusion: Through the investigation of patients before and after health management in residential communities, this study shows that the correct implementation of health management can effectively improve the physiological indicators of diabetes patients, improve the level of health quality, and provide a reference for the prevention and treatment of diabetes patients in communities.

Air Quality Assessment of Ubeji Community near Petroleum-Related Activities

The escalating global concern over air pollution requires rigorous investigations. This study assesses air quality near residential areas affected by petroleum-related activities in Ubeji Community, utilizing Aeroqual handheld mobile multi-gas monitors and air quality multi-meters. Air sampling occurred on three distinct days using multi-gas monitors and meters, covering parameters such as CO, NO2, CH4, NH3, VOCs, Particulate Matter, Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Air Quality Index. Soil and plant samples were collected and analyzed for physicochemical and organic components. Air pollutant concentrations showed significant fluctuations. Carbon monoxide (CO) ranged from 0.00 to 3.22 ppm, NO2 from 0.00 to 0.10 ppm, CH4 from 4.00 to 2083 ppm, NH3 from 371 to 5086 ppm, and VOCs from 414 to 6135 ppm. Soil analysis revealed low total nitrogen, and undetected BTEX levels. Plant samples displayed a pH range of 7.72 to 9.45. CO concentrations, although below WHO limits, indicated potential vehicular and industrial influences. Fluctuations in NO2 and CH4 were linked to traffic, industrial activities, and gas flaring. NH3 levels suggested diverse pollution sources. The result in this study highlights the dynamic nature of air pollution in Ubeji community, emphasizing the urgent need for effective pollution control measures. Although CO concentrations were within limits, continuous monitoring is essential. Elevated NO2 levels gave information on the impact of industrial activities, while high CH4 concentrations may be associated with gas flaring and illegal refining. The study recommends comprehensive measures and collaborative efforts to address these complex issues, safeguarding both the environment and public health. This study shows the potential synergy between air quality sensors and plants for holistic environmental health assessments, offering valuable insights for environmental assessments and remediation endeavours. The findings call for stringent regulations and collaborative efforts to address air pollution in Ubeji community comprehensively.

Investigating Non-Compliance with COVID-19 Vaccination through Hesitancy, Refusal, and Access Limitation: A Community-Based Survey from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Introduction: Vaccination plays a pivotal role in mitigating the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, vaccination campaigns encounter obstacles, especially in developing countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This study aimed at investigating the roles of vaccine hesitancy, refusal, and access barriers, while identifying individual-level factors associated with non-vaccination in Mbujimayi, DRC. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in three health districts and included 1496 residents. Attitudes and behaviors related to seeking COVID-19 vaccination were assessed using a standardized questionnaire. Hierarchical logistic regression modeling was used to assess factors potentially affecting non-compliance with vaccination. Results: Among participants (median age = 33, IQR = 23.3, M/F sex ratio = 0.7), 60% displayed misconceptions about COVID-19 or its vaccine, while only 35.2% perceived COVID-19 as a significant health threat. Vaccination coverage was estimated at 49.1% (95% CI: 47.5;52.6), with 71.8% of vaccinated individuals having received one dose. Among the unvaccinated individuals, 50.9% expressed no intention to be vaccinated in the future, citing hesitation (30.4%) or refusal (39.6%) mainly due to side effects or distrust of vaccines. Conversely, 32.7% of the unvaccinated persons expressed access barriers despite willingness to be vaccinated. Misconceptions about COVID-19 and its vaccines were the main drivers of vaccination non-compliance. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate significant vaccine non-compliance driven by hesitancy, refusal, and access barriers. Strategies to enhance vaccination coverage and pandemic preparedness should address misconceptions, sociodemographic barriers, and geographic disparities.

The Interventional Capacity of Community Health Volunteers for Screening and Linkages of Non-Communicable Diseases in Nyeri County, Kenya

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 63% of mortalities. Approximately 80% of these NCD-related deaths occur in LMICs. A quasi-experimental study utilizing a non-equivalent pre-and post-test was conducted from May 2022 to March 2023 with 370 study participants. Multistage cluster and random sampling were used to select ten community units, and therefore, 150 CHVs were chosen for the control unit, and 150 were used to form the interventional group. Data was collected from the KOBO app. Six (6) homogenous FGDs comprised ten members, and 10 KII were conducted across study sites. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 28.0, and qualitative data was audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed via N-Vivo 12. The study shows that 59.3% of respondents have minimal information, and 92.7% (n = 139) have no clear understanding of NCDs, with a pre-intervention capacity of 48.8%. Independent sample t-test showed a significant difference in capacity from a pre-intervention average of 48.75 (SD ± 5.7)%, which increased to 68.28 (SD ± 7.6)%, p < 0.001. A well-designed community interventional model plays a pivotal role in grassroots healthcare delivery but requires optimization for NCD management.

Roles of Community Pharmacists in Screening and Disseminating of Information about Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Risks: Implications for Drug Safety Assessment

Background: The increasing use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) both on prescription and over the counter raises a major global health concern because of the risks associated with their use if no proper guidance is given by the health care provider. This study assessed the roles of community pharmacists in screening and disseminating information about the risks associated with NSAID use in Zambia. Methodology: This was a national cross-sectional study in which a structured self-administered questionnaire was administered to 245 registered community pharmacists in Zambia. Stata/BE, version 15.1 (Stata Corporation, College Station, Texas, USA) and multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine factors associated with information dissemination about ADRs of NS-NSAIDs. Results: 231 of the 245 distributed questionnaires were returned giving a response rate of 94.3%. All (100%) participating community pharmacists claimed to have practiced dispensing NSAIDs. However, only 26 (11.0%) and 71 (30.8%) regularly screened for risk factor of selective COX-2 NSAIDS (SC2-NSAIDS) and non-selective NSAIDS (NS-NSAIDs) respectively. Information dissemination on adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of SC2-NSAIDS was regularly provided by only 22 (9.5%) of pharmacists while that of NS-NSAIDs was regularly provided by 49 (21.2%). In the multivariate logistic regression model, being the owner of a pharmacy (AOR: 5.4, CI: 1.84 - 16.4) was significantly associated with information dissemination about ADRs of NS-NSAIDs while an hour increase in the working hours per day (AOR: 0.9, CI: 0.64 - 0.95) was associated with less likelihood of information dissemination. Conclusion: Pharmacists working in community pharmacies in Zambia did not regularly screen and disseminate information about the risks associated with NSAID use. Therefore, pharmacists should be able to screen and monitor patients at risk and be aware of the majority of risk factors while dispensing NSAIDs to minimize the associated complications.

The Impacts of Flood and Local Communities’ Coping Strategies along the River Gambia

Flood disasters as Climate change hazards are common in developing countries, particularly in communities along the river Gambia. Local communities, for instance, had their local coping strategies that enabled them to stay in their communities even amid these ordeals, and climate change disaster threats. This work strives to understand flood impacts and the local peoples’ adaptation or coping strategies along the River Gambia basin. A community-based cross-sectional research study of 422 research participants of which 294 are males (69.7%) and females 128 (30.3%), and a focus group discussion of 10 groups which comprised 5 female groups and 5 male groups respectively found that 98.6% of the households experienced floods in their community, and 70.6% experienced flood in their houses, 2.1% have impending flood information and 88.4% do not know evacuation centres. The majority of the households had some local coping strategies, but they acknowledged their insufficient effectiveness. The result also shows that the impact of floods on farmlands, roads, buildings, and livestock was greatly felt. Coping strategies such as sandbags, raised elevations, contour bonds, dikes, and buildings on highlands were all found to be common mechanisms the local people used. The study opines that floods affect communities, but the effects vary depending on individual assets.

A Study of Pharmacist-Patient Communication: Examining Optimal Distance and Angle Using an Eye-Tracking System

This study focuses on seating arrangement and interpersonal distance as important aspects of nonverbal communication and aims to elucidate the optimal distance and angle between pharmacist and patient through an analysis based on the subjective evaluation of the patient and the objective evaluation of eye movements. Seven female simulated patients and one male and one female pharmacist cooperated as patients and pharmacists, respectively. The medication teaching scenes were set up with three pharmacist placements (face-to-face at 50 cm and 70 cm, 90-degree at 70 cm) and three hospital rooms (0-degree, 45-degree, 90-degree). Pupil diameter, blink rate, saccades, and fixation rate of the patient at each of these locations were measured using a Tobii Pro Glass 2. The patient’s subjective evaluation at each placement was also investigated using the conversation scale, which assesses the optimal distance for conversation. The results for the pharmacy setting revealed that pupils were significantly more mydriatic at the 50 cm point than at the other points. The results for the hospital room setting showed the greatest mydriasis at the 0-degree point. The result of the 50 cm point for the pharmacy setting and the 0-degree point for the hospital room setting was similar to that of the subjective evaluation. When the likelihood of saccades occurrence in the hospital room setting was compared, saccades were found to be most likely to occur when medication instructions were given to patients at the 0-degree point. We believe that using pupil diameter for interpersonal distance, and saccades for angle will enable more accurate determinations of the optimal distance and angle between pharmacist and patient. The results of the present study suggest that the 70 cm face-to-face point in the pharmacy and the 45-degree point in the ward may be suitable for medication instruction.