Sydney O’shay
Biographic Data
| ID | 760329 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Sydney O’shay |
| GIVEN NAMES | Sydney |
| FAMILY NAME | O’shay |
| SIGNATURE | O’SHAY S |
| AFFILIATIONS | Utah State University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-6880-4561 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 13 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 2 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 13 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2020 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Memorable Messages in Childhood Cancer Narratives: How Communication Shapes Survivors’ Self-Concept, Mortality Views, and Understanding of Their Illness Experience
Childhood cancer is a prevalent disease in the United States with lasting impacts on survivors. This study explores how communication during the childhood cancer experience shapes survivors into adulthood. Interviews were conducted with 13 survivors of childhood cancer to investigate the types of memorable messages in their cancer narratives and how those messages shaped survivors' emotions and understanding of their cancer experience. Five types…
The Burden Mothers Bear: Using the Health Belief Model to Understand How U.S. Mothers’ Intersectional Identities Shape Health Decision-Making During Covid-19
The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people of color and the burden placed on mothers created a need to better understand how mothers of color made health decisions for their families and communicated these decisions with others during the pandemic. This study investigated how this populations’ intersectional identities played a role in their health decision-making processes and overall experiences during COVID-19. Using the health belief m…
Public Perceptions of Opioid Use for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain
Background: Chronic non-cancer pain affects 20% of Americans. This is significantly impacted by the ongoing opioid crisis and reduced opioid dispensing. Public perceptions additionally shape pain management strategies. Purpose: This study explores public attitudes toward prescription opioids for chronic non-cancer pain. We aim to understand how public attitudes are influenced by the evolving opioid crisis and shifting opioid use patterns. Methods…
Stigma Communication Surrounding Nonmedical Opioid Use Among Affected Family Members
A growing body of research demonstrates the role of language in stigma toward nonmedical opioid use (NMOU). Terms like "substance abuser" perpetuate stereotypes and evoke punitive judgments. This study examines how affected family members (AFMs) communicate stigma when discussing their loved one's NMOU. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 34 adults with a close family member with a history of NMOU. An iterative approach was used to ana…
Naloxone Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Overdose Response Among Family Members of People who Misuse Opioids
Experiences of families bereaved by opioid-related death
Family members bereaved by a drug-related death are underserved. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 people bereaved by a close family member’s opioid-related death. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify themes in four areas: emotional responses (e.g. anticipatory grief), communication about the death (i.e. open or closed), supports (e.g. social or formal), and advice for others who lost a family member to opioid…
Stigma and Public Support for Treatment and Harm Reduction Policy in Response to the US Overdose Crisis
How affected family members communicate about their loved one's non-medical opioid use
Family members of people who misuse opioids frequently experience stigma due to their association with non-medical opioid use (NMOU). Stigma may affect how family members communicate about NMOU and seek social support. Guided by communication privacy management theory, this study sought to understand how affected family members (AFMs) communicate about NMOU within and outside of the immediate family. In-depth interviews were conducted with 34 adu…
“Do Not Carry the Load by Yourself”: Advice for Families Affected by Non-Medical Opioid Use
Non-medical opioid use (NMOU) has had a devastating effect on families. Affected families may experience interpersonal and financial problems and self-stigma that can impede help-seeking and self-care. This study aimed to identify recommendations for families affected by opioids given by those with lived experience. Adults with a family member with NMOU ( N = 299) completed a survey that included an open-ended question asking for advice for other…
‘The Chronicle of Nightmares’: Emergency Nurses’ Frontstage and Backstage Communication in the Emergency Department
Effective emergency nurse-patient (EN) communication and ENs' communication with other healthcare workers have implications for patient outcomes. Effective EN-patient communication informs and empowers patients. This study sought to better understand ENs frontstage and backstage interactions in a metropolitan emergency department (ED). The researcher engaged in participant observation of 15 different ENs' healthcare interactions with patients and…
Affected Family Members’ Communicative Management of Opioid Misuse Stigma: Applying and Rethinking the Stigma Management Communication Typology
Opioid misuse is a prevalent health problem in the United States with consequences extending past the person who misuses opioids to affected family members (AFM) through courtesy stigma. The goals of this study were to understand the stigma management communication (SMC) strategies employed by AFMs when they experience courtesy stigma and changes in strategies used over time. The findings from interviews with 34 AFMs suggest the SMC strategies th…
Boil Water Advisories as Risk Communication: Consistency between CDC Guidelines and Local News Media Articles
The Safe Drinking Water Act Public Notification Rule requires that customers of public water systems (PWS) be informed of problems that may pose a risk to public health. Boil water advisories (BWA) are a form of communication intended to mitigate potential health risks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed guidance for BWAs. We examined how local US news media incorporate the CDC’s guidelines when reporting on BWAs. A co…
Gender and Presence of Children: Examining Media Uses, Informational Needs, and Source Preferences during the Flint, Michigan Water Crisis
In 2014, a water crisis emerged in Flint, Michigan. Using uses and gratifications theory as the guiding framework, this study examines if crisis-related media uses, informational needs, and source preferences are related to respondents’ gender and/or whether or not respondents had children. A random sample of 208 Flint residents yielded results that are largely consistent with extant research, although minor nuances were found. Media uses, prefer…
How affected family members communicate about their loved one's non-medical opioid use
Family members of people who misuse opioids frequently experience stigma due to their association with non-medical opioid use (NMOU). Stigma may affect how family members communicate about NMOU and seek social support. Guided by communication privacy management theory, this study sought to understand how affected family members (AFMs) communicate about NMOU within and outside of the immediate family. In-depth interviews were conducted with 34 adu…
Affected Family Members’ Communicative Management of Opioid Misuse Stigma: Applying and Rethinking the Stigma Management Communication Typology
Opioid misuse is a prevalent health problem in the United States with consequences extending past the person who misuses opioids to affected family members (AFM) through courtesy stigma. The goals of this study were to understand the stigma management communication (SMC) strategies employed by AFMs when they experience courtesy stigma and changes in strategies used over time. The findings from interviews with 34 AFMs suggest the SMC strategies th…
Gender and Presence of Children: Examining Media Uses, Informational Needs, and Source Preferences during the Flint, Michigan Water Crisis
In 2014, a water crisis emerged in Flint, Michigan. Using uses and gratifications theory as the guiding framework, this study examines if crisis-related media uses, informational needs, and source preferences are related to respondents’ gender and/or whether or not respondents had children. A random sample of 208 Flint residents yielded results that are largely consistent with extant research, although minor nuances were found. Media uses, prefer…
Boil Water Advisories as Risk Communication: Consistency between CDC Guidelines and Local News Media Articles
The Safe Drinking Water Act Public Notification Rule requires that customers of public water systems (PWS) be informed of problems that may pose a risk to public health. Boil water advisories (BWA) are a form of communication intended to mitigate potential health risks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed guidance for BWAs. We examined how local US news media incorporate the CDC’s guidelines when reporting on BWAs. A co…
“Do Not Carry the Load by Yourself”: Advice for Families Affected by Non-Medical Opioid Use
Non-medical opioid use (NMOU) has had a devastating effect on families. Affected families may experience interpersonal and financial problems and self-stigma that can impede help-seeking and self-care. This study aimed to identify recommendations for families affected by opioids given by those with lived experience. Adults with a family member with NMOU ( N = 299) completed a survey that included an open-ended question asking for advice for other…
‘The Chronicle of Nightmares’: Emergency Nurses’ Frontstage and Backstage Communication in the Emergency Department
Effective emergency nurse-patient (EN) communication and ENs' communication with other healthcare workers have implications for patient outcomes. Effective EN-patient communication informs and empowers patients. This study sought to better understand ENs frontstage and backstage interactions in a metropolitan emergency department (ED). The researcher engaged in participant observation of 15 different ENs' healthcare interactions with patients and…
Affected Family Members’ Communicative Management of Opioid Misuse Stigma: Applying and Rethinking the Stigma Management Communication Typology
Opioid misuse is a prevalent health problem in the United States with consequences extending past the person who misuses opioids to affected family members (AFM) through courtesy stigma. The goals of this study were to understand the stigma management communication (SMC) strategies employed by AFMs when they experience courtesy stigma and changes in strategies used over time. The findings from interviews with 34 AFMs suggest the SMC strategies th…
Public Perceptions of Opioid Use for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain
Background: Chronic non-cancer pain affects 20% of Americans. This is significantly impacted by the ongoing opioid crisis and reduced opioid dispensing. Public perceptions additionally shape pain management strategies. Purpose: This study explores public attitudes toward prescription opioids for chronic non-cancer pain. We aim to understand how public attitudes are influenced by the evolving opioid crisis and shifting opioid use patterns. Methods…
Stigma Communication Surrounding Nonmedical Opioid Use Among Affected Family Members
A growing body of research demonstrates the role of language in stigma toward nonmedical opioid use (NMOU). Terms like "substance abuser" perpetuate stereotypes and evoke punitive judgments. This study examines how affected family members (AFMs) communicate stigma when discussing their loved one's NMOU. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 34 adults with a close family member with a history of NMOU. An iterative approach was used to ana…
Naloxone Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Overdose Response Among Family Members of People who Misuse Opioids
Experiences of families bereaved by opioid-related death
Family members bereaved by a drug-related death are underserved. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 people bereaved by a close family member’s opioid-related death. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify themes in four areas: emotional responses (e.g. anticipatory grief), communication about the death (i.e. open or closed), supports (e.g. social or formal), and advice for others who lost a family member to opioid…
Stigma and Public Support for Treatment and Harm Reduction Policy in Response to the US Overdose Crisis
How affected family members communicate about their loved one's non-medical opioid use
Family members of people who misuse opioids frequently experience stigma due to their association with non-medical opioid use (NMOU). Stigma may affect how family members communicate about NMOU and seek social support. Guided by communication privacy management theory, this study sought to understand how affected family members (AFMs) communicate about NMOU within and outside of the immediate family. In-depth interviews were conducted with 34 adu…
The Burden Mothers Bear: Using the Health Belief Model to Understand How U.S. Mothers’ Intersectional Identities Shape Health Decision-Making During Covid-19
The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people of color and the burden placed on mothers created a need to better understand how mothers of color made health decisions for their families and communicated these decisions with others during the pandemic. This study investigated how this populations’ intersectional identities played a role in their health decision-making processes and overall experiences during COVID-19. Using the health belief m…
Memorable Messages in Childhood Cancer Narratives: How Communication Shapes Survivors’ Self-Concept, Mortality Views, and Understanding of Their Illness Experience
Childhood cancer is a prevalent disease in the United States with lasting impacts on survivors. This study explores how communication during the childhood cancer experience shapes survivors into adulthood. Interviews were conducted with 13 survivors of childhood cancer to investigate the types of memorable messages in their cancer narratives and how those messages shaped survivors' emotions and understanding of their cancer experience. Five types…
Psychology (10 works) · Medicine (9 works) · Social Psychology (7 works) · Psychiatry (6 works) · Nursing (5 works) · Mental Health Treatment and Access (4 works) · Opioid (4 works) · Political science (4 works) · Public health (4 works) · Health communication (3 works)