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Doctoral Dissertation Defense
of
Megan Alicea

For the degree of

Doctor of Philosophy
Curriculum and Instruction
Concentration: Educational Technology

Exploring a Novel Communication Protocol to Build Respiratory Therapy Students' Knowledge Sharing Self-Efficacy: A Mixed Methods Study

July 23, 2025
12:00 p.m.

Exploring a Novel Communication Protocol to Build Respiratory Therapy Students' Knowledge Sharing Self-Efficacy: A Mixed Methods Study

Ineffective communication is a leading cause of patient harm and death in U.S. hospitals. Over 80% of safety events occur in acute care settings where respiratory therapists play a critical role in the management of life supporting technologies. Knowledge sharing behaviors have been shown to improve clinical decision-making and patient outcomes, yet these behaviors are lacking among health care staff. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to explore respiratory therapy students’ perceptions of knowledge sharing self-efficacy after participating in a simulation-based intervention designed to promote knowledge sharing using a novel communication tool—the weSHARE protocol. Additionally, the research explored how the protocol shaped decision-making during these simulations. 

This research used a single group pre-/posttest mixed methods design with a convenience sample of 14 secondyear respiratory therapy students. Quantitative results revealed a statistically significant increase in knowledge sharing self-efficacy following the intervention. The qualitative data supported these findings and identified key themes contributing to the improvement in knowledge sharing self-efficacy: inclusion and open-mindedness, heightened awareness of shared objectives, guided communication, and increased confidence. Additionally, participants reported how the weSHARE protocol enhanced situational awareness and reduced tunnel vision – common contributors to medical error. Participants described how the weSHARE protocol integrated naturally into simulated patient care which suggests practical relevance for real world application into clinical contexts. Overall, these findings support the value of structured dialogue using the weSHARE protocol and simulation-based curriculum designed around Bandura’s sources of self-efficacy as a promising approach to strengthen knowledge sharing behaviors for patient care management.