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With all the developments in the world today, medical tourism is becoming increasingly more popular. People have discovered that there is a chance to seek medical care elsewhere than in their country of residence, often at a lower price than in that country. The fact is that people are able to travel easily between countries for that purpose nowadays, and people have started to travel for various medical treatments. Dental tourism is a phenomenon that has been growing rapidly along with medical tourism in general. The reasons why people go abroad for dental treatments are various but, in most cases, the fact is that it is possible for them to have a treatment in a country where the costs are lower than in their country of residence. It has been argued whether going abroad is really worth it even with the lower prices at the dental tourism destination and with that said it is interesting to see how the dental tourists’ experience culminates. This research’s aim is to explore how satisfied Icelandic dental tourists are with their dental experience and what effect the dental experience has on other factors of the travel and, the travel experience. This research uses a qualitative research approach where semistructured interviews were conducted in person, through a phone call and through Zoom. The participants for the research are 11 total and they were found using the convenient sampling method and they all volunteered to participate in the research. The results were not identical, but overall, the participants were satisfied with their dental experience and all of the participants were satisfied with their tourism experience. The negative dental experiences were mostly with the after-treatment stage where some participants were experiencing problems with their dental treatment. The participants that traveled to the destination in company of their family all agreed that it made the experience for them more positive to have their family as support. The participants that traveled alone had different perspectives on whether having someone to support them would have made any difference on their experience. Only one participant was not able to say that they would recommend doing dental tourism to others. All of the participants would visit the dental tourism destination again, it did not matter whether the participant had a negative experience with the dental treatment received or a positive one.

This study explored the K-12 teacher-student relationship (TSR) by identifying strategies that teachers use to influence students with emotional disabilities' (EDs) school experiences socially, academically, and behaviorally (SAB). The identified strategies were organized around the four phases (appraisal, testing, agreement, and planning) of building teacher-student relationships. This was a qualitative study that involved nine interviews with teachers (6 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high school) from two school divisions (one rural and one suburban) in southwest Virginia. Data analysis included inductive and deductive coding of the transcribed interviews to identify strategies that teachers use to influence students with EDs SAB and to align the identified strategies within the four phases of building TSRs. Findings of the study suggest five key strategies that teachers are using to influence students socially, five key strategies that teachers are using to influence students academically, and eight key strategies that teachers are using to influence students behaviorally. Additionally, five strategies aligned within the appraisal phase, six strategies aligned within the agreement phase, nine strategies aligned within the testing phase, and nine strategies aligned within the planning phase. The results of this study could provide further insight to scholars to support the need for teachers to use research/ evidence-based strategies when working with students with EDs to assist the students in achieving better outcomes. Educational leaders and teachers are provided with strategies they can use when working with students with EDs to improve school related outcomes and build teacher-student relationships (TSRs). / Doctor of Education / This study explored the K-12 teacher-student relationship (TSR) by identifying key strategies that teachers are using to influence students with emotional disabilities socially, academically, and behaviorally. Additionally, the identified strategies were organized around the four phases (appraisal, testing, agreement, and planning) of relationship building. This was a qualitative study that involved nine interviews with teachers (6 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high school) from two school divisions (one rural and one suburban) in southwest Virginia. The findings of this study should provide scholars with additional research to support the need for teachers to use research/evidence-based strategies when working with students with EDs to assist the students in achieving better outcomes. Educational leaders and teachers are provided with strategies they can use when working with students with EDs to improve school related outcomes and build teacher-student relationships (TSRs).

This study attempts to identify possibilities for creating a unified offline and online customer experience across communication channels in a retail company. With the current technological development and the trend of customers shifting more to the online channel, the customers also expect more from this communication channel. Within the online channel a development into an omni- channel (unified experience across channels) approach is leading to new possibilities, and keeping up with the development will support companies to keep their competitive advantage. The study reviews a case (Mio) with an offline channel represented by several large scale retail stores in Sweden, and also providing an online channel as a website meant to complement the stores. The study reviews previous literature in the field of customer experience both online and offline, omni channel retailing, and marketing. This is the foundation, together with a benchmark case (comparison case), and a survey to gain further insight and widen the knowledge. The results indicates that there are specific features which could contribute to a more positive and seamless experience across channels for the customer. These are information availability, quality and consistency across channels. As well as, functionality for purchases, order handling and tracking, and interactive customer service online. This could preferentially be fused in one place as a customers personal profile, allowing for a portal with everything the customer needs during all phases of the shopping experience. These findings provide insight into how the online channel could be used to better complement the offline channel, working synergistically. Future research is needed to validate these initial findings.

Este estudo apresenta e discute o conceito de experiência do cliente com especial enfoque para a gestão da experiência do cliente em empresas do setor automotivo no Brasil. Neste estudo, o termo \"experiência do cliente\" é referido pelo termo em inglês customer experience. Percebe-se que as limitações conceituais se referem a tratamentos parciais de customer experience, ora focando na visão do cliente, ora focando na visão da marca. Esses tratamentos conceituais parciais de customer experience são refletidos também nos principais modelos conceituais publicados, modelos estes que buscam, muitas vezes, representar a realidade do mercado. Nos últimos anos, o setor automotivo, influenciado por um novo perfil de consumidor, mais exigente e menos interessado na posse de veículos e por alterações na sua jornada, decorrentes da digitalização dos canais, vem buscando alternativas para reter seus clientes através do desenvolvimento de estratégias de customer experience. Dessa forma, a partir de limitações encontradas, este estudo levanta os principais conceitos e modelos de customer experience publicados e os confrontam com a aplicação dessa ferramenta em grandes marcas comercializadoras de veículos no Brasil, através da venda ou do aluguel. A partir dos dados coletados e do cruzamento com a teoria e os modelos teóricos, dois achados importantes derivam deste estudo: a definição de um novo conceito de customer experience, mais abrangente, respeitando a visão do cliente e das marcas, e a descoberta de um grupo de quinze elementos utilizados em customer experience, interpretados a partir dos modelos teóricos analisados e que são confrontados com a aplicação prática nas empresas do setor automotivo pesquisadas, demonstrando haver uma vasta e abrangente aplicação de customer experience no setor. Dessa forma, este estudo avalia a aplicação de customer experience no setor automotivo do Brasil, aprofunda o desenvolvimento conceitual do tema e orienta sua aplicação prática para os gestores e profissionais de marketing. / This study presents and discusses the concept of customer experience with a special focus on the management of customer experience in companies in the automotive sector in Brazil. It can be seen that the conceptual limitations refer to partial treatments of customer experience, sometimes focusing on the vision of the client, sometimes focusing on the vision of the brand. These partial conceptual treatments of customer experience are also reflected in the main published conceptual models, models that often seek to represent the reality of the market. In recent years, the automotive sector, influenced by a new consumer profile, more demanding and less interested in vehicle ownership and changes in the customer\'s journey, due to the digitization of the channels, have been seeking alternatives to retain the customer through the development of strategies of customer experience. Thus, based on limitations found, this study raises the main concepts and models of published customer experience and confronts them with the application of this tool in major brands that commercialize vehicles in Brazil, through their sale or rent. Based on the data collected and the intersection with theory and theoretical models, two important findings derive from this study: the definition of a new concept of customer experience, more comprehensive, respecting either the vision of the client and the brands and the discovery of a group of fifteen elements used in customer experience, interpreted from the theoretical models analyzed that are confronted with the practical application in the companies of the automotive sector researched, demonstrating a vast and comprehensive application of customer experience in the sector. Thus, this study evaluates the application of customer experience in the Brazilian automotive sector, deepens the conceptual development of the theme and guides its practical application for managers and marketers.

This research reports on a project concerned with the relationship between the person and the environment in the context of achieving a contemplative or existential state – a state which can be experienced either consciously or subconsciously. The need for such a study originated with the desire to contribute to the design of multicultural spaces which could be used for a range of activities within the public and the personal arena, activities including contemplation, meditation and prayer. The concept of ‘sacred’ is explored in the literature review and in primary interviews with the participants of this study. Given that the word ‘sacred’ is highly value-laden and potentially alienating for some people, it was decided to use the more accessible term ‘contemplative’. The outcomes of the study inform the practice of interior design and architecture which tends currently to neglect the potential for all spaces to be existentially meaningful. Informed by phenomenological methodology, data were collected from a diverse group of people, using photo-elicitation and interviews. The technique of photo-elicitation proved to be highly effective in helping people reveal their everyday lived experience of contemplative spaces. Reflective analysis (Van Manen 2000) was used to explore the data collected. The initial stage of analysis produced three categories of data: varying conceptions of contemplation, aspects of the person involved in the contemplation, and aspects of environment involved in contemplation. From this, it was found that achieving a state of contemplation involves both the person and the environment in a dialectic process of unfolding. The unfolding has various physical, psycho-social, and existential dimensions or qualities which operate sequentially and simultaneously. Two concepts emerged as being central to unfolding: ‘Cleansing’ and ‘Nothingness’. Unfolding is found to comprise the Core; Distinction; Manifestation; Cleansing; Creation; and Sharing. This has a parallel with Mircea Eliade’s (1959) definition of sacred as something that manifests itself as different from the profane. The power of design, re-contextualization through utility and purpose, and the existential engagements between the person and environment are used as a basis for establishing the potential contribution of the study to interior design. In this way, the study makes a contribution to our understanding of how space and its elements inspire, support and sustain person environment interaction – particularly at the existential level – as well as to our understanding of the multi-dimensional and holistic nature of this interaction. In addition, it points to the need for a phenomenological re-conceptualisation of the design/client relationship. In summary, the contributions of this research are: the exploration of contemplative experience as sacred experience; an understanding of the design of space as creating engagement between person and environment; a rationale for the introduction of a phenomenological approach to the relationship between designer and clients; and raising awareness of the spiritual in a holistic approach to design.

This research explores the lived experience of encountering mortality in the palliative care context. Six counsellors included in the study had served on a Palliative Care Crisis Team in the community and/or the in-patient unit of a hospice in a mid-sized Canadian city. Conducted as a phenomenological study, all co-participants electronically or face-to-face, answered 18 questions that were generated from an initial open-ended question, and answered other clarifying questions as requested. The author also tracked the experience of the experience, of encountering mortality, by creating a Sacred Mandala––a painting that involves a particular structure, meditation practices, and journal work––and analyzed her notes as part of the data. Themes identified were: responding to the call; the realities of death; being in the know and the impact of knowing; relationships–intensity, intimacy, connection and identification; the gift of stillness; encountering mortality can be mundane; being of service; finding balance between giving enough and receiving enough; being in the face of D/death; staying awake; and living life. It was found that encountering mortality is paradoxical, and that the struggle of holding opposing forces is necessary for transformation toward wholeness but requires structured support that needs to be offered when caregivers are entering the field and throughout their careers. Support also needs to provide discipline and structure that is complex enough to encourage, contain and support participant’s expression of strong emotion, exploration and self-reflection of practice, sharing with others, and being witnessed. / Graduate / 0727 / 0357 / 0566 / susan@thebreiddals.com

New technology is revolutionizing the retail industry by providing new conditions and questioning the traditional way of shopping. Wearable devices have gained popularity lately and smartwatches are one of the most popular among them [12]. However, little research has been made in the area of creating experiences for grocery retail purchases using smartwatches, which is where this study aims to contribute. Through establishing what affordances and challenges there might be when creating a digital experience for people using smart watches with the intent of purchasing groceries. With the support from CompanyX, one of the leading companies with their core business in grocery retail, the study was built around Apple Watch users as the target group. An experience-centered design method was used to incorporate the end user at each stage of the design process. A high fidelity prototype was created based on the decoded material from the semi-structured interviews performed. The prototype was then evaluated in a remote setup using both in-depth test sessions and a broader evaluation questionnaire. The results showed that the prototype proposed added value for the user by providing an experience that would encourage a more structured and inspirational way of purchasing groceries. The attitude towards the prototype was positive. However, further improvements are suggested and discussed aiming to suit the limited interaction options of a smartwatch, better. The study provides insights in what the attitude looks towards different types of functionalities aiming to create an enhanced grocery shopping experience among Apple Watch users. / Nya tekniska förutsättningar revolutionerar handelsmarknaden genom nya förutsättningar som ifrågasätter traditionellt sätt att handla på. Teknologier som Wearables har under de senaste åren blivit mycket populära där de vristburna enheterna är de som står ut särskilt i popularitet. Dock har lite studier gjorts på hur man med hjälp av Wearables skulle kunna skapa en upplevelse ämnad att underlätta shoppingupplevelsen hos personer som handlar matvaror. Vad öppnar en smartklocka upp för förutsättningar och vad finns det för utmaningar att skapa en upplevelse med hjälp av en smartklocka? Med stöd från CompanyX, en av Sveriges ledande företag inom dagligvaruhandel, byggdes studien kring Apple Watch-användare. Användaren var central genom hela studien då den var byggt runt användarbeteenden och användarupplevelser. En prototyp skapades baserat på de resultat som fastställdes kring användandet, samt testad på slutanvändarna. Resultaten visade att prototypen skapade värde för användaren då den uppmuntrade till ett mer strukturerat samt inspirerande sätt att handla matvaror på. Prototypen togs emot positivt men skulle gynnas av ytterligare förbättringar och design iterationer främst kring smartklockans begränsade interaktionsmöjligheter. Studien bidrar med insikter kring hur attityden ser ut kring skapandet av en användarupplevelse för matvaruhandel i en smartklocka hos Apple Watch användare.

Bakgrund: Omkring 8000 kvinnor får diagnosen bröstcancer i Sverige varje år. Dessa kvinnor möter vården vid flertalet tillfällen under den tid de behandlas, och deras behov av stöd och information har i flera studier konstaterats vara viktigt. För att möta och förstå dessa kvinnors behov, behöver vi veta mer om hur de upplever vården. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att beskriva hur kvinnor med bröstcancer upplever sin vård. Metod: Studien har gjorts med en innebördsanalys. Den har utförts genom att analysera åtta biografier skrivna av kvinnor med erfarenhet av att själva ha eller ha haft bröstcancer. Resultat: Resultatet visar att kvinnor med bröstcancer vill bli mött som en unik person under tiden som patient. De behöver stöd och bekräftelse från anhöriga och sjukvårdspersonal. De uttrycker också att de vill bli omhändertagna på ett mjukt och varsamt sätt med respekt och utifrån den egna livsvärlden. Konklusioner: Kvinnor med bröstcancer vill bli mött som den unika person de är i mötet med vården. Genom ett större omvårdnadsperspektiv och mer personcentrerad vård kan deras lidande lindras. Nyckelord: bröstcancer, upplevelse, vård / Background: About 8000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in Sweden. These women meet nursing care several times during their treatment and their need of support and information is found important in several studies. To meet and understand these women’s needs, we need to know more about how they experience care. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe how women with breast cancer experience their care.  Method: The study, a meaning analysis, has been performed by analysing eight biographies written by women with experiences of having breast cancer. Result: The results show that women with breast cancer want to be seen as a unique person during their time as patient, they need support and confirmation from relatives and from nursing staff. They also express they want to be taken care of in a soft and gentle way with respect and based on their own life-world. Conclusions: Women with breast cancer want to be met as the unique persons they are in meetings with health care. By having a larger nursing perspective and more person-centred care their suffering can be relieved. Keywords: breast cancer, experience, care,