ABSTRACT
Background: The new circumstances of life due to the proclamation of the COVID 19 virus pandemic have caused numerous changes both in general people's lives and in consumption. Purpose: The aim of this paper is to identify changes in the degree of consumer ethnocentrism when choosing products during the COVID 19 virus pandemic, compared to the period before its occurrence. In addition, differences in consumer preferences for certain domestic products and services before and during the pandemic were analyzed. The paper also deals with differences in ethnocentric tendencies during the pandemic between different socio-demographic consumer segments.Study design/methodology/approach: The primary data were collected from 176 respondents by using the survey method. A paired samples t test is used for hypotheses testing. Independent samples t test and Anova, post hoc Scheffe test, were conducted for analysing differences in ethnocentric tendencies between observed consumer segments during the pandemic.Findings/conclusions: Higher level of consumer ethnocentrism is confirmed in period during the pandemic, especially when it comes to choice of domestic medical products. On the other hand, lower level of consumer ethnocentrism is observed for fashion products and insurance during the pandemic. Older consumers and pensioners exhibit stronger ethnocentric tendencies during the pandemic.Limitations/future research: The main limitation of the paper relates to the use of only a few of the 17 statements within the CET scale for measuring ethnocentric tendencies before and during the pandemic. Also, the research did not cover all categories of domestic products and services. According to the limitations, future studies are recommended to fully apply the CET scale for measuring consumer ethnocentrism. Also, the recommendation is to observe higher number of categories of products and services, and to break down the categories into several subcategories. Finally, future studies can also include some of the determinants of consumer ethnocentrism in the research model.
ABSTRACT
Aim/Background: COVID-19 pandemic has casted a new light over the capacity of telepharmacy to increase access to pharmaceutical care, providing more support to patients and allowing new opportunities for pharmacists. However, telepharmacy still hasn't been introduced as a standardised pharmaceutical service in the Republic of Serbia, therefore, the objective of this paper is to assess the potential for its local implementation by exploring the perspectives of community pharmacists. Materials and Methods: Semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted online from January to March 2021, with pharmacists working in community pharmacies across the country (n=23). The questions were developed to ensure the consistency and comprehensibility of the interviews, while keeping the questions flexible enough to allow each participant to share their understanding of telepharmacy, its application, benefits and risks, but also their motivating factors, ideas, and views on overall capacity to introduce such services. Interviews were transcribed ad verbatim, coded and thematically analysed. Results: The participants had a good theoretical understanding and were mostly open and ready for the introduction of new services, but due to the lack of regulatory, financial and organisational solutions, participants believed that this is still not possible, especially since remote healthcare services still aren't recognised by the national law of Serbia. Conclusion: Although many pharmacists were willing to support patients remotely and have done so on their own in the past, there is a need for further initiatives in order to introduce structured and standardised telepharmacy services in the Republic of Serbia. © 2023 Author(s). Distributed under Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0.
ABSTRACT
Purpose The COVID-19 virus pandemic has strongly influenced consumer behaviour worldwide. This paper aims to investigate how risk perceptions and precautions related to COVID-19 virus influence consumer eating habits and consequently, behaviour during shopping for food. Also, research tends to identify changes in consumer eating habits resulting from the current pandemic situation. Design/methodology/approach In total, 237 consumers from Serbia were online surveyed during November 2020. Starting from the methodology of the SOR model (Mehrabian and Russell, 1974), the questionnaire consists of seven-point Likert scale statements that measure risk perceptions and precautions as stimulus (S), eating habits as an organism (O) and food choice, precautions during shopping for food and food purchasing patterns as a response (S). Findings Research results confirm the difference in consumers' eating habits during and before a pandemic. Also, results indicate that perceived risk and precautions related to the COVID-19 virus have a statistically significant influence on consumers' eating habits which have changed during a pandemic, finally resulting in significant effects on consumers' food shopping behaviour. Research limitations/implications The main limitations of this study are observing only a few aspects related to COVID-19 virus pandemic and consumer food shopping behaviour, as well as measuring precautions, perceived risk and food shopping behaviour at one point in time besides the fact that pandemic situation constantly changes. Originality/value The study indicates that food manufacturers should pay attention to the consumers' eating habits and food shopping behaviour changes under the circumstances of COVID-19 virus pandemic. Identified changes can be used as opportunities to gain a competitive advantage on the market.