Determinants of Purchase Intention in Online Purchasing During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan

The COVID-19 pandemic restricts consumer behavior for purchasing at physical stores and pushes to online purchasing. Despite the fact that many consumers have increased to purchase various goods at online malls and online stores, the factors that influence consumers' purchase intention (PI) under COVID-19 pandemic are not clear. This study examines Japanese consumers' perceptions toward online purchasing under COVID-19 pandemic and compares both determinant structure before and under the pandemic. This research examines Japanese consumers' perceptions of online malls and online stores using structural equation modeling (SEM) and the model is based on the extended technology acceptance model (TAM). Our research demonstrates that the frequency of online purchasing has increased under COVID-19 pandemic. This study also reveals that PI on online malls and online stores is determined by perceived usefulness (PU), website quality (WQ), and trust (TR). Although PU and TR have strong effects on PI and WQ has a weak effect before the pandemic, the effect of PU on PI has become weak and WQ has stronger effect on PI than PU during the pandemic. In addition, TR has significant but negative effect on PU. However, the negative effect of TR on PU became weaker during the pandemic. This study provides online stores managers and related stakeholders with significant managerial implications. © 2021 ACM.

The Evolving Role of Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic presented unique challenges to lung transplant (LTx) programs. On the donor side, infection concerns resulted in a dramatic reduction in donor lung offers and raised the specter of viral transmission to procurement team members. On the recipient side, the need for pre-transplant COVID-19 testing and COVID free patient care units presented unprecedented logistical challenges. New indications for ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) also emerged, including logistics (e.g. providing adequate time for recipient COVID testing), and donor lung evaluation following 3rd party procurement. In this study, we defined the novel roles of EVLP that our LTx program developed during the COVI-19 pandemic. Methods Retrospective analysis of adult LTx procedures performed at our institute from March 17th (when COVID restrictions began at our institute) through May 31st 2020, compared to LTx performed during the same period in 2019. Results During the study period, 17 LTx were performed. Eight of 17 were performed after EVLP evaluation, and 6 with EVLP back-up. Notably, the number of LTx after EVLP doubled vs. the same period in 2019, and the number of LTx cases with EVLP backup tripled (Figure 1A). Indications for EVLP in 4 LTx cases and 4 cases with EVLP backup were unique to pandemic conditions (Figure 1B). To date, no patients transplanted during this period, or team members tested positive for COVID-19, or are suspected of COVID infection post-LTx. 30-day survival was 100%, and incidence of primary graft dysfunction grades 0, 1, 2, and 3 at 72 hours post-transplant were 39%, 52%, 4%, and 4%, respectively. Median ventilation duration was 1 day. Conclusion Maintaining LTx activity with EVLP was feasible in the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. EVLP enabled our team to solve challenges with donor evaluation and logistics. By enabling donor assessment after local procurement, EVLP also increased the procurement team's safety. In the future, these newer EVLP indications may be applicable beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.