The Socio-Technical Road to Tourism Recovery in the Post-Pandemic World

COVID-19 has posed a massive challenge for destination marketers to restore safety perceptions among tourists after the onslaught of the pandemic. The objective of the current study is to develop an integrated model linking social and technical elements via socio-technical theory helping in theory development and tourism recovery. Destination marketing researchers agree on the importance of STTs to restore faith among tourists However, there is a lack of theory in the studies related to tourism recovery. Socio-technical theory, which attributes the interdependence of technical systems and social systems for maximizing organizational productivity is used by the current study to help understand the tourism recovery process. This study uses the elements of socio-technical theory in a structural equation model (SEM) to help destination marketers better understand the effect of technology in attaining tourism recovery. Based on self-selection sampling, we collected the data via a web survey from makemytrip.com, the modeling in this study was done via variance-based structural equation modeling. The study results demonstrate a strong effect of Smart Tourism Technologies (STTs) in reducing the impact of pandemics on tourists' perceptions. © 2023 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

COVID-19 mortality and its predictors in the elderly: A systematic review.

Background and Aims: Older people have higher rates of comorbidities and may experience more severe inflammatory responses; therefore, are at higher risk of death. Herein, we aimed to systematically review the mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and its predictors in this age group. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct using relevant keywords. Retrieved records underwent a two-step screening process consisting of title/abstract and full-text screenings to identify the eligible studies. Results: Summarizing findings of 35 studies demonstrated that older patients have higher mortality rates compared to the younger population. A review of articles revealed that increasing age, body mass index, a male gender, dementia, impairment or dependency in daily activities, presence of consolidations on chest X-ray, hypoxemic respiratory failure, and lower oxygen saturation at admission were risk factors for death. High d-dimer levels, 25-hydroxy vitamin D serum deficiencies, high C-reactive protein (≥5 mg/L) levels plus any other abnormalities of lymphocyte, higher blood urea nitrogen or lactate dehydrogenase, and higher platelet count were predictors of poor prognosis and mortality in the elderly. Studies have also shown that previous treatment with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors, pharmacological treatments of respiratory disorders, antibiotics, corticosteroids, vitamin K antagonist, antihistamines, azithromycin, Itolizumab (an anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody) in combination with other antivirals reduces COVID-19 worsening and mortality. Vaccination against seasonal influenza might also reduce COVID-19 mortality. Conclusion: Overall, a critical consideration is necessary for the care and management of COVID-19 in the aged population considering the drastic contrasts in manifestation and prognosis compared to other age groups. Mortality from COVID-19 is independently associated with the patient's age. Elderly patients with COVID-19 are more vulnerable to poor outcomes. Thus, strict preventive measures, timely diagnosis, and aggressive therapeutic/nontherapeutic care are of great importance to reduce acute respiratory distress syndrome and severe complications in older people.

COVID‐19 mortality and its predictors in the elderly: A systematic review

Background and AimsOlder people have higher rates of comorbidities and may experience more severe inflammatory responses;therefore, are at higher risk of death. Herein, we aimed to systematically review the mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) patients and its predictors in this age group.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct using relevant keywords. Retrieved records underwent a two‐step screening process consisting of title/ and full‐text screenings to identify the eligible studies.ResultsSummarizing findings of 35 studies demonstrated that older patients have higher mortality rates compared to the younger population. A review of articles revealed that increasing age, body mass index, a male gender, dementia, impairment or dependency in daily activities, presence of consolidations on chest X‐ray, hypoxemic respiratory failure, and lower oxygen saturation at admission were risk factors for death. High d‐dimer levels, 25‐hydroxy vitamin D serum deficiencies, high C‐reactive protein (≥5 mg/L) levels plus any other abnormalities of lymphocyte, higher blood urea nitrogen or lactate dehydrogenase, and higher platelet count were predictors of poor prognosis and mortality in the elderly. Studies have also shown that previous treatment with renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitors, pharmacological treatments of respiratory disorders, antibiotics, corticosteroids, vitamin K antagonist, antihistamines, azithromycin, Itolizumab (an anti‐CD6 monoclonal antibody) in combination with other antivirals reduces COVID‐19 worsening and mortality. Vaccination against seasonal influenza might also reduce COVID‐19 mortality.ConclusionOverall, a critical consideration is necessary for the care and management of COVID‐19 in the aged population considering the drastic contrasts in manifestation and prognosis compared to other age groups. Mortality from COVID‐19 is independently associated with the patient's age. Elderly patients with COVID‐19 are more vulnerable to poor outcomes. Thus, strict preventive measures, timely diagnosis, and aggressive therapeutic/nontherapeutic care are of great importance to reduce acute respiratory distress syndrome and severe complications in older people.

EMPIRICAL EXAMINATION OF THE ADOPTION OF ZOOM SOFTWARE DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: ZOOM TAM

The novel corona virus disease 2019 (COVID - 2019) has spread across the globe. The Covid19 pandemic situation has created a necessity of following a social distancing for the well-being of the people. This requirement has actually supported innovative use of technology for conducting virtual meetings/lectures. The purpose of this paper is to develop an integrated model of adoption of Zoom platform by the faculties for conducting the virtual meeting/lectures in education institutes during the current Covid19 pandemic situation. Total 125 responses were collected through google form and this phenomenon is explored by Partial Least Square Structure Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) in SmartPLS version 3.3.2. Results of the survey were examined to determine the degree to which the technology acceptance model was able to explain the faculties’ acceptance of web-based learning system for conducting classes. The conceptual model for this study was developed on the basis of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and two external variables were incorporating in the model. The research results illuminate the factors that explain and predict the faculties’ adoption of Zoom software for conducting online classes in this pandemic era. Total seven hypotheses were found to be significant except one. The findings included that faculties’ adoption of Zoom software for virtual classes influenced by environmental concern of the institute and society in the Covid-19 pandemic time. Environmental concern of the faculties is a stronger predictor of attitude of faculties towards such technology. © 2020. All Rights Reserved.