ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 is a virus that causes COVID-19. The initial symptoms put forward by the WHO since 2020 is fever accompanied by cough and shortness of breath. Currently, the loss of smell and taste, accompanied by other symptoms, tends to be a strong predictor of COVID-19. The nose is the entrance for air, that’s why the nose has an important role in the breathing process. In addition to warming, humidifying, and filtering incoming air, the nose can also maintain respiratory tract homeostasis. The use of nasal irrigation with isotonic saline solution (NaCl 0.9%) is a way to improve mucociliary clearance function by activating cilia as an olfactory sensory system. AIM: This study aims to evaluate the effect of nasal irrigation on COVID patients who have mild symptoms in the upper respiratory tract. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to see the effectiveness of nasal irrigation using 0.9% NaCl in COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms by looking at the average duration of time complaints felt by patients compared to those without nasal irrigation intervention. RESULTS: This study found a significant difference (p = 0.000) between the control group and the intervention group, where the mean duration of symptoms in the intervention group was shorter than the control group. CONCLUSION: Anosmia is a symptom in COVID-19 which is almost always accompanied by symptoms of loss of taste, various theories on the cause of anosmia have been put forward since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. Improvements in symptom duration were found to be shorter in COVID-19 patients who performed nasal irrigation using 0.9% NaCl independently for 10 days so that in the future, it is hoped that nasal irrigation will become part of the comprehensive management of COVID-19 patients who have mild symptoms, especially symptoms related to nasal and upper respiratory complaints.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: This study aims to empirically investigate the relationship of perceived transparency, perceived accountability and perceived responsiveness with overall public trust in local government. Moreover, it addressed the “why” and “how” questions about the existence of this relationship by examining the underlying mechanism of the government response to COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach: Quantitative research design is applied in the current study. Data was collected from two cities situated in Indonesia via a cross-sectional survey at local administration levels. The final data set of 330 respondents was then analyzed using Smart partial least square (PLS)3 by testing through the measurement and structural model. Findings: Results revealed positive associations among the study variables. Also, the mediatory role of the government response to COVID-19 was supported by the results. Originality/value: This study aims to bring awareness and contribution in the body of knowledge about the importance of elements of good governance in building and sustaining public trust in local governments based on the fact that in countries such as Indonesia, there is a dearth of literature in this context. Further, it provides strategic and practical suggestions to the state regarding the advantages of using good governance practices in their communication with citizens in certain and uncertain situations, especially nowadays during the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.