ABSTRACT
Disasters and crises such as COVID-19 can have a negative effect on the images of tourism destinations. However, existing studies have mainly focused on the recovery of such images after crises;little research has examined the reasons for reversing the image of epidemic-resistant tourism destinations and their renewed popularity. This article investigates tourism destination image management in the context of epidemics. By means of the underdog effect, this paper examines the influence of two factors-the severity of an epidemic and degree of anti-epidemic efforts-on public willingness to travel following that epidemic;it does so through a pre-study and two formal experiments, and it investigates the mechanisms underlying the effect of those two factors on willingness to travel. The following findings emerged. First, public perceptions of tourism destinations' anti-epidemic efforts were mainly evident in four ways: government measures, social support, tourism labor actions, and destination residents' attitudes. Second, there was an interactive effect between the degree of tourism destinations' anti-epidemic efforts and the severity of the epidemic in tourism destinations: destinations with high epidemic severity received the same public support as those with low epidemic severity when they displayed a higher degree of anti-epidemic efforts. Third, public empathic responses played a mediating role in those processes. The theoretical contributions of this paper are as follows. First, it enhances research on the recovery of tourism destination image in the context of disasters and crises;it proposes the novel idea of underdog image building as a way of reversing tourism destination image. Second, it expands theoretical research on the underdog effect in tourism: it shows that in the context of public health events such as epidemics, the underdog effect has its own conditions and time influences. Third, this study enriches research on tourists' emotions and feelings: it clarifies the important role of tourism destinations' efforts to deal with epidemics and reverse the negative impacts of an epidemic. This paper provides suggestions for reversing the negative image of tourism destinations and promoting positive emotions for marketing following public health emergencies. This study finds that tourism destinations should do the following. First, modify information related to an underdog state to promote the image of the destination. Second, fully utilize public emotional resources and promote emotional advantages. Third, prevent problems before they arise and improve the tourism public health system.
ABSTRACT
This case report combined PEST, SWOT, a business model canvas, and knowledge management to develop a theoretical framework for assessing business models, and smart and sustainable management of two case study companies-Tung Sheng and Strong Basic-in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic. A case study and heuristic inquiry research design was adopted. Secondary data and interviews with top managers were used to triangulate within the same cases. The results show that the case study companies owned capabilities in R&D as a foundation to further apply new smart ICT (information and communication technology) and execute green manufacturing. Strong key partnerships were useful resources to diversify business investment, although current qualified employees were not sufficient. Resilient practices included adopting new and green technology to mitigate the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study establishes a useful framework for case study research and provides practical information about business models, and smart and sustainable management in two case studies.
ABSTRACT
Most yeasts causing infections in humans are part of commensal microflora and etiological agents of different infections when hosts become susceptible, usually due to becoming immunocompromised. The colonization of potentially pathogenic microbes in the oral cavity is increased by poor oral hygiene. This follow-up survey was conducted approximately two months after providing information on proper oral care at 10 nursing homes in Taiwan. Among the 117 of 165 residents colonized by yeasts, 67 were colonized by more than one yeast species. A total of 231 isolates comprising eight fungal genera and 25 species were identified. Candida albicans (44.6%) was the dominant species, followed by Candida glabrata (17.7%), Candida parapsilosis (8.7%), Candida tropicalis (7.8%), and Candida pararugosa (7.3%). Residents having a yeast colony-forming unit >10 (OR, 8.897; 95% CI 2.972-26.634; p < 0.001) or using a wheelchair (OR, 4.682; 95% CI 1.599-13.705; p = 0.005) were more likely to be colonized by multiple species. By comparing before and after oral-care education, dry mouth (OR, 3.199; 95% CI 1.448-7.068; p = 0.011) and having heart disease (OR, 2.681; 95% CI 1.068-6.732; p = 0.036) emerged as two independent risk factors for increased density of colonizing yeast.
ABSTRACT
The increasing number of quick response (QR) code mobile payment users heralds the coming of a cashless society. However, the extent to which the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic accelerated the adoption of QR code mobile payment has not been sufficiently researched. Based on social learning theory, this study models how external interaction with the environment has affected the internal appraisal and behavioral intention to adopt QR code mobile payment during COVID-19. Empirical results from 248 respondents revealed that perceived severity and social influence positively affected the perception of utilitarian and health benefits of respondents, which in turn influenced the behavioral intention to use the QR code mobile payment. The theoretical contribution and managerial implications of this study are also discussed.
ABSTRACT
The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of a rapidly spreading illness, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), affecting more than seventeen million people around the world. Diagnosis and treatment guidelines for clinicians caring for patients are needed. In the early stage, we have issued "A rapid advice guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infected pneumonia (standard version)"; now there are many direct evidences emerged and may change some of previous recommendations and it is ripe for develop an evidence-based guideline. We formed a working group of clinical experts and methodologists. The steering group members proposed 29 questions that are relevant to the management of COVID-19 covering the following areas: chemoprophylaxis, diagnosis, treatments, and discharge management. We searched the literature for direct evidence on the management of COVID-19, and assessed its certainty generated recommendations using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Recommendations were either strong or weak, or in the form of ungraded consensus-based statement. Finally, we issued 34 statements. Among them, 6 were strong recommendations for, 14 were weak recommendations for, 3 were weak recommendations against and 11 were ungraded consensus-based statement. They covered topics of chemoprophylaxis (including agents and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) agents), diagnosis (including clinical manifestations, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respiratory tract specimens, IgM and IgG antibody tests, chest computed tomography, chest x-ray, and CT features of asymptomatic infections), treatments (including lopinavir-ritonavir, umifenovir, favipiravir, interferon, remdesivir, combination of antiviral drugs, hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine, interleukin-6 inhibitors, interleukin-1 inhibitors, glucocorticoid, qingfei paidu decoction, lianhua qingwen granules/capsules, convalescent plasma, lung transplantation, invasive or noninvasive ventilation, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)), and discharge management (including discharge criteria and management plan in patients whose RT-PCR retesting shows SARS-CoV-2 positive after discharge). We also created two figures of these recommendations for the implementation purpose. We hope these recommendations can help support healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients.