The digitalisation of finance management skills in dementia since the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: Engaging with finances has become increasingly digitalised in recent years, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, yet it is unknown how finance management has been affected in people living with dementia. The aim of this qualitative study was therefore to explore how digitalisation and the recent pandemic have affected finance management skills in people with dementia. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted remotely with people with dementia and unpaid carers living in the UK via phone or Zoom between February and May 2022. Transcripts were coded by one of four different research team members, including two unpaid carers who were public advisers on the project. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Thirty carers and people with dementia participated, and five overarching themes were identified. Managing finances has been both simplified and made more complicated by digitalising how money is spent and managed, with people with dementia and unpaid carers reporting advantages of using direct debits and debit cards, as well as digital illiteracy barriers for older relatives with dementia. Unpaid carers have received no support in managing their relative's finances, and were found to be burdened by the additional caring duties. CONCLUSIONS: Carers need to be supported in managing their relative's finances as well as with their general well-being due to taking on additional caring duties. Digital systems for finance management need to be user-friendly for people with cognitive impairment, with a need for digital literacy training for middle-aged and older adults to avoid difficulties if they develop dementia, and improved access to a computer/tablet/smart phone.

Facilitating artificial intelligence supply chain analytics through finance management during the pandemic crises

The particular study is based on the concept of financial management and artificial intelligence supply chain. As all the companies and business organizations are closed for a certain time, therefore, the companies are facing financial issues. Therefore, the international business companies are facing the worst time because all the transport systems are closed and the transport system is an essential part of the international companies. In this situation, the companies have to adopt some efficient and effective strategies for the development of the financial condition of the companies. Thereafter, supply chain management is an important aspect of international companies because the companies provide their services and products to their international customers by using supply chain management. As the transports are closed the companies can use the artificial intelligence supply chain management. The usage of artificial intelligence is increasing day by day in several companies. On the other hand, the usage of artificial intelligence in supply chain management can improve the process of supply of products. Thus, the purpose of this particular research article is to analyze the importance of artificial intelligence in supply chain management during the pandemic situation. Apart from that, analyzing the analytics of artificial intelligence supply chain management through the financial management of the companies is another purpose of this particular research study. Hence, the researcher has adopted proper methods and techniques for collecting some proper and accurate data about the research topic. Therefore, the researcher has used secondary methods for collecting more knowledge and data about supply chain management and finance management. Apart from that, the researcher has used qualitative methods for analyzing all the collected data in this research study in a proper way. Therefore, all the data that are collected by using the sources of secondary methods are analyzed in this particular research study significantly.

The impact of COVID-19 on complementary and alternative medicine providers: A cross-sectional survey in Norway.

BACKGROUND: The Norwegian authorities decided in March 2020 to implement a nationwide lockdown to prevent spread of the COVID-19 virus. The lockdown had vast socioeconomic consequences for the society. The aim of this study was to investigate how COVID-19 affected Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) providers' practice, financial situation, recommendations to patients, and how they perceived their future practice as CAM providers. METHOD: Data were collected in this cross-sectional survey using a self-administrated electronic questionnaire. A total of 581 CAM providers completed the questionnaire, which was designed to describe consequences for CAM providers and their clinical practice caused by the nationwide lockdown. Descriptive statistics were carried out using frequency analyses to describe the demographics and consequences of the lockdown. Between group differences (gender and age) were analyzed using Pearson chi-square tests and Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables, and ANOVA tests and t-tests for continuous variables. Significance level was defined as p < 0.05 without adjustment for multiple comparisons. RESULT: During the nationwide lockdown of Norway, 38.4% of the respondents were able to provide CAM treatment to their patients. Of those, the majority (96.4%) had reorganized their clinical practice in accordance with COVID-19 hygiene regulations, offered video consultations (57.4%) or telephone consultations (46.6%). To manage financially during the lockdown, half of the providers spent their savings (48.7%). More than one third (35.1%) was supported by their partner, and 26.7% received compensation from the Norwegian state. A total of 26.3% of the CAM providers had other paid work that provided them with income. Nearly a fifth (18.6%) borrowed money from friends and family, changed their loan terms, or took out new bank loans. More than half (62.7%) expressed uncertainty about the future of their practice. CAM providers who had reorganized their practice to online consultations were more optimistic. CONCLUSION: The impact of COVID-19 on CAM providers was considerable. It adversely affected their clinical practice, financial situation, and view on their future practice. To ensure that the health needs of the Norwegian population regarding CAM use are met during pandemic times like COVID-19, it is recommended to support and train CAM providers in the development of online CAM services, as well as efficient implementation of infection prevention and control measures.