Analysis and Incidents in the Professional Practices of IT University Students in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The objective of this research is to analyze the level of satisfaction and effectiveness of pre-professional practices in university students, before and during the pandemic. The analyzed data was collected through surveys applied to 67 students. The data was analyzed with a descriptive approach, using tables to summarize the results, while in the analysis of the difference in means in the effectiveness and satisfaction scales, the ANOVA method was used, obtaining a p- value= 0.1134, the same as indicated that there is no variation in the means of the scales. For the correlation analysis, the Pearson coefficient was calculated, whose value indicated a strong correlation between the satisfaction scale of the place where the practice was carried out and the level of satisfaction (0.637). Finally, a web page model is proposed that is capable of better guiding the choice of the place where the students will carry out the pre-professional practices. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Patient Satisfaction Level with Self-Medication Services by Pharmacists During The CoviD-19 Pandemic in Rembang District, Central Java, indonesia

Self-medication is a person's effort to treat symptoms of illness or disease that arise independently without consulting and taking treatment to a doctor. The purpose of this study was to determine patient satisfaction with self-medication services by pharmacists at pharmacies during the CoviD-19 pandemic in the Rembang District. This research is a quantitative descriptive observational research with a cross sectional research design. To find out satisfaction with service quality, we used the service quality approach with SERvQUAL (service quality) questionnaire. SERvQUAL measures the difference between customer expectations and perceived service quality based on five dimensions of service quality, namely reliability, responsivenes, empathy, assurance, and tangible evidence. The research instrument used was a validated questionnaire and the research respondents were self-medicated patients who met the inclusion criteria of the study. Data collection was carried out in March-May 2021 in Rembang District, Central Java. obtained 100 patients who have met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that the mean gap score was (-0.15 +/- 0.086). The level of dissatisfaction in the five service dimensions were follows assurance (-0.27), reliability (-0.22), tangible (-0.12), empathy (-0.08), and responsiveness (-0.04) with a statistically siginificant difference value is service reliability (0.019) and assurance (0.021) <0.05. The patient satisfaction level with self-medication services by pharmacists at the Rembang District pharmacy as a whole was 96%. The conclusion in this study was the level of patient satisfaction was satisfying. Copyright This is an Open Access article licensed under a Creative Commons license: Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY). Published by Oriental Scientific Publishing Company © 2022.

THE IMPACT OF LEGAL RESEARCH ON POST-PANDEMIC SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN ECUADOR

The objective of the research work was to expose how the legal research process after the covid-19 pandemic has impacted on the solution of social problems and to determine a mechanism for the satisfaction of the actors of the legal research process at the Universidad de los Andes. Therefore, it is proposed to characterize the impact through a bibliographic search in databases of interest and subsequently determine the level of satisfaction of students, professors and certified researchers within the university with the existing legal research system through the application of the IADOV technique. A higher overall satisfaction index was obtained in the sampled analysis groups. It was observed that the group of professors obtained a higher overall satisfaction index than the rest of the two groups. The most important elements for each of the groups were es-tablished, as well as those that enhance and limit the research system. It is recommended to review and analyze the limiting elements detected in order to include them in a continuous improvement plan. © 2022, University of Cienfuegos, Carlos Rafael Rodriguez. All rights reserved.

How to Ensure Continuity of AT Assessment Services for Frail People in Times of Pandemics: An Italian Experience

After an initial lock-down phase in 2020, the measures subsequently adopted in Italy to limit the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus made it impossible for people residing in nursing homes to have contacts with the outside world. Here we want to report how the DAT (Home automation, Assistive Technology and Occupational Therapy) service of Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi in Milan, Italy, was able to give continuity to the provision of assistive technology assessment services for older adults with disability who were not able to reach the DAT premises due to social restrictions. In the period 2020–2021, remote AT assessments were organized using a Tele-rehabilitation platform so that the physiatrist in charge of prescribing the assistive devices, supported by a therapist specialized in AT, could connect remotely from the DAT service to nursing homes in the Milan area. There, a rehabilitation professional would participate to the visit. 94 older adults with disability in 2020 and 2021 were able to take advantage of mobility assistive technology assessments provided remotely by DAT service AT professionals. The assistive devices prescribed were found to be appropriate, only a small percentage needed to be revised or were refused. High levels of satisfaction with the service provided were measured through KWAZO questionnaire among users of the service. 80% of the interviewees declared that it might be useful to keep the possibility of carrying out remote AT assessments in the future, even when the state of emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic will be finished. © 2022, The Author(s).

Redistribution of Wealth: An Agent-based Simulation

Without any doubt, the Covid-19 pandemic would have a long and lasting impact globally economically. The pandemic would increase the Gini index, a measure of income inequality, remarkably. The previous pandemics due to H1N1 in 2009, Ebola in 2014, and Zika in 2016 increased the index by 1.5 points, according to the World-Bank report issued in 2020. The income gap that has constantly been growing would accelerate with the pandemic. Income inequality often leads to social unrest, lower economic growth, increased health cost, and a lower level of satisfaction. This research studies how a taxation strategy affects the Gini index. We use an agent-based model and the yardsale model, where a small number of agents is established in a closed simulation world. The simulation world has conversed in the total wealth and the number of agents. Each agent performs a wealth exchange of a small amount with other randomly selected agents for each time instant. The simulation results suggest a critical tax rate such that the wealth distribution and Gini index are sustainable. A tax rate lower than the compulsory rate leads to a continuous increase in the simulation time's income inequality trend. On the other side, a tax rate higher than the critical rate reduces the wealth distribution gap. We study various taxation rates and find a vital taxation rate to maintain the wealth distribution. If the tax rate is lower than the critical, the wealth distribution will become more expansive, and otherwise, a higher tax rate would shrink the wealth distribution. © 2021 IEEE.

Cooperative Gamification in a Computer Science Introductory Module

Especially in introductory modules, that are predominantly attended by first-year students, it is of particular importance to set incentives for active participation, to develop a community feeling and to promote cooperative behaviour by the students. The online distance learning necessitated by the Covid19-pandemic has further intensified this challenge. In order to encourage the desired activity on the part of the students and to build up a sense of belonging, a gamification approach was tried out in a large computer science introductory module with about 550 participants. This involved collecting so-called "Algos"together by all course participants through various activities, with advantages granted to all students for reaching a certain amount of Algos together. In combination with humorous elements and contexts (e.g. "Easter eggs"and word problems), the gamification system led to a high level of satisfaction among the students. Although the majority of the students did not perceive the Algos as the main motivation for most of the concrete activities, the lecturers were also satisfied with the actual participation in the digital semester. © 2021 ACM.

Diverging levels of COVID-19 governmental response satisfaction across middle eastern Arab countries: a multinational study.

BACKGROUND: Public acceptance of governmental measures are key to controlling the spread of infectious diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a significant burden on healthcare systems for high-income countries as well as low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The ability of LMICs to respond to the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic has been limited and may have affected the impact of governmental strategies to control the spread of COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate and compare public opinion on the governmental COVID-19 response of high and LMICs in the Middle East and benchmark it to international countries. METHODS: An online, self-administered questionnaire was distributed among different Middle Eastern Arab countries. Participants' demographics and level of satisfaction with governmental responses to COVID-19 were analyzed and reported. Scores were benchmarked against 19 international values. RESULTS: A total of 7395 responses were included. Bahrain scored highest for satisfaction with the governmental response with 38.29 ± 2.93 on a scale of 40, followed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (37.13 ± 3.27), United Arab Emirates (36.56 ± 3.44), Kuwait (35.74 ± 4.85), Jordan (23.08 ± 6.41), and Lebanon (15.39 ± 5.28). Participants' country of residence was a significant predictor of the satisfaction score (P < 0.001), and participants who suffered income reduction due to the pandemic, had a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and held higher educational degrees had significantly lower satisfaction scores (P < 0.001). When benchmarked with other international publics, countries from the Gulf Cooperation Council had the highest satisfaction level, Jordan had an average score, and Lebanon had one of the lowest satisfaction scores. CONCLUSION: The political crisis in Lebanon merged with the existing corruption were associated with the lowest public satisfaction score whereas the economical instability of Jordan placed the country just before the lowest position. On the other hand, the solid economy plus good planning and public trust in the government placed the other countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council on top of the scale. Further investigation is necessary to find out how the governments of other low-income countries may have handled the situation wisely and gained the trust of their publics. This may help convey a clearer picture to Arab governments that have suffered during the pandemic.

The co-evolution of remote work and expectations in a COVID-19 world utilizing an expectation disconfirmation theory lens

Purpose: As researchers are being called to examine the evolving technology research issues for COVID-19 and other pandemics, remote work has been accelerated and represents the future of work. Although it is known that one of the top forces shaping the future of work is changing employee expectations, the knowledge of remote work during a pandemic remains scant. Thus, this paper aims to determine the impact of remote worker’s expectations on their level of satisfaction and intention to continue to work remotely. Design/methodology/approach: Using one of the prominent theories on expectations, Expectation Disconfirmation Theory (EDT), the authors conduct an online survey of 146 individuals who are currently working remotely. Findings: By applying EDT, the findings demonstrate that an individual’s expectations regarding remote work impact their level of satisfaction with remote work and intention to continue to work remotely. Incorporating extant research, the findings extend the research stream to indicate that employees’ expectations about remote work significantly impact both their level of satisfaction and level of productivity. Originality/value: The discussion elucidates the significance of understanding employee expectations regarding remote work in the evolving new normal. The findings from the study demonstrate the importance of an individual’s expectations regarding remote work on their level of satisfaction with remote work and intention to continue to work remotely. Thus, this study fills a gap in the literature by applying EDT to the remote work context. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Satisfaction with Information for Health Care and Prevention of Medical Fake News on Facebook During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Peru

The objective of the study was to determine the satisfaction with respect to the information received about health care and the prevention of medical fake news on Facebook during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru, identifying differences with respect to gender and age. A cross-sectional investigation was carried out with 290 people who previously participated for 5 months on a voluntary basis in a Facebook group managed by health professionals. Data collection and analysis was performed using an online questionnaire and the SPSS program, respectively. The Chi square test was applied. A majority proportion of people satisfied with the information received was evidenced, with an average score of 4.14 on a scale of 1 to 5. Young people and women presented higher satisfaction values. It was concluded that there were high levels of satisfaction with the information received on health care and the prevention of medical fake news on Facebook during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru. The promotion of netiquette or rules of cordiality on Facebook is an aspect that needs to be improved. © 2021, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

A survey-based approach used to analyse the indoor satisfaction and productivity level of user in smart working during lock-down due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Italy was the first country in Europe to enter lock-down due to COVID-19 pandemic. Most employees have been forced to adopt a work at home solution to avoid any possibility of spreading the virus. The article presents the results of a survey carried out in March-June 2020, during the first lockdown in Italy, aimed at investigating how people perceive the Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) of their households during working from home. The questionnaire consists in a general section reporting information about participant, households and rooms where they perform the working activities;a specific section reporting feedbacks on each IEQ aspects (thermal, visual comfort, air and acoustic quality), overall comfort, productivity and other external variables that can affect users' well-being during working hours. A total of 330 participants from all over the Italian territory signed the consent to participate in the survey over a period of about 3 months. The dataset was used to define the global level of satisfaction, perception, preference and interference with work at home, considering the main indoor environmental factors. The Machine Learning (ML) approach was applied to identify the most useful model to predict the overall comfort satisfaction. © Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Licence.