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With the COVID-19 pandemic, people's real-life interactions diminished, and the game-based metaverse platforms such as Minecraft and Roblox are on the rise. The main users of these platforms are teenagers, they generate content in a virtual environment, which can significantly increase the activity of the platform. However, the experience of User-Generated Content in the metaverse is not very good. So what kind of support do users need to improve the efficiency of generating content in the metaverse? To investigate teenage users' preferences and expectations of it, this paper interviewed 72 teenagers aged 12-22 who are familiar with the metaverse game, and distilled 4 suggestions that can help promote metaverse users to generate content. © 2023 IEEE.
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Genellikle insanlar doğumdan itibaren toplumsal cinsiyet rollerine maruz kalarak ilerleyen yaşantılarında bu roller doğrultusunda tüketim tercihlerini ve kararlarını belirlemeye çalışmaktadır. Toplumdan topluma değişen skonusu bu roller, kişilerin vereceği tüketim kararlarında etkili bir pozisyonda yer almasını sağlayabilir. Ancak daha önce yapılmış çalışmalar, küresel bir şokun tüketimler üzerinde bireylerin benzer tüketim tercihlerinde bulunulduğunu göstermiştir. Bu bağlamda çalışmanın amacı Covid-19 salgını ile birlikte toplumun cinsiyetlere yüklediği rollere ait tüketim kalıplarının genç yetişkinler üzerindeki değişiminin ne şekilde yaşandığını ortaya koymayı amaçlamaktadır. Araştırma yöntemi olarak nitel araştırma tekniklerinden derinlemesine mülakat tekniği kullanılmıştır. Çalışma kapsamında Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Üniversitesi Íktisadi ve Ídari Bilimler Fakültesi bünyesinde yer alan bölümlerdeki (işletme, iktisat, kamu yönetimi, siyaset bilimleri ve uluslararası ilişkiler) 40 öğrenci ile bu görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Sonuç olarak küresel salgınla birlikte toplumsal cinsiyet algısına aykırı satın alımlar gerçekleştiren katılımcıların son derece az oluşu hatta genç yetişkinlerin büyük çoğunluğunun toplumsal cinsiyete bağlı tüketim yapmadıkları ve buna karşı oldukları ortaya çıkmıştır.Alternate :People are often exposed to gender roles from birth to determine consumption preferences and decisions in line with these roles in their future lives. These roles, which have changed from society to society, can enable people to take an effective position in the decisions of consumption. However, previous studies have shown that individuals have similar consumption preferences on the consumption of a global shock.In this context, the aim of the study is to demonstrate the way that the consumption patterns of the roles that society has put into the gender, along with the Covid-19 epidemic, have changed on young adults. In-depth interview technique from qualitative research techniques was used as a method of research. These meetings were held with 40 students in the departments of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences (business, economics, public administration, political sciences and international relations) of Muğla Sitki Kocman University within the scope of the study. As a result, participants who have made procurement against the perception of gender with the global outbreak have been extremely low, and even the majority of young adults have shown that they do not consume and oppose gender-dependent consumption.
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Playability is an attribute that refers to the ability to stimulate individual responses or collective action in an immersive activity in an exploratory way. Playability is an important component of the enjoyment and well-being of urban dwellers, has the potential to stimulate urban vitality and is an important expression of the inclusiveness and equity of urban space. The pursuit of economic development and efficiency-oriented urban construction has led to the domination of urban space by overcrowded traffic, economy-oriented commerce and densely populated housing. Moreover, the existence of playable space has become a scarce resource and is seen as a site for the materialisation of social rights. As the haze of the COVID-19 pandemic fades and cities are again exposed to wider and more participatory use, determining how to adapt urban spaces to the playability needs of users of different ages, cultural backgrounds and social classes, and provide them with appropriate site use and experience, is becoming a hot issue of concern for building equitable and high-quality urban spaces. The study of the playability of urban spaces is highly complex, and the related research on social justice is cryptic. In order to better investigate the social equity aspects of urban playability, this paper integrates scientometric and manual methods to review the relevant research. This paper takes 2664 related papers from the Web of Science (WOS) core dataset from 1998 to 2022 as the research object and employs CiteSpace to organise the existing research results of playful urban spaces. Quantitative analysis is used to clarify the theoretical foundations, developments and research hotspots of urban spatial playability, while the manual collation and generalisation of the studies uncover the hidden issues of social justice research. Based on the proposed research method, we summarize the key three research stages related to urban spatial playability and social equity. We also discuss the development of urban spatial playability in the perspective of social justice from three aspects: micro, meso and macro. The results can help readers better understand the current status and development process of research on playful urban space. In particular, we clarify the issues related to social justice under the theme of the playability of urban spaces and provide directions for future research on building playful cities and promoting the development of urban socio-spatial equity.
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The various crises are having a significant impact on the entire food sector and are changing the attitudes of Europeans as well as policies on the importance of food security and sustainably produced quality and safe food for consumer health. The paper focuses on the consumer's fear of food security for the time of the first wave of COVID-19 and the associated concern for food security in the future and the changes in consumer behaviour. The online survey in Slovenia was conducted in June 2020 using a "snowball" method. The sample included 490 individuals. The results showed that both measured forms of fear (i) fear over food security during the first wave of COVID-19 crisis, and (ii) fear over food security in the future were statistically significant, moderately strong and positively associated with almost all forms of self-perceived behaviour change caused by the COVID-19 crisis. The respondents focused more on buying locally produced and processed food, food stockpiling and decreasing food waste. Only minor changes were expressed with regards to their food purchasing channels, with the elderly, the highly educated and those who classified themselves in a higher social class buying more often directly from farmers. In the future, the results of this research should be compared with other countries and the impact of an individual's economic situation and the impact of promotional campaigns on agricultural products on changing consumer behaviour should also be analysed in more detail.
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PurposeFood festivals are prevalent for those passionate about food experience globally. More importantly, feedback from food reviewers on mass media platforms has been becoming a critical factor in facilitating the decision-making process of tourists in particular cities. Moreover, stimulating local tourism activities, thanks to food festivals, prove advantageous to the well-being of local habitants. The purpose of this paper is to provide readers with a general overview of food festival research trends in tourist cities, as tourism has the potential to contribute to targets in Goals 8, 12 and 14 on sustainable consumption and production and the sustainable use of resources, respectively, (UNWTO: World Tourism Organization).Design/methodology/approachThis study searched and filtered documents from the Scopus and Web of Science databases, as well as used bibliometric analysis and other mathematical and statistical methods, to better understand the food festival research context between 1970 and 2021. The carriers with mathematical and statistical methods. VOSviewer algorithm was used to identify critical input for visualizing bibliometric networks and to create a framework for this academic food festival research.FindingsThe findings are primarily related to pre and post-COVID-19 research on food festivals worldwide. Furthermore, using an inductive approach, this paper reveals the impact of food festivals in cities and tourist behaviors. According to the findings, the food festival research trends are about "food festivals,” "slow food festivals” and "local food festivals.” Factor analysis is one of the most common analyses in this type of research. Other studies could use the findings and limitations to select appropriate themes and analysis approaches for their research topics.Research limitations/implicationsResearch data sets are mainly from articles that may not account for all actual trends during this pandemic.Originality/valueThis review expects to provide insights into food festivals and help future researchers to recognize several research gaps such as the lack of research on food festival manufacturers and producers or the consistency in visitors' aspect research of quality service, visitors' loyal intentions, satisfaction and culinary experience. The tourism industry can find research trends of food festivals and issues following COVID-19 to find their management styles to fit the context of the post-COVID-19 pandemic, facilitating organizing a safe and effective food festival.
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COVID-19 Pandemic has a profound Impact on the Indian tourism sector, especially on beach tourism. Research shows significant changes in the pattern of the ecological terrain of coastal areas and on the community dependent on tourism business and marine life, due to the imposition of lockdown for several months. The paper discusses the change in behavioral patterns of people during Pre and Post COVID-19 for visiting any beach destination in near future in terms of preferences in accommodation, selection of beaches based on crowd and other factors that will be considered in post pandemic days. This study brings out various key indicators shaping the pattern of beach holidays in the future based on the survey conducted among tourists belonging to youth population. The survey considered the tourists preferences of visits and factors they would look upon to choose beach holidaying in the Post COVID-19 years. The influence of the pandemic on quality of beaches, visitors'willingness to visit beaches in future, Post Pandemic opportunities and strategies of destinations for shaping tourism further have also been examined. ©Copyright IJHTS.
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Satisfactory housing conditions define, in many aspects, people's comfort and a high standard of living. The psychological and social characteristics of residents strongly determine housing needs and preferences. They also depend on economic, spatial, technical, and cultural factors. The Covid-19 pandemic, which humankind had been experiencing for two years, influenced all spheres of human life, especially inhabitation. The functional program of homes has changed, as well as public spaces, transportation and social ties. While the future is uncertain, the many changes provoked by the pandemic might become irreversible. This paper aims to present how the phenomena mentioned above have influenced the housing environment and residential preferences and trends that may follow. A survey conducted among Cracow residents in Autumn 2021 revealed a significant shift in lifestyles that corresponded with the change in residential needs, preferences and attitudes towards the housing environment. Working from home has induced redefining the use of particular rooms/spaces. For safety, families attempted to reorganize the entrance zone. Outdoor public spaces have become more appreciated following the trend of healthier everyday life. Over the long term, the pandemic experience may significantly influence the residential market. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Real Estate Management & Valuation is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)
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PurposeThis study aims to identify comfort food (CF) consumption and its associated factors during the pandemic period. The study also involves an online survey conducted five months after the quarantine started in Brazil. Design/methodology/approachData on lifestyle, eating habits and anthropometric data were collected before and during the pandemic, and the differences in these habits were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were performed to identify predictors of CF consumption by gender. FindingsA total of 1,363 individuals were included in the sample, with a median age of 31 years old, of whom 80.3% were women. Since individuals were free to respond about the food consumed without predetermined categories, it was possible to carry out a faithful assessment of the occurrence of this behavior. At the same time, allowing the subjectivity and symbolism inherent to the concept of CF to be embraced. CF consumption was present for 54%, with "sweets" being the most mentioned group by both genders. The factors associated with CF consumption in women during the pandemic were increased snacking, increased bread, candies and alcoholic beverage intake, increased time spent at work, worsened sleep quality, reduced meals, perceived stress (PS), emotional eating (EE), age and increased frequency of meat intake. In men, the predictors for CF consumption were remote full-time work/study, PS, EE and early waking time. For both genders, CF consumption during the pandemic period was associated with PS and EE. Originality/valueThis study provides an important overview of the possible contributions of the pandemic on behaviors and food choices related to the consumption of CF in Brazilians. This information is valuable to support further studies to investigate and treat the impacts of the pandemic on lifestyle, eating habits and behavior, mental health and other factors in the postpandemic period.
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As with previous crises, EU-wide risk-sharing has also been demanded during the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet, this crisis did not unfold in a political vacuum. Instead, public backing for EU-wide risk-sharing might have been informed by past crises experiences. Building on the idea of experienced reciprocal risk-sharing, we assume that the willingness to share risks is greater when a crisis-ridden country has also shown solidarity before, whereas readiness to cooperate may be mitigated by non-solidarity-oriented behaviour in the past. We test this assumption based on a survey experiment carried out in eleven EU countries in 2020. Our findings suggest that, when people are given information about whether another country has acted in solidarity in the past, this influences their willingness to support risk-sharing in the present. However, we also find evidence that respondents' preferences outside the experimental setting do not always match their country's recent history of reciprocal risk-sharing.
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Background: The hospitality industry is recovering, evolving, and adapting itself in the post COVID-19 era through innovative and sustainable practices backed by the use of technology in entire hotel operations. The hotel Front Office department is no exception in utilizing these evolved practices to understand and influence the customer behaviour while exploring all possible measures to enhance the overall guest stay experience in the post-COVID times. The Front Office department plays a vital role in the passage of accurate and timely information required for flawless guest management in the hotels. Throughout the COVID-19 period, the Front Office practices have evolved through different stages depending upon the factors such as guest preferences, safety and security measures, hygienic conditions, sustainability and use of technology. Objectives: The major objectives are to study the post COVID-19 Hotel guest preferences of non-star category hotels with respect to changing scenario in the Hospitality Industry, to analyse the gaps between hotel guest expectations and perceptions in service quality with special mention of the front office department and to highlight the future challenges faced by hotel industry and suggest possible measured to overcome these challenges. Methodology: Hybrid research approach has been adopted in this study. Grounded theory in qualitative research approach with interview and semi-structured questionnaires are the data collection tools. Survey method with structured questionnaire are quantitative data collection tools. Collected data were analysed through content and thematic tools for qualitative data and quantitative data were analysed through descriptive statistics (Mean, SD, percentage) and paired t-test as an inferential statistical tool has been applied in this study for conclusion purpose. Results: Result indicates negative as Expected value - perceived value = - (negative). Conclusion: It is concluded that hotel-guests' are not satisfied as provided facilities are not as per guests' expectation. This study gives overview of guests' expectation. It helps hoteliers for modification of hotel's facilities for the guest. The limitation of the study is that the study is conducted in NCR only. Hotels of the same category in the other cities/town may be conducted for getting actual scenario of the phenomena of the hotels. In addition, the study proposes that hotels should adjust their room and service pricing to reflect the reduced demand during the COVID era. Furthermore, the hotel industry will face ongoing challenges, and hotels must be adaptable to remain competitive. By embracing new technologies, providing distinctive experiences, and implementing sustainable practices, hotels can overcome these challenges and flourish in the years ahead.
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Purpose: Organic food consumption decreases the risk of becoming obese or overweight. This study intends to see the influence of customer perceived value, COVID-19 fear, food neophobia, effort and natural content on the intention to purchase organic food (IPOF) that leads to the actual purchase of organic food (APOF). Moreover, organic food availability is a moderator between IPOF and APOF. Design/methodology/approach: PLS-SEM is used for hypothesis testing. A purposive sampling technique was followed to gather data from organic food consumers in Lahore, Gujranwala and Islamabad and a total of 479 questionnaires were part of the analysis. Findings The outcomes show that customer perceived value, effort and natural content is positively related to IPOF. Despite this, COVID-19 fear and food neophobia are negatively associated with IPOF. IPOF and organic food availability are positively related to APOF. Finally, organic food availability significantly moderated between IPOF and APOF. Practical implications: This study outcome reveals that companies of organic food can recognize customer perceived value, COVID-19 fear, food neophobia, effort, natural content and organic food availability in their decision-making if they determine the actual purchase of organic food. This study offers a valuable policy to companies of organic food to enhance customer's behavior in purchasing organic food in Pakistan. Besides, practitioners and academicians can benefit from this study finding. Originality/value: This initial research integrates customer perceived value, COVID-19 fear, food neophobia, effort, natural content, IPOF and organic food availability to determine APOF in the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, consumption value theory is followed to develop the framework.
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As online learning becomes a recurrent component of higher education, there have been growing interests in the interaction between students and educational resources within digital environments so as to understand and facilitate students' initiative in managing those resources. The present study is an explorative inquiry into the relationships between students' self-reported preferences of study materials, their actual usage of those materials and their learning performances in online learning. It focuses on analysing the learning management system's log files, test results and students' responses to an evaluative survey of a bachelor business course at a large Belgian university, which was a blended course turned fully online due to the pandemic circumstance. The first research question concerns how preferences relate to the usage of materials. A cluster analysis was conducted to classify students based on their perceived interest and actual access to learning resources. The results show three clusters of students with different preferences and levels of usage towards the four types of study materials provided in the course. However, the majority showed strong favour for multimedia online learning, with Web lectures being prioritised both in perception and access behaviour, while discussion boards receive mixed opinions and the lowest actual participation. The second question follows these up by linking the preference-usage patterns with academic performances. A multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to compare the learning performances of students with different preference-usage patterns. The results show no significant differences, which means the students' preferences and/or usage of study materials has little to no impact on their learning performances in the online course.
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Introduction: The medical population lacks satisfactory information concerning the views regarding food perception among both male and female adult African Americans with consideration of chronic diseases, highest education level and marital status. The idea has not been fully exploited in research which has provoked the study. This study examines the views of food perception in relation to the health care and wellbeing of individuals. It offers satisfactory data that would in turn bring about the easy understanding of different perceptions concerning food choices, evaluating whether level of education and chronic disease play any role in decision making. It aims to make recommendations of the need for deploying healthier diet practices for better health outcomes. Methodology: The research is a mixed qualitative and quantitative study using both recorded interviews and a demographic questionnaire for data collection. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the demographic questionnaire was transcribed by the investigator according to the volunteer participant's verbalized answers, who were conveniently selected on their scheduled clinic visit day. The participant read and signed the form after hands sanitized containing 70% ethyl alcohol gel. The second part of the study was a telephonic interview, which was recorded, and information transcribed onto an excel worksheet in preparation for analysis. Data was collected and tabulated in an excel worksheet and then uploaded to Statistical Packages and Software Services (SPSS) an IBM application that aided in simplifying data presentation in the form of graphs which made it easier to draw conclusions. Results: There were 65 participants with 48 females and seventeen 17 males, and 56.9% with a college education in the study of which 84.6% were responsible for buying and preparing food. From the research analysis of the collected data, it was discovered that 43.1% of participants admitted to not eating healthy, 23.1% being influenced by maintaining health, 21.5% to being influenced by taste, and 15.4% eating as their medical condition recommends. Conclusion: To promote healthier food choices we need to embrace useful education and motivation strategies to encourage healthy food perception and hence healthy eating. To minimize the risks that may emerge from unhealthy food perceptions, the recommendation is crucial for meaningful collaboration with African Americans to prioritize and implement improved dietary habits and reduce diet-related chronic diseases. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
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In today's rapidly changing business environment, it is important for a company to succeed. This applies to companies that produce goods as well as to those that provide services, and public transport is not different. Nowadays, people prefer individual transport. In the Slovak Republic, individual transport is perceived as an expression of personal prestige and freedom. On the other hand, however, it places a heavy burden on road infrastructure and has a great impact on the environment. In this paper, the authors aim to present the information obtained through a questionnaire survey focused on customer satisfaction and preferences in public mass transport in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the statistical evaluation, the interdependence of two quantitative variables (ownership of a passenger car versus the purpose of the public mass transport customer's trip) will be observed. Based on the research results, customer requirements and preferences were summarized and can be used by management of companies as a valuable basis for managerial decision-making and communication towards customers. © 2023 Eva Kicová et al.
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Background: At seasonal tourist destinations like Shimla, rooms may remain vacant and unoccupied during lean periods. To add on, pandemic has already shut many small lodging facilities. Background: The aim of this study is to improve our understanding of how homestay activities can contribute to revitalize sustainable tourism trends in Shimla, the study assumes particular importance in a period of economic crisis characterized by post COVID trauma. Methodology: A survey was conducted in Shimla after first wave of corona virus from September 20 to December 20 as soon as the travel restrictions were uplifted. The travel and accommodation preferences of tourists were observed and found to be shifting towards less frequently visited places avoiding mass tourism. To highlight the role of homestays in reviving these tourism trends, three objectives were identified. Two separate questionnaires were developed to get the quantitative and qualitative data for this research. The data was tabulated and evaluated using SPSS tool. Results: The findings presented the analysed profile of the potential homestay operators as well as visitors seeking homestay tourism. It also reports the motivations, expectation and experience of the tourists regarding various aspects of homestay. Conclusion: Homestays can act as potential vital tool in reviving tourism.
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The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated and, somehow, forced the process of digital transformation within the higher education sector. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, online modes of course delivery have become the only available way of teaching in almost all parts of the world. We conducted a study in Mexico to know about students' preferences for these forced online class schedules, exams and assignments, and online teaching styles during this health crisis. Furthermore, this research sought to know about the impact of this forced digitalization on students' mental health and happiness. To conduct a conjoint analysis, we collected survey-based data from 219 undergraduate Mexican students. The most preferred attributes for students for online classes were "having a short online class (50 min)", "possibility to have 70% pre-exam assignments and 30% final exam", and "having a humorous professor in online classes". In terms of students' mental health, the prevalence of "moderate" anxiety and depression was 21.8%, and the prevalence of "severe" anxiety and depression was 14.9%. In terms of happiness, male students and students with shorter online classes per day felt a higher level of happiness.
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Background and Aims: This study aimed to estimate the preferences for COVID-19 vaccines among a sample of Iranian adults and to understand the sources of preference heterogeneity. Methods: A web-based survey was conducted from April to July 2021; out of 1747 participants, 678 completed the survey. Seven key attributes were selected, namely effectiveness, risk of severe side effects, risk of mild side effects, number of doses, duration of protection, location of manufacture, and price. Additionally, conditional logit and mixed logit models were used to analyze the data. Results: The results of this study indicate that vaccine effectiveness, protective duration, the risk of side effects, and price are the most important factors that influence vaccine preferences. Furthermore, we identified heterogeneity in preferences, indicating that not all individuals respond in the same way to vaccine attributes. Conclusion: The majority of Iranians prefer to get the Covid-19 vaccine. Policymakers should consider these findings when implementing successful programs. This study contributes to the literature by estimating Iranian respondents' preferences for the Covid-19 vaccine and identifying the heterogeneity in their preferences for vaccine attributes. The findings may also inform future research and policies related to Covid-19 vaccination programs in Iran.
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For the choices of food products, food preferences are crucial, as they influence the intake of nutrients and the resultant quality of diet, but in Poland, no studies of food preferences were conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic on a population of young adolescents. The aim of this study was to analyze the determinants of food preferences in a Polish population-based sample of primary school adolescents as part of the Diet and Activity of Youth during COVID-19 (DAY-19) Study. The DAY-19 Study focused on a national sample of a population of primary school adolescents who were recruited based on cluster sampling of participants from counties and schools, yielding a sample of 5039 individuals. Their food preferences were assessed using the Food Preference Questionnaire (FPQ), and they were compared in subgroups stratified by (1) gender: male and female; (2) age: younger (10-13 years) and older (14-16 years); (3) place of residence: urban and rural; (4) Body Mass Index (BMI): underweight, normal body weight, and overweight/obese (assessed based on Polish growth reference values); and (5) physical activity level: low and moderate (assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire for children aged 10-13 (IPAQ-C) and adolescents aged 14-16 (IPAQ-A)). In the population of adolescents, no statistically significant differences in food preferences between subgroups stratified by gender were observed (p > 0.05). For boys, none of the studied factors (age, place of residence, BMI, physical activity level) was statistically significant determinant of food preferences (p < 0.05), while for girls, all of them were statistically significant determinants (p > 0.05). All the assessed factors (age, place of residence, BMI, physical activity level) in girls were associated with preferences for snacks, and older girls, those from a rural environment, those who were underweight and overweight/obese, as well as those having a low physical activity level declared a higher preference for snacks than younger ones (p = 0.0429), those from an urban environment (p = 0.0484), those of a normal body weight (p = 0.0091), and those having a moderate physical activity level (p = 0.0083). Similarly, girls from rural environments declared a higher preference for starches than those from urban environments (p = 0.0103), and girls having a low physical activity level declared a higher preference for fruit than those having a moderate physical activity level (p = 0.0376). Taking this into account, the population of girls, in particular, needs dedicated educational actions to support proper nutritional habits. Additionally, older age, living in a rural environment, being underweight and overweight/obese, and having a low physical activity level may be indicated as factors predisposing one to food preferences potentially promoting unhealthy dietary habits.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Food Preferences , Child , Humans , Male , Adolescent , Female , Overweight/epidemiology , Poland/epidemiology , Thinness/epidemiology , Pandemics , COVID-19/epidemiology , Diet , Body Mass Index , Obesity/epidemiology , Feeding Behavior , SchoolsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In Iran, tracking of patients and its associated data recording in private healthcare centers are poor, and thus a majority of patients suffering from Covid-19 are treated without any control on the isolation and quarantine processes. The present study aims to investigate the factors contributed to referral to private or public healthcare centers that provide Covid-19 care services. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2021 to January 2022 in Tabriz, Iran. We invited a total of 258 and 202Covid-19 patients from governmental and private healthcare centers, respectively, to participate in the study by convenient sampling method. Applying a self-administered questionnaire, we collected data on the reason of referring to the healthcare centers, patient's waiting time, quality of healthcare services received by the patients, patients' level of satisfaction, accessibility, insurance coverage, perceived severity of the disease, and the level of staff compliance from health protocols. Logistic regression model was used for data analysis by using SPSS-26 software. RESULTS: Adjusted for other variables, higher socio-economic status (AOR (Adjusted Odds Ratio) = 6.64), older age (AOR = 1.02), referral of friends and family members (AOR = 1.52), shorter waiting time (AOR = 1.02) and higher satisfaction (AOR = 1.02) were contributed to referral to private centers. Better accessibility (AOR = 0.98) and wider insurance coverage (AOR = 0.99) were also contributed to referral to governmental centers. CONCLUSION: Providing more appropriate insurance coverage by private healthcare centers, and promoting their level of accessibility seems to promote patients' referral to such centers. Moreover, establishing an accurate system for recording patients' information and follow up in private centers might promote the role of private healthcare centers in managing the overload of patients on healthcare system during such epidemics.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Humans , Iran/epidemiology , COVID-19/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Health Facilities , Referral and ConsultationABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed additional barriers to physical activity (PA) in cancer survivors. Adaptations to PA programmes are needed during the pandemic. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate (1) the PA preferences of cancer survivors prior to and during the pandemic and (2) the available resources to engage in PA during the pandemic. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional study design, cancer survivors were recruited globally to participate in a self-administered survey assessing their PA preferences and available PA resources during the pandemic. Descriptive statistics were used to determine trends in PA preferences and resources. A sub-group analysis was conducted for age, gender, education, and PA levels. RESULTS: Cancer survivors (N = 493) were mainly women (70.4%) diagnosed with breast cancer (29.0%), with a mean age of 48.7 ± 15.8 years, and 87.1 ± 81.9 months since diagnosis. Since the start of the pandemic, cancer survivors were primarily walking (82.6%), and performing PA alone (62.7%) and at home (46.6%). Sub-group analysis revealed education level, PA levels, and age to be associated with significant differences in PA preferences. The most common equipment available to survivors in their homes were exercise mats (40.6%) and free weights (39.8%). Few survivors were made aware of at-home PA resources (19.1%), and approximately half indicated wanting to receive these resources (49.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Understanding cancer survivors' preferences and resources for PA during the pandemic is critical to designing effective home-based interventions. Interventions and recommendations should be tailored based on the level of education and PA participation, as well as age.